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SHAKSPERE 


ALLUSION-BOOKS. 


PART   I. 


X'1 
iv 


EDITED   BY 


C.  M.  INGLEBY,  M.A.,  LL.D. 

FOR      SN  SECRETARY  TO   THE   ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  LITERATURE,    LONDON. 


PUBLISHED    FOR 

-Sfjaftspere  Soctetg 

BY  N.  TRUBNER  &  CO.,  57,  59,  LUDGATE  HILL, 
LONDON,  E.G.,  1874. 


PR 

3S88 
U 


x?o. 


Series  IV.    fto.  1. 


JOHK   CHILDS  AXD   SON,   PRINTERS. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGB 

GENERAL  INTRODUCTION i 

I.     On  "Green's  Groatsworth  of  Wit" ii 

II.     On  "  Kind-Harts  Dream "        viii 

III.     On  "  Englandes  Mourning  Garment "            ...         ...  xiii 

IV.  AND  v.     On  "A  Mournefull  Dittie"  and  "I.  C.'s  I2th 

Epigram "        ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  xxi 

VI.     On  Gabriel  Harvey's  Third  Letter       ...         ...         ...  xxii 

VII.     OrhFive  Sections  of  Meres'  "  Wits  Treasury  "          ...  xxiii 

Viii.     On  Spenser's  "  Colin  Clouts  Come  Home  Againe"  xxiv 

IX.     On  "  Willobie  his  Avisa"        ...  xxviii 

X-XVII.     On     an     "  Epicedium,"     Drayton's     "Matilda," 

"  Polimanteia, "  &c ...      xxxi-xxxv 

A  few  Notes  and  Corrections  to  Gabriel  Harvey's  Third  Letter             ...  xxxvi 

SUPPLEMENT.     By  R.  Simpson,  Esq.  : 

I.     Greene  on  Nash  ...         ...         ...  xxxvii 

ii.     Chettle  on  Shakspere xli 

in.     Marlowe,  Greene,  and  Shakspere        ...         xlv 

GREENE'S  GROATSWORTH  OF  WIT   I 

(Allusion  to  Shakspere,  p.  30,  1.  31-35). 

KIND-HARTS  DREAME,  by  H[enry]  Cfhettle]         35 

(Allusion  to  Shakspere,  p.  38,  1.  8-17). 

ENGLANDES  MOURNING  GARMENT  [by  Henry  Chettle]        ...  77 
(Allusion  to  Shakspere,  p.  98,  1.  11-16). 

A   MOURNEFULL  DITTIE,   entituled   Elizabeths   Losse,  together 

with  A  Welcome  for  King  James         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  117 

(Allusion  to  Shakspere,  p.  119,  1.  4-7). 

I.  C.'s  I2TH  EPIGRAM,  from   Epigrames  served  out  in   52  severall 

Dishes  for  every  man  to  tast  without  surfeting          ...         ...         ...  121 

(Allusion  to  Shakspere,  p.  122,  1.  12-13). 


CONTENTS. 

PACK 

GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,  from  Foure  Letters,  and 

certain  Sonnets,  &c '...         123 

(Allusions  to  Shakspere,  p.  130,  1.  13,  p.  148,  1.  25-30). 

Five   Sections  of  PALLADIS   TAMIA  :    WITS   TREASURY,  by 

Francis  Meres     151 

(Ten  allusions  to  Shakspere,  pp.  157,  159-162). 

Stanza  from   Edmund   Spenser's  COLIN  CLOUTS  COME  HOME 

AGAINE 168 

(Alluding  to  Shakspere  under  the  name  Action). 

Hexameton  prefixed  to  WILLOBIE  HIS  AVISA        170 

(Mentioning  Shakspere  and  his  Lucrece). 

Canti  XLIV.— XLVII.  of  WILLOBIE  HIS  AVISA 171 

(Alluding  to  Shakspere  under  his  initials). 

Wlilliam]  Har[bert]'s  EPICEDIUM          177 

(Mentioning  Lucrece). 

Sixth  Verse  of  Michael  Drayton's  LEGEND  OF  MATILDA  ...         178 

(Mentioning  Lucrece). 

Extract  from  W[illiam]  C[larke]'s  POLIMANTEIA       179 

(Mentioning  Shakspere  and  his  Lucrece). 

John  Weever's  22ND  EPIGRAM,  Ad  Gulielmum  Shakespeare,  from  his 
EPIGRAMMES  IN  THE  OLDEST  CUT  AND  NEWEST 
FASHION  r8r 

(Mentioning  Shakspere's  two  chief  poems  and  two  of  his  tragedies). 

Extract  from  R[ichard]  C[arew]'s  EXCELLENCIE  OF  THE  ENG- 
LISH TONGUE  183 

(Mentioning  Shakspere). 

Three   Stanzas   from   R[obert]   T[ofte]'s    MONTH'S    MIND   OF    A 

MELANCHOLY  LOVER 184 

(Describing  a  performance  of  Lovers  Labours  Lost). 

A  REMEMBRANCE  OF  SOME  ENGLISH  POETS,  from  POEMS 

IN  DIVERS  HUMORS,  attributed  to  Richard  Barnfeild  ...         186 

(Mentioning  Shakspere  and  his  two  chief  poems). 

Extract  from  Satyres  X.  and  VII.  of  John  Marston's  SCOURGE  OF 

VILLANIE       187-8 

(Parodying  and  quoting  a  line  from  Richard  III.  and  alluding  to 
Romeo  and  Juliet). 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION. 


A  SECTION  of  our  Reprints  appears  under  the  title  of  Allusion- 
Books.  By  this  term  we  intend  to  cover  not  only  those  books 
which  afford  some  allusion,  or  indirect  reference,  to  Shakspere 
or  to  a  work  of  his,  but  also  those  which  directly  deal  with  either: 
i.  e.  which  mention  him  by  name  as  the  author  of  such  and  such 
a  poem  or  play,  or  as  a  poet  worthy  of  praise  or  of  blame.  This 
distinction  is  important,  and  it  is  but  right,  once  for  all,  to  insist 
upon  it.  Let  us  take  an  extreme  instance  of  each  term.  In  the 
Inferno  of  Dante  (Cant.  III.)  occur  these  lines  : 

e  vidi  1'ombra  di  colui 
Che  fecc  per  viltate  il  grand  rifiuto, 

as  to  which  it  is  still  a  debateable  question,  who  is  specially  signal- 
ized under  the  description  of  the  man  "  who  made,  through  baseness, 
the  great  refusal "  :  in  fact,  three  different  interpretations  have 
found  supporters.  If,  as  has  been  suggested,  the  reference  be  to 
Celestine  the  Fifth,  this  is  an  extreme  instance  of  an  allusion 
proper.  De '  Quincey,  in  his  admirable  essay  on  Style  (Works, 
Black's  ed.,  vol.  x.  p.  254),  has  a  note  on  the  Cassandra  of  Lyco- 
phron,  in  which  he  speaks  of  the  "  symbolic  images,  which  should 
naturally  be  intelligible  enough  to  us  who  know  the  several  his- 
tories "  of  the  Trojan  heroes,  "  but  which  (from  the  particular 
selection  of  accidents  or  circumstances  used  for  the  designation  of 
persons)  read  like  riddles  without  the  aid  of  a  commentator." 
De  Q.uincey  strictly  calls  these,  allusions  to  the  persons  in  ques- 
tion ;  "  as  if,"  he  remarks,  "  I  should  describe  Cromwell  by  the 
expression,  '  unfortunate  tamer  of  horses,'  &c.  &c.,  or  a  noble  lord 
of  the  last  century  as  '  the  roaster  of  men.'  "  (Essay  on  Jean  Paul 
Hichter  :  Works,  vol.  xiii.  p.  124.)  Carlyle's  works,  again,  are 
like  Jean  Paul's  in  this  respect :  full  of  allusions,  often  of  the 
most  obscure  kind,  to  persons  and  events.  To  this  day  many  of 
the  allusions  in  the  works  of  our  old  poets  are  uncertain.  As- 
suredly "  he  who  left  untold,"  &c.,  in  11  Penseroso,  is  Chaucer ; 
but  whether  the  next  allusion  be  to  Spenser  only,  or  to  Bojardo  aa 
»  well,  remains  an  open  question. 

ALLUSION-BOOKS.  b 


11  C i:\KIt.\L   INTRODUCTION. 

But,  on  the  other  hand,  when  a  writer  is  named,  or  mentioned 
in  terms  which  directly  identify  him,  it  is  not  strictly  correct  to 
call  such  a  reference,  an  allusion,  since  there  is  no  by-play,  or  side- 
glance  at  an  incident  or  event  which  may  serve  as  the  middle 
term  of  identification.  Thus  when  Henry  Willobie's  anonymous 
eulogist  writes 

And  Shake-speare  paints  poor  Lucrece  rape, 

one  can  hardly  say  that  the  Rape  of  Lucrece  or  its  author  are 
alluded  to  :  they  are  directly  noticed.  But  notwithstanding,  it  is 
a  fact  that  a  vast  number  of  such  notices  involve  an  indirect  refer- 
ence to  the  writer  or  the  writing  ;  and  we  may  surely  be  allowed, 
for  the  sake  of  convenience,  to  employ  a  titl«,  to  cover  all  our  Re- 
prints  in  this  Section,  which  faithfully  describes  the  greater  part 
of  them,  and  is  applicable,  with  some  little  license,  to  nearly  all. 

The  first  instalment  of  our  Allusion-Books  consists  of  the  fol- 
lowing : — 

I.  Green's  Groats-worth  of  Wit ;  bought  with  a  million  of 
Eepentance.  .  We  know  of  no  copy  of  the  first  edition,  nor,  in 
fact,  of  any  edition  earlier  than  that  of  1596.  We  have  therefore 
reprinted  Mr  Henry  Huth's  copy  of  that  edition.  The  British 
Museum  Library  has  a  copy  of  the  edition  of  1617.  The  Bod- 
leian Library,  Oxford,  has  copies  of  the  editions  published  in  1621 
and  1629  :  the  former  of  which,  by  a  very  common  error  of  the 
press,  reads  "  Tygres  head,"  instead  of  "  Tygers  (or  Tygres)  heart," 
in  the  passage  containing  the  famous  allusion  to  Shakspere  and 
his  Third  Part  of  Henry  VI. 

The  title  of  this  work  is  not  The  Groats-worth  of  Wit,  &c.  ; 
but  Green's  Groats-worth  of  Wit,  &c.,  and  herein  lies  matter  for 
speculation.  It  was  a  practice  with  the  writers  of  that  time  to 
combine  some  name,  not  always  that  of  the  author,  with  the  title : 
e.  g.  The  Countess  of  Pembrooke's  Passion,  Willobie  his  Aviso,  &c. 
In  the  case  of  Robert  Greene's  remarkable  tract,  as  in  that  ofAvisa, 
there  was  a  special  motive  for  the  prominence  accorded  to  the 
author's  name  in  the  title.  It  was  one  of  Greene's  posthumous 
works,  and  was  revised  and  curtailed  by  his  literary  executor 
Henry  Chettle,  before  it  saw  the  light.  At  that  day  Greene's 
name  had  an  extraordinary  prestige,  owing  to  the  quantity  and 
popularity  of  his  literary  productions,  both  in  prose  and  in  verse, 
dramatic  and  lyric.  Accordingly  Chettle  puts  Greene's  name 
first,  not  only  to  bespeak  the  interest,  and  provoke  the  curiosity, 
of  the  public,  but  also  to  remind  the  reader  of  Greene's  recent 
death  and  Chettle's  editorship. 

As  Robert  Greene  died  on  Sept.  2  or  3,  1592,  we  may  safely 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION.  ifi 

refer  the  manuscript  to  the  summer  or  autumn  of  that  year:  and 
as  Kind-Hart's  Dreame  (which  contains  an  allusion  to  Green's 
Groats- worth  of  Wit}  was  entered  on  the  registers  of  the  Stationers' 
Co.  in  Dec.,  1592,  it  follows  that  Greene's  book  was  printed 
and  published  between  those  two  dates.  That  portion  of  this 
singular  tract  which  entitles  it  to  a  place  among  our  Allusion- 
BooJcs  is  the  address,  (following  on  the  main  story,  and  immediately 
preceding  Greene's  farewell,)  "To  those  gentlemen  his  quondam 
acquaintance,  that  spend  their  wits  in  making  plays;"  which 
deals  with  five  play-makers  (not  counting  Shakspere),  but  is  spe- 
cially addressed  to  three  of  them.  These  three  have  been  identified 
as  (1)  Christopher  Marlowe,  (3)  George  Peele,  and  (2)  Thomas 
Nash.  This  address  is  eminently  suggestive  of  the  low  estate  of 
the  players  at  that  date,  and  the  discredit  which  attached  to 
the  writers  who  supplied  them  with  copy.  Only  ponder  the  scorn 
with  which  John  Day,  and  John  Davies  of  Hereford  (the  admirer, 
if  not  the  actual  friend,  of  Shakspere  and  Burbage),  say  of  the 
player's  vocation.  The  former  (if,  as  the  late  Mr  Boltoh  Corney 
conjectured,  he  were  the  author  of  The  Returns  from  Pernassus, 
1606,  acted  in  1602)  puts  the  following  speech  into  the  mouth  of 
Studioso  (Actus  5,  scaena  1)  : 

Fayre  fell  good  Orpheus,  that  would  rather  be 

King  of  a  mole  hill,  then  a  Keysars  slave : 

Better  it  is  niongst  fidlers  to  be  chiefe, 

Then  at  [a]  plaiers  trencher  beg  reliefe. 

But  ist  not  strange  this  [these]  mimick  apes  should  prize 

Unhappy  Schollers  at  a  hireling  rate. 

Vile  world,  that  lifts  them  up  to  hye  degree, 

And  treades  us  downe  in  groveling  misery. 

England  affordes  those  glorious  vagabonds, 

That  carried  earst  their  fardels  on  their  backes, 

Coursers  to  ride  on  through  the  gazing  streetes, 

Scoping  it  in  their  glaring  Satten  sutes, 

And  Pages  to  attend  their  maisterships  : 

With  mouthing  words  that  better  wits  have  framed, 

They  purchase  lands,  and  now  Esquiers  are  made. 

(the  last  couplet  not  improbably  alluding   to  Shakspere).      To 
this  Philomusus  replies, 

What  ere  they  seeme  being  even  at  the  best, 
They  are  but  sporting  fortunes  scornfull  jests. 

John  Davies  writes  thus  : 

Good  God !  that  ever  pride  should  stoop  so  low, 

That  is  by  nature  so  exceeding  hie : 

Base  pride,  didst  thou  thy  seli'e,  or  others  know, 

Wouldst  thou  in  harts  of  Apish  Actors  lie, 

That  for  a  Cue  wil  sel  their  Qnalitie  ? 

Yet  they  through  thy  perswasiou  (being  strong) 


iv  GENERAL    INTRODUCTION. 

Doc  wcenc  they  merit  immortality, 

<  hicly  because  (forsooth)  they  use  thoir  Tongue, 

To  speake  as  they  are  taught,  or  right  or  wronge. 

If  pride  asccnde  the  at  age  (6  base  ascent) 

Al  men  may  sec  her,  for  nought  comes  thereon 

But  to  be  scene,  and  where  Vice  should  be  shent, 

Yea,  made  most  odious  to  ev'ry  one, 

In  blazing  her  by  demonstration 

Then  pride  that  is  more  than  most  vicious, 

Should  there  endure  open  damnation, 

And  so  shee  doth,  for  slice's  most  odious 

In  Men  most  base,  that  are  ambitious. 

(Microcosmos,  &c.,  1603,  pp.  214-5.)  Even  Lodge,  who  had  indeed 
never  trod  the  stage,1  but  had  written  several  plays,  and  had 
110  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  his  antecedents,  speaks  of  the  vocation 
of  the  play-maker  as  sharing  the  odium  attaching  to  the  actor : — 

At  last  he  left  me,  where  at  first  he  found  me, 
Willing  me  let  the  world  and  ladies  knowe 
Of  Scilla's  pride,  and  then  by  oath  he  bound  me 
To  write  no  more  of  that  whence  shame  doth  grow  : 
Or  tie  my  pen  to  pennie-knaues  delight, 
But  live  with  fame,  and  so  for  fame  to  wright. 

(Scillae's  Metamorphosis  :  last  stanza  before  I,' Envoy.)  At  this 
day  we  can  hardly  realise  the  scorn  which  was  thrown  on  all  sides 
upon  those  who  made  acting  a  means  of  livelihood.  Let  their 
lives  be  as  cleanly  and  their  dealings  as  upright  as  they  might 

1  In  the  Preface  to  Mr  Collier's  Reprint  of  the  "  Life  and  Death  of  William 
Longbeard,  &c,  by  Thomas  Lodge,  1593,"  (standing  7th  in  a  volume  of  Reprints 
dated  1866)  we  have  Mr  Collier's  latest  deliverances  on  this  matter.  He  says  that 
"  at  one  period,  like  many  others,  he  [Lodge]  coupled  the  profession  of  author  and 
actor :  "  and  subsequently  says  that  Lodge  "  suffered  so  much  from  poverty,  as  to 
be  driven  from  the  university  to  the  stage."  The  story  is  a  pure  fiction.  It  was 
started  in 

I.  Dodsley's  Select  Collection  of  Old  Plays,  1825,  edited  by  Mr  J.  P.  Collier, 
and  repeated  in 

II.  Gosson's  School  of  Abuse,  1841,  edited  by  Mr  J.  P.  Collier. 

III.  Memoirs  of  Edward  Alleyn.  1841,  pp.  40—45,  by  Mr  J.  P.  Collier. 

IV.  The  Shakespeare  Society's  Papers,  vol.  iii.  1847,  p.  145,  Paper  by  Mr  J.  P. 
Reardon. 

V.  Lodge's  Defence  of  Plays,  and  Alarum  against  Usurers,  1853,  edited  by  Mr 
David  Laing,  with  the  aid  of  Mr  J.  P.  Collier. 

VI.  Lodge's  Life  and  Death  of  William  Longbeard,  [n.  d.]  edited  by  J.  P. 
Collier.     The  true  facts  are  set  forth  in 

1.  Was  Thomas  Lodge  an  actor?     An  Exposition  touching  the  Social  Status 
of  the  Playwright,  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth,  by  C.  M.  Ingleby,  LL.D.,  1868. 

2.  Vol.  ix.  of  Early  English  Text  Society's  Publications.     Preface  (on  Vaga- 
bonds), 1869,  pp.  xxiv.  xxv.,  by  Edward  Viles  and  F.  J.  Furnivall. 

3.  The  Academy  for  Jan.  24,  1874.     Letter  frojn  Mr  F.  J.  Furnivall. 

Mr  Collier's  last  words  on  this  and  other  falsifications  with  which  he  is  charged, 
is  to  lay  the  fault  if  any  on  Messrs  Amyot,  Bruce,  and  others,  who  copied  and 
collated  for  him,  all  of  whom  died  years  ago.  See  the  Athetmum  for  Feb.  21,  1874. 
To  Dr  G.  H.  Kingsley  belongs  the  credit  of  having  first  detected  this  miserable 
falsification. 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION.  V 

they  were  deemed  to  be  sans  aveu,  runaways  and  vagrants :  and 
even  Shakspere  suffered  so  keenly  from  his  pariah  condition, 
that  he  exclaims, 

My  name  be  buried  where  my  body  is, 
And  live  no  more  to  shame  nor  me  nor  yon  ! 
For  I  am  shamed  by  that  which  I  bring  forth, 
And  so  should  you  to  love  things  nothing  worth. 

Things  were  come  to  a  pretty  pass  when  a  reckless  profligate  like 
Eobert  Greene  could  afford  to  hurl  scorn  at  Shakspere :  the 
dramatist,  low  as  he  was,  to  pelt  the  poor  player,  who  had  done 
his  best  at  that  time  to  be  a  play-wright  "  of  threads  and 
patches,"  before  showing  himself  a  dramatist  of  the  highest  genius 
and  originality. 

Apart  from  the  identity  of  the  second  play-maker,  which 
has  been  the  subject  of  debate,  there  is  happily  no  question  as  to 
the  meaning  of  the  address.  It  is  the  players  whom  he  designates 
burs,  puppets,  antics,  crows  (deckt  with  peacock's  feathers),  apes, 
rude  grooms,  bucJcram  gentlemen,  peasants,  and  painted  monsters. 
Now,  hard  measure  as  this  is,  insolent  and  insulting  as  such 
nicknames  are  and  were,  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  they  were 
felt  to  be  appropriate  to  the  class  at  which  they  were  hurled.  It 
was  the  trick  of  the  time  to  speak  of  them  in  those  terms.  Davies, 
as  we  have  seen,  has  apish  actors,  men  most  base,  &c. ;  Heywood, 
puppets,  painted  images,  &c.  ;  Eobert  Burton,  butterflies,  baboons, 
apes,  and  antics  ;  and  so  forth. 

At  a  time  when  the  players  were  pelted  on  all  hands,  like  men 
in  the  pillory,  it  was  a  safe  game  for  Eobert  Greene,  a  repentant 
playwright,  to  fling  mucJc-beds  (to  use  De  Morgan's  phrase:  Bud- 
get of  Paradoxes,  p.  163)  at  an  unrepentant  player,  who  had  in- 
herited the  low  caste  of  his  class,  and  added  to  it  the  unpardon- 
able sin  of  writing  plays  on  his  own  account,  and  worse  (if 
possible)  of  altering  for  the  better  the  plays  of  other  men. 

It  seems  to  have  been  the  trick,  too,  of  that  age,  as  prolific  in 
the  language  of  abuse  as  of  poetry,  to  invent  ridiculous  or  con- 
temptuous nicknames,  and  fasten  them  upon  eminent  men  of  the 
quality.  Two  in  particular  possess  interest  for  us :  viz.,  show- 
thing  (Shakspere's  nickname  for  Ben  Jonson  as  a  Comedian),1  and 
Shake-scene,  Greene's  nickname  for  Shakspere  as  a  Tragedian. 
Note  here  that  one  practice,  by  which  the  Tragedian  made  himself 
ridiculous  in  the  eyes  of  the  educated,  was  over-doing  the  buskin- 

1  Readers  who  are  curious  on  this  point  are  referred  to  a  recently  published 
Shakespeare-Anthology,  entitled  Shakespeare' t  Centurie  of  Prai/se,  pp.  208  and  231. 
(Birmingham  :  printed  by  Josiah  Allen  for  the  Editor,  Dr  C.  M.  Ingleby.) 


VI  GENERAL   INTRODUCTION. 

tread  by  which  he  shook  tJte  stage.  (See  Ben  Jonson's  Commend- 
atory verses  on  Shakspere  prefixed  to  the  folio  1623.)  But  it  was 
just  one  of  the  things  which  struck  with  awe  the  vulgar — the 
"  penny-knaves  " — that  the  great  man's  tread  vibrated  the  frail 
structure  on  which  he  marched.  Hence,  Greene  happily  nicknames 
the  new  tragedian,  a  Shake-scene ;  and  that  this  was  meant  for  a 
parody  on  ShaJcc-speare,  we  cannot  doubt,  when  we  see  that  the 
words  in  italics,  "  with  his  Tygers  heart  wrapt  in  a  players  hide  " 
(Eepriut,  p.  30),  parodies  one  in  an  early  work  of  Shakspere's.  la 
"  The  True  Tragedie  of  JRichard  Duke  of  YorTce,  and  the  death 
of  good  King  Henrie  the  Sixt"  &c.  1595,  in  the  fifth  scene,  the 
Duke  says  to  the  Queen, 

She  \volfe  of  France,  but  worse  than  Wolves  of  France : 

Whose  tongue  more  poison'cl  then  the  Adders  tooth : 

How  ill  beseeming  is  it  in  thy  sexe, 

To  triumph  like  an  Amazonian  trull 

Upon  his  woes,  whom  Fortune  captivates  !  &c. 

Oh  Tygers  hart  wrapt  in  a  womans  hide! 

How  couldst  thou  draine  the  life  bloud  of  the  childc, 

To  bid  the  father  wipe  his  eies  withall, 

And  yet  be  scene  to  beare  a  woman's  face  ? 

The  whole  speech  is  retained  in  the  third  Part  of  Henry  the  Sixt, 
but  much  worse  printed  in  the  folio  1623  than  in  the  quarto  of 
1595.  This  is  not  the  place  to  settle  the  vexed  question  of  the 
authorship  of  The  True  Tragedie.  Three  views,  however,  may  be 
mentioned :  (1)  that  of  Mai  one,  that  Shakspere  was  not  the 
author  either  of  the  First  Part  of  the  Contention  or  of  The  True 
Tragedie  ;  but  that  he  appropriated  a  large  part  of  both  plays,  when 
he  wrote  his  Second  and  Third  Parts  of  King  Henry  the  Sixt ; 
(2)  that  of  Mr  J.  0.  Halliwell  (Phillipps)  that  there  were  older 
plays,  not  by  Shakspere,  on  the  subjects  of  these  :  and  "  that 
when  these  plays  were  printed  in  1594  and  1595,  they  included  the 
first  additions  which  Shakspere  had  made  to  the  originals  "  (Intro- 
duction to  the  First  Sketches  of  the  Second  and  Third  Part  of  King 
Henry  the  Sixth,  1843,  p.  xix) ;  (3)  that  Shakspere  was  the  sole 
author  of  these  plays  in  their  earliest  form.  This  last  view  we 
believe  to  be  utterly  untenable.  We  hold  that  Marlowe  was  author, 
or  joint  author  with  Greene,  of  the  older  plays,  republished  as  the 
First  Part  of  the  Contention,  and  TJie  True  Tragedie.  If  so,  a  special 
point  might  be  felt  in  Greene's  parody  of  the  line  in  question, 
that  possibly  being  one  of  those  which  were  written  by  Marlowe  or 
Greene  and  formed  part  of  the  older  plays :  and  we  should  then 
see  in  the  phrase  "  an  upstart  crow  beautified  with  our  feathers," 
not  merely  a  player  using  the  work  of  another  man  for  represent- 
ation, but  a  playwright  appropriating  another  man's  work,  and 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION.  Vll 

incorporating  it  with  his  own.  But  the  phrase,  as  we  shall  shortly 
see,  admits  of  a  less  offensive  interpretation. 

It  is  note-worthy  that  the  same  line  is  imitated  in  Acolas- 
tus  his  After-Witte  by  S[amuel]  N[icholson],  1600,  where  we 
have, 

0  woolvish  heart,  wrapt  in  a  woman's  hyde. 

S.  Nicholson  made  very  free  with  Shakspere's  Rape  of  Lucrece 
in  this  poem,  appropriating  several  entire  lines,  and  imitating 
others.  (See  Collier's  Biographical  and  Critical  Account :  vol. 
II.  p.  47  ;  and  also  vol.  I.  Additions,  p.  xxviii*.)  Dr  B.  Nichol- 
son calls  our  attention  to  a  similar  instance  of  appropriation  in 
Nicholas  Breton's  sacred  poem,  The  Countess  of  Pembrooke's 
Passion,  in  the  early  stanzas  of  which  he  has  managed  to  intro- 
duce by  two  or  three  lines  at  a  time  the  greater  part  of  two  of 
Watson's  sonnets  in  his  Tears  of  Fancie. 

Green's  Groats-ioorth  of  Wit  oiiits  first  appearance  was  variously 
fathered,  by  some  on  Chettle,  by  others  on  Nash.  The  former  in 
his  Kind-Harts  Dreame  confesses  to  his  having  retrenched  the 
more  abusive  parts  of  Greene's  tract ;  but  throws  the  whole  credit 
(or  discredit)  of  the  performance  on  Greene.  The  latter  (Nash) 
in  his  Pierce  Pennilesse,  1593,  indignantly  repudiates  the  attribu- 
tion of  Greene's  "  scald,  trivial,  lying  pamphlet "  to  himself.  I 
have  no  doubt  that  the  work  was  wholly  written  by  Greene,  with 
the  reservation  of  certain  parts  retrenched  or  otherwise  touched 
by  Chettle;  and  that  it  was  the  genuine  and  hearty  outcome  of  his 
repentance,  written,  moreover,  with  the  kindliest  motive.  It 
might  be  thought  that  the  fact  of  the  book  being  attributed  to 
Nash  is  an  argument  against  his  being  "young  Juvenall  [the 
sweet  boy],  that  byting  Satyrist,  that  lastly  with  niee  [Greene] 
together  writ  a  Comedie ; "  -strengthened,  as  it  appears  to  be,  by 
the  absence  of  any  proof  that  Greene  and  Nash  had  ever  done 
such  a  thing :  but  there  is  positive  evidence  of  the  fact  that 
Nash's  nick-name  was  "  young  Juvenal,"  that  he  was  at  this  time 
a  youth  of  24  (in  fact  in  his  25th  year)  ;  and  that  the  epithet 
"  sweet "  was  lovingly  applied  to  him  by  some  who  did  not  smart 
under  his  "  byting  satire,"  and  perhaps  even  by  one  who  did — 
viz.  Gabriell  Harvey.  This  we  shall  shew  in  its  proper  place 
in  our  Introduction.  On  the  other  hand,  Lodge  (who  jointly 
with  Greene  wrote  A  Looking-  Glass  for  London  and  England, 
acted  in  March  1591-2)  was  not  known  as  a  Satirist  till  the  pub- 
lication of  his  Fig  for  Momus  in  1595,  and  was  on  a  sea-voyage 
from  August  26,  1591,  till  June  11,  1593:  and  moreover  was  a 
man  of  34  when  he  left  England.  (Sae  Mr  Eichard  Simpson's 


VU1  UENEHAL    INTKODLXTION*. 

Letter  in  the  Academy  for  April  11,  1874,  which  wo  have  re- 
printed at  the  end  of  the  First  Part  of  this  Introduction.) 

We  must  own  that  the  balance  of  testimony  is  in  favour  of 
the  view  first  suggested  by  Dr  Farmer,  that  Thomas  Nash  was 
the  second  of  the  play-makers  addressed  by  Greene  in  this 
strange  book,  though  in  making  this  declaration  we  are  recanting  a 
long-cherished  belief. 

The  student  of  Shakspere  will  find  some  parallel  passages  in 
this  tract.  The  most  remarkable  of  these  runs  thus  : 

"  For  if  sic  volo,  sic  jubeo  hold  in  those  that  are  able  to 
command :  and  it  be  lawfull  Fas  et  [««£]  nefas  to  doe  any  thing 
that  is  beneficiall ;  ouely  Tyrants  should  possesse  the  earth,  and 
they  striving  to  exceede  in  tyranny,  should  each  to  other 
bee  a  slaughter  man ;  till  the  mightiest  outliving  all,  one 
stroke  were  left  for  Death,  that  in  one  age  mans-  life  should 
ende"  (p.  29). 

It  would  be  too  much,  to  say  that  Shakspere  used  this  (as  he 
did  so  many  other  passages  in  the  works  of  other  writers)  as  the 
warps  of  his  poetry ;  but  unquestionably  its  sense  is  perfectly 
reproduced  in  that  fine  speech  of  Ulysses,  in  Troilus  and  Crcssida, 
I.  3,  including  the  lines, 

"  Then  everything  includes  itself  in  power, 
Power  into  will,  will  into  appetite ; 
And  appetite,  an  universal  wolf, 
So  doubly  seconded  by  will  and  power, 
Must  make  perforce  an  universal  prey, 
And  last  eat  up  himself." 

A  few  biographical  details  of  Robert  Greene  may  not  be  deemed 
superfluous.  This  remarkable  man  was  born  at  Xorwich  about  1560: 
graduated  A.B.  at  St  John's  College,  Cambridge,  in  1578 ;  and  A.  AT. 
at  Clare  Hall,  Cambridge,  in  1583.  -In  1588  he  was  incorporated 
at  Oxford.  He  took  orders,  and  became  Vicar  of  Tollesbury  in 
Essex,  June  19,  1584.  His  earliest  publication  was  The  Myrrour 
of  Modcstie,  1584.  He  also  became  a  student  in  physic:  (Plane- 
tomachia,  1585.)  He  married  about  1586,  and  died  Sept.  2  or  3, 
1592,  in  his  32nd  or  33rd  year.  His  last  work,  printed  in  his 
lifetime,  was  A  Quip  for  an  upstart  Courtier,  1592,  which  pro- 
voked the  bitter  animosity  of  Gabriel  Harvey.  His  career  and 
untimely  end  recal  those  of  Edgar  Allan  Poe.  Both  were  men 
of  great  literary  and  poetic  genius:  both  were  married  and  child- 
less ;  both  fell  victims  to  excess ;  and  both  were  indebted  to  the 
hospitality  of  strangers  for.  the  last  offices  paid  to  a  dying  man. 

II.  Kind- Harts  Di-eame,  by  H[enry]  C[hettle],  is  an  early 


GENERAL  INTRODUCTION".  ix 

specimen  of  the  ever  common  device  of  making  one  book  out  of 
several  disconnected  fragments.  It  is  full  of  interest  for  us  in 
many  ways:  but  chiefly  for  its  preliminary  address  "To  the 
Gentlemen  Headers."  It  is  here  that  a  supposed  allusion  to 
Shakspere  occurs.  "  About  three  rnoneths  since  died  M.  Robert 
Greene ; "  this  and  the  entry  in  the  Stationers'  Register  fix 
the  date  of  authorship  as  December  1592.  But  whether  we 
possess  the  first  edition  is  at  least  doubtful ;  and  Mr  J.  O. 
Halliwell  (Life  of  Shakespeare,  1848,  p.  146,  note)  gives  the 
preference  to  the  Bodleian  copy  (formerly  the  property  of  Robert 
Burton)  over  others  ;  all  being  without  date.  Chettle  con- 
tinues thus:  "  leaving  many  papers  in  sundry  Booke  Sellers  hands, 
among  other  his  Groats  worth  of  Wit,  in  which  a  letter  written  to 
divers  play-makers  is  offensively  by  one  or  two  of  them  taken," 
&c. ;  this  doubtless  means  that  Marlowe  was  galled,  by  the  allu- 
sion to  his  Atheism  ;  and  perhaps  another  of  the  three  had  ex- 
pressed annoyance  at  the  personalities  of  Greene.  Marlowe  is  the 
"  one  of  them  "  with  whom  Chettle  cared  not  to  be  acquainted, 
and  "  the  first,  whose  learning  "  Chettle  professed  to  reverence 
(p.  38,  11.  8  and  17).  The  chief  question  for  us  is,  Who  was  "  the 
other,  whome  at  that  time "  Chettle  did  not  so  much  spare 
as  since  he  wished  he  had.  The  late  Mr  Howard  Staunton, 
in  a  remarkable  letter,  dated  Jan.  27,  communicated  to  the 
Athenaeum  of  Feb.  7,  1874,  argues  that  "  the  other "  referred 
to  by  Chettle  could  not  be  Shakspere,  because  Greene's  letter 
was,  as  Chettle  says,  "  written  to  divers  play-makers,"  and 
"  by  one  or  two  of  them "  offensively  taken  :  and  because 
Shakspere  was  not  one  of  the  persons  addressed,  but  the  chief 
of  those  against  whom  they  were  warned  by  Greene.  Mr 
Staunton  follows  his  predecessors  in  identifying  the  "  famous 
gracer  of  tragedians  "  with  Marlowe,  and  the  last  of  the  three, 
"  no  lesse  deserving  then  the  other  two,"  with  George  Peele.  The 
second,  then,  is  "  the  other  "  of  Chettle  ;  and  in  Mr  Staunton's 
opinion  "  young  Juvenall  "  (the  "  sweet  boy  ")  is  Thomas  Nash; 
and  therefore  it  is  concluded  that  it  is  Nash  to  whom  Chettle 
offers  the  sequent  apology.  This  apology,  however,  is  grounded 
on  the  personal  testimony  of  Chettle  and  others  to  the  civil  de- 
meanour, excellence  in  his  qualitie,  uprightness  of  dealing  (which 
argues  his  honesty"),  as  well  as  the  facetious  grace  in  writing  of  the 
person  who  had  taken  Greene's  remarks  offensively.  Now, 
"  young  Juvenall "  is  not  charged  with  any  offence  whatever,  save 
the  use  of  intemperate  or  libellous  language.  To  publish  a 
friendly  warning,  addressed  to  a  public  writer,  counselling  him  not 
to  make  enemies  by  bitter  words,  might  indeed  be  gall  and  wormwood 


X  GENERAL    INTRODUCTION. 

to  an  irritable,  overbearing,  and  self-asserting  man  :  but  to  apologise 
for  it  afterwards,  as  if  his  uprightness  and  honesty  had  been  called 
in  question,  would  be  an  absurdity  not  to  be  imputed  to  Chettle. 
The  fact  is,  that  none  of  the  three  addressed  is  assailed  for  want 
of  any  of  the  qualities  which,  according  to  Chettle,  were  conspicu- 
ous in  "  the  other  "  who  had  taken  Greene's  remarks  offensively. 

But  there  ia  a  person  alluded  to  under  the  nick-name  of  a 
Shake-scene,  on  whom  Greene  plainly  charges  the  want  of  those 
qualities;  but  unfortunately  Greene  does  not  address  his  remarks 
to  that  person — but  rather  talks  at  him.  In  fact,  Greene  ad- 
dresses, not  the  "  upstart  crow,"  but  the  three  play-makers  whom 
he  warns  against  him.  It  is  not  very  easy  to  say  what  was  the 
gravamen  of  the  charge  against  the  "  upstart  crow."  It  has 
hitherto  been  supposed  that  he  is  charged  with  appropriating 
other  men's  writing :  and  this  is  Mr  StauntOn's  view  ;  he  holds 
that  the  passage  in  question  imputes  to  the  person  assailed  the 
offence  of  having  remodelled  the  theatrical  pieces  of  the  persons 
addressed.  But  to  this  view  Mr  Bichard  Simpson  demurs 
(Academy,  April  4, 1874),  and  though  he  betrays  a  little  too  much 
eagerness  in  behalf  of  Shakspere's  originality,  and  puts  his  case 
too  strongly,  he  is  substantially  right.  "  Greene,  in  calling  Shak- 
spere  an  upstart  crow  '  beautified  with  our  feathers,'  probably  did 
not  mean  to  accuse  Shakspere  of  stealing,  but  simply  to  call  him 
an  actor  who  had  gained  applause  by  spouting  the  lines  of  Greene, 
Marlowe,  and  Peele."  But  certainly  the  expressions  "  bombast 
out  a  blank  verse  "  meant  writing  it ;  and  the  very  gist  of  the 
nick-name  Joltannes  fac-totum  is  that  the  person  assailed  was  a 
Jack  of  all  trades — one  who  not  only  put  pieces  on  the  boards, 
and  acted  in  them  himself,  but  essayed  to  write  plays  for  his  own 
house,  and  thus  intruded  on  the  author's  privileged  department. 
That  the  actual  phrase  "  an  upstart  crow  beautified  with  our 
feathers  "  might  mean  no  more  than  a  player  is  abundantly  proved 
by  the  three  following  quotations  which  are  advanced  by  Mr 
Simpson,  viz.  : 

"Why  art  thou  proud  with  Aesop's  crow,  being  pranked  with 
the  glory  of  others'  feathers  ?  "  Greene's  Never  too  Late,  1590. 

Again,  "  Sundry  other  sweet  gentlemen  I  do  know  [besides 
Greene  and  Peele]  that  have  vaunted  their  pens  in  private  devices, 
and  tricked  up  a  company  of  taffata  fools  with  their  feathers,  whose 
beauty,  if  our  poets  had  not  decked  [them]  with  the  supply  of 
their  periwigs,  they  might  have  anticked  it  until  this  time  up  and 
down  the  country  with  the  King  of  Fairies,  and  dined  every  clay 
at  the  pease-porridge  ordinary  with  Delfragus." — Nash's  preface 
to  Greene's  Menaphon,  1589. 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION.  XI 

Again,  "  Notice,  by  the  way,"  writes  Mr  Simpson,  "  that 
these  are  the  two  plays  mentioned  by  the  actor  to  Roberto  in 
the  Groatsworth.  Just  in  this  way,  when  the  degree  of  LL.D. 
was  offered  to  the  young  son  of  the  Duke  of  Suffolk  at  Cam- 
bridge, in  Edward  Vl's  reign,  he  said,  '  who  was  he  to  appear 
among  the  doctors,  and  to  plume  himself,  like  Aesop's  crow,  in 
alien  feathers  ?  ' " 

And  lastly,  Mr  Simpson  quotes  these  lines,  which  in  our 
judgment  scarcely  support  his  view  : 

"  Greene  gave  the  ground,  to  all  that  went  before  him  : * 
Nay  more,  the  men  that  so  eclipst  his  fame 
Purloynde  his  plumes;  can  they  deny  the  same?  " 

Greene  s  Funeralls,  by  E,.  B.  Gent.  1594. 

But  the  entire  passage  in  Green's  Groatsivorth  of  Wit  moans 
a  great  deal  more  than  Mr  Simpson  appears  to  find  in  it.  It  is 
difficult  (as  we  have  said)  to  realise  at  this  day  the  excessive  odium 
attaching  to  the  theatrical  profession,  an  odium  shared  by  the 
playwrights  who  supplied  them  with  dramatical  pieces.  But 
if  we  do  this,  we  shall  be  able  to  understand  somewhat  of  the 
indignation  which  the  regular  staff  of  playwrights  must  have 
felt  when  they  found  a  common  player  aspiring  to  the  dignity 
of  a  playwright,  and  thus  threatening  to  bring  the  dramatist's 
vocation  into  tenfold  discredit,  and  to  defraud  the  regulars 
of  their  pay.  Surely  it  was  not  in  human  nature  for  the  ruined 
and  dying  Greene  to  hold  his  peace,  when  he  found  the  great 
shadow  of  this  New  Reputation  cast  on  the  field  occupied  by 
himself,  Marlowe,  Peele,  and  some  others :  keeping  these  con- 
siderations in  view,  Greene's  language  will  seem  quite  natural  and 
unstrained,  without  resorting  to  the  hypothesis  that  Shakspere's 
conduct  was,  in  his  view,  more  than  constructively  dishonest.  In 
fact,  believing  that  the  Shake-scene  was  Shakspere,  we  can  very 
well  see  that  his  noiseless  yet  strenuous  aggrandisement  as  a  tragic 
and  comic  writer,  an  advent  of  dramatic  genius  for  .which  there 
appeared  no  adequate  preparation,  must  have  provoked  both 
to  jealousy  and  to  admiration  the  men  whose  functions  were  thus 
superseded :  and  that  they  would  see  in  the  advantage  so  taken  of 
them  some  evidence  of  dishonesty.  On  this  view  alone  there  was 
reason  for  Chettle's  apology,  when  he  found  that  Shakspere  was 
not  only  a  man  of  exquisite  grace  in  writing,  but  of  gentle  and 
honest  life.  But  further,  we  may  suppose  that  Chettle  saw  that 
Greene's  insolence  bore  a  construction  prejudicial  to  Shakspere's 

•  l  "  Went  before  him  ;  "  i.  e.  were  preferred  before  him,  and  so  far  eclipsed  him. 
Surely  these  lines  bring  a  direct  charge  of  dishonesty  against  Greene's  later  com- 
petitors in  play-writing. 


Xll  GENERAL   INTRODUCTION. 

honesty  ;  and  if  so,  there  was  an  additional  reason  for  the  apology. 

The  difficulty  however  remains,  that  Chettle  distinctly  s:i\  s 
that  ho  is  apologising  for  one  of  the  three  to  whom  Greene  wrote 
his  epistle;  and  most  assuredly  the  "upstart  crow"  is  not  ad- 
dressed at  all.  The  only  explanation  which  occurs  to  me,  is  that 
we  have  Greene's  remarks  in  an  imperfect  form.  Chettle  owns 
to  having  retrenched  some  of  the  more  abusive  passages  in  Greene's 
manuscript ;  and  it  is  no  very  violent  assumption  that  he  cut  out 
some  highly  offensive  passage  in  which  Greene  apostrophised  the 
Shake-scene  ;  and  that  when  Chettle  wrote  the  apology  prefixed  to 
Kind-Harts  Dreame  he  remembered  the  apostrophe,  but  forgot 
the  omission.  This  view  is  countenanced  by  some  remarks  in 
Gabriel  Harvey's  Third  Letter,  to  which  we  shall  shortly  have  to 
call  attention.  We  must  add,  that  Mr  Staunton's  letter  was 
replied  to  with  great  ability  by  Mr  Richard  Simpson  in  the  letter 
which  we  have  reprinted. 

In  Chettle's  tract  the  five  "  invectives  against  abuses  reign- 
ing "  may  be  thus  summarised  : 

1.  Against  the  liberty  of  ballad-printing ;  by  Anthony  Xow- 
now. 

2.  Against  quack-salving ;  by  Dr  Burcot. 

3.  Robert  Greene  to  Pierce  Pennilesse  (i.  e.  Thos.  Nash). 

4.  A  pica  for  public  amusements ;  by  Richard  Tarleton. 

5.  Against  juggling  ;  Tby' William  Cuckoe. 

A  word  on  some  of  these  "  Apparitions."  Anthony  Now  now 
is  the  nickname  of  an  itinerant  fiddler.  Dr  E.  F.  Rimbault  (Percy 
Soc.  Tracts,  vol.  v.  p.  03)  quotes  an  old  ballad  from  the  Second  Part 
of  the  Gentlecraft,  by  Thomas  Delouey,  1598,  of  which  the  refrain  is 

0  Anthony,  now,  now,  now; 

where  it  is  said,  "  Anthony  in  his  absence  sung  this  song  so  often 
in  S.  Martins,  that  thereby  he  purchast  a  name  which  hee  never 
lost  till  his  dying  day,  for  ever  after  men  cald  him  nothing  but 
Anthony  Now  now"  This  Anthony  has  been  supposed  to  be 
Anthony  Munday,  but  without  a  vestige  of  reason.1  The  like 

1  On  this  point  Dr  B.  Nicholson  writes  to  us,  as  follows :  — 
"  Some  time  ago  I  read  this  part  of  K.  H.  Dreame  very  carefully,  and  with  tl.e 
view  of  examining  this  supposition.  I  could  not  find  one  word  in  support,  rather 
many  showed  me  that  A.  Now  now  was  a  known  but  yet  merely  an  itinerant  strett- 
fiddler,  with  nothing  to  connect  him  with  Meres'  'best  plotter.'  So  in  Munday's 
history  I  know  nothing  which  would  connect  him  with  a  street-fiddler  origin,  lie 
was  an  author  in  1579,  in  Rome  before  1582,  a  translator  probably  from  the  Italian 
1584  (see  Coll.  Ann.  of  81,  III.  241)  ;  would  he  then  in  1592  be  spoken  of  merely 
in  the  terms  used  in  K.  II.  Dreame  ?  It  is  hazardous  reasoning  from  negatives,  but 
Jonson  in  his  depreciation  of  him  says  nothing  of  street-fiddling.  The  origin  of  the 
supposition  appears  to  have  arisen  as  in  the  Museum  copy  of  K.  II.  D.,  where  the 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION.  Xlll 

refrain  occurs  in  a  ballad  at  the  end  of  Le  Prince  d' Amour, 
1060.  Of  Dr  Bnrcot  nothing  is  known.  Richard  Tarleton 
was  the  most  famous  extravagant  Comedian  of  Elizabeth's 
reign.  The  earliest  mention  of  him  is  as  the  author  of  a  ballad 
in  The  Floods  of  Bedfordshire .  He  died  Sept.  15S8  (Kimbault, 
ibid.  p.  63).  References  to  him  and  his  famous  "  jigge  "  are  fre- 
quent in  the  old  literature.  Dr  Rimbault  compares  Chettle's 
description  of  Tarleton  with  that  given  in  Tarlton's  Neives  out  of 
Purgatorie.  William  CucJcoe  was  doubtless  an  itinerant  juggler ; 
but  his  name,  or  nickname,  has  not  been  found  in  any  other  work. 
Kind-Hart  was  the  conventional  name  of  an  itinerant  tooth- 
drawer,  and  it  occurs  frequently  in  the  literature  of  this  period. 
Plaine  Percevall,  1589,  says  "  if  [thou  wilt  have  thy  Colts  tooth 
drawne]  gently,  let  me  be  thy  tooth-drawer,  I  have  a  kind  hart  of 
mine  owne,  and  that  name  hath  been  good  at  such  a  practise 
heretofore."  Dr  Rimbault  quotes  five  couplets  from  The  Letting 
of  Humours  Blood  in  the  Head  Vaine,  1600,  in  which  is  the  line 

"  Not  as  Kind-heart,  in  drawing  out  a  tooth." 

III.  Englandes  Mourning  Garment,  by  Henry  Chettle,  though 
out  of  chronological  order,  is  next  reprinted.  Its  title-page  has 
neither  name  nor  date  ;  but  the  allusions  to  the  death  of  Elizabeth 
as  a  recent  event  prove  that  it  was  printed  in  1603,  and  the  address 
"  To  the  Header,"  immediately  before  the  colophon,  signed  "  Hen. 
Chettle,"  claims  the  principal  work  as  his,  through  the  accident 
of  correcting  Hewres  (or  as  he  quotes  it  Herores)  which  the 
printer  had  set  up  for  Heroes,  on  p.  98. 

The  part  which  immediately  concerns  us  is  the  second  verse- 
fragment,  extending  from  p.  97  to  p.  99.  Of  course  "  the  Arca- 
dian Shepheards  inchaunting  phrase  of  speaking,"  at  foot  of  p.  96, 
alludes  to  Sir  Philip  Sidney,  and  "  the  excellent  and  cunning 
Collm"  on  p.  97,  is  Edmund  Spenser,  from  whom  Chettle  appears 
to  quote  the  couplet,  which  serves  for  motto  of  the  sequent  pro- 
lusion ;  though  we  have  not  found  it  in  Spenser's  works. 

In  the  prolusion  itself  there  are  eleven  allusions, 

He  that  so  well  could  sing  the  fatall  strife 
Letweene  the  royall  Roses  White  and  Red, 

is  Samuel  Daniel,  of  whose  Civile  Wares  betweene  the  Howses  of 
Lancaster  and  Yorke,  four  books  were  published  in  1595,  the  fifth 

similarity  of  the  Christian  name  (a  very  common  one  at  that  time)  has  led  some  one 
to  scribble  Munday  on  the  margin.  See  also  W.  "Webbe's  notice  of  Munday  in  his 
Disc,  on  Engl.  P.  1586  (p.  35  of  Arhr.  reprint)." 


XIV  GENERAL   INTRODUCTION. 

in  1500,  and  the  sixth  in  1602,  the  remaining  two  not  appearing 
till  1609. 

He  that  sung  fortie  yeares  her  life  and  birth, 
And  is  by  English  Albions  so  much  farnde, 

is  William  "Warner,  whose  Albion's  England  was  published  in  1586. 

Coryn  full  of  worth  and  wit, 
That  finisht  dead  Mus<tns  gracious  song, 

is,  of  course,  the  illustrious  George  Chapman,  the  continuator  and 
ender  of  that  noble  work  which  Marlowe  (who  had  been  "  dead  " 
ten  years  in  1603)  left  unfinished  j  viz.,  the  Hero  and  Leander  of 
Musseus. 

On  the  next  page 

our  English  Horace,  whose  stecle  pen 
Can  drawe  Characters  which  will  never  die, 

is  doubtless  the  Horace  Junior  of  Dekker,  i.  e.  Ben  Jonson.  The 
next  allusion  we  will  consider  at  greater  length  hereafter. 
"  Sweete  singer  Coridon "  is  Michael  Drayton,  identified  by  the 
reference  to  his  Isabel  and  his  Poly-olbion,  here  called  by  a  press- 
error,  Poly  Albion.  "  Delicious  sportive  Musidore  "  is  probably 
Thomas  Lodge,  who  had  renounced  poetry  for  medicine ;  whence 
the  allusion, 

Although  thou  hare  resignd  thy  wreath  of  Bay. 

But  as  Chettle  does  not  elsewhere  allude  to  Thomas  Greene, 
Musidore  may  be  he ;  the  probability  however  is  the  other  way : 
and  other  poets  as  prominent  as  that  Greene  are  also  ignored,  as 
Win.  Browne,  George  Wither,  John  Reynolds,  &c.  "  Quicke 
Anti-horace"  is,  of  course,  Thomas  Dekker,  and  "yong  Mcelibee" 
must  be  John  Marston ;  and  lastly,  "  Heroes  last  Musceus " 
should  be  Henry  Petowe,  who  published  in  1598  The  Second  Part 
of  the  Loves  of  Hero  and  Leander,  which  was,  like  Chapman's,  a 
continuation  of  Marlowe's  poem. 

In  this  prolusion  Chettle  complains  that  none  of  these  poets 
had  celebrated  in  verse  the  memory  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  then 
lately  dead :  and  amongst  them  he  thus  speaks  of  another  poet  in 
these  terms  : 

Nor  doth  the  silver  tonged  Melicert, 

Drop  from  his  honied  muse  one  sable  teare 

To  mourne  her  death  that  graced  his  desert, 

And  to  his  laies  opend  her  Royall  eare, 

Shepherd,  remember  our  Elizabeth, 

And  sing  her  Rape,  done  by  that  Tarqnin,  death. 

The  concluding  couplet  shows  pretty  plainly  that  by  Melicert, 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION.  XV 

Chettle  meant  Shakspere.  It  is  quite  certain  that  he  intended  no 
allusion  to  the  ancient  story  of  Melicerta  (or  Melicertus)  ;  but  the 
second  line  renders  it  likely  that  he  had  an  eye  to  the  possible 
etymology  of  the  word,  pcXi,  honey,  and  Krjpos,  bees-wax,  or  Kr\piov, 
comb ;  so  that  Melicert  would  be  Honeycomb,  or  the  "honied  muse," 
from  which  his  verse  distilled.  We  must  here  bear  in  mind  that 
in  a  poem  (1598)  attributed  to  Barnefield,  Shakspere's  Muse 
is  spoken  of  as  his  "  honey-flowing  Vaine  ;  "  and  that  Weever  in 
his  22ud  Epigram  (1595)  and  Meres  (1598)  call  our  Bard  "  Honey- 
tonged  Shakespeare."  (See  postea,  pp.  159,  180,  184.)  "Whence 
one  might  almost  conclude  that  it  was  proverbial  to  associate 
"  honey  "  with  Shakspere's  early  writings.  Melicertus,  however, 
is  named  by  Chettle  on  p.  87  of  JUnglandes  Mourning  Garment,  and 
by  Robert  Greene  in  his  Menaphon ;  and  naturally  the  question 
has  been  raised  whether  in  these  three  allusions  we  have  three 
or  two,  or  only  one  real  person.  In  entering  upon  this  question, 
it  is  necessary  to  be  on  our  guard  against  supposing  that  there 
was  anything  like  an  appropriation  of  a  pastoral  or  other  nick- 
name, at  least  beyond  the  lifetime  of  the  bearer.  Thus  Chettle 
dubs  himself  Colin,  mainly  because  Spenser  had  been  called  so 
(see  E.  M.  Garment,  p.  97) ;  and  many  poets  were  called  Meli- 
boeus:  and  so  forth.  Chettle  thus  associates  three  poets  of  mark 
(p.  87)  : 

"  0,  saith  Thenot,  in  some  of  those  wrongs  resolve  us,  and  thinke 
it  no  unfitting  thing,  for  thou  that  hast  heard  the  sorgs  of  that 
warlike  Poet  Philesides,  good  Meltebee,  and  smooth-tongued  Meli- 
cert, tell  us  what  thou  hast  observed  in  their  sawes,  scene  in  thy 
owne  experience,  and  heard  of  undoubted  truths  touching  those 
accidents :  for  that  they  adde,  I  doubt  not,  to  the  glory  of  our 
Eliza." 

The  plot  thickens.  We  have  now  to  discriminate  all  three 
names,  Philesides  and  Melibee,  as  well  as  Melicert,  and  to  identify 
them  if  we  can.  Assuredly  no  change* can  be  got  out  of  the  as- 
sumption that  the  same  poet  is,  as  a  matter  of  course,  alluded  to 
under  the  same  name.  Mr  Bichard  Simpson,  in  his  Introduction 
to  A  Larum  for  London  or  the  seige  of  Antwerp  (Longmans,  1872) 
pp.  2  and  3,  appears  to  do  this.  Speaking  of  the  passage  we  have 
just  quoted,  he  writes — 

"  Probably  the  reason  why  this  reference  to  Shakspere  under  the  name  of  Me- 
licert, has  not  obtained  the  attention  it  deserves  is  the  fact  that  none  of  these  topics 
[the  relations  of  the  English  to  the  Spanish]  are  discussed  in  any  of  his  recognised 
works.  It  is  remarkable  how  silent  they  all  are  on  Spanish  matters,  which  during 
a  great  part  of  his  life  were  the  occasion  of  anxiety  and  even  panic  to  the  whole 
country.  The  other  two  poets  who,  in  common  with  Shakspere,  touched  upon 
Spanish  perfidy  to  England,  were  'the  warlike  poet  Philesides,  and  good  Melibee.' 


XVI  GENERAL    INTRODUCTION". 

The  first  is  not  ajain  mentioned  by  fhettle,  and  cannot  therefore  be  identified  from 
his  pamphlet.  Many  of  the  Elizabethan  poets  were  also  soldiers;  Gasman.', 
Churchyard,  Raleigh,  Sidney,  Barnaby  Rich,  Barnaby  George,  Gervase  Maikham, 
and  others.  Any  of  these  may  be  Pbilesides.  The  pood  Melibee,  on  the  other 
hand,  is  subsequently  addressed  as  the  '  young  Melibee,'  the  friend  of  Antihoracc  or 
Decker.  This  goes  far  to  identify  him  with  Marston  ;  and  this  conclusion  is  much 
strengthened  when  we  find  Chettle'l  friend  Drayton,  two  years  later,  addressing 
Marston  as  '  good  Melibeus  '  who 

Down  from  the  goodly  "Western  waste, 

To  drink  at  Avon,  drivest  thy  sunned  sheep. 

Marston  was  married  to  a  daughter  of  the  rector  of  Ban  ford  St  Martin,  in  "Wiltshire, 
and  had  apparently  settled  witli  his  wife  at  Christchurch  in  Hampshire." 

This  is  Mr  B.  Simpson's  case;  and  we  must  candidly  own 
that  we  think  it  is  a  very  weak  one.  For  ourselves,  we  have  not 
the  least  doubt  that  Philesides,  or  Philisides,  is  Sir  Philip  Sidney  ; 
for  it  was  under  this  name  that  Sidney  figured  himself  in  his 
Arcadia ;  and  when  Chettle  wrote  we  may  be  quite  sure  that  all 
readers  saw  in  Philesides  no  other  poet  than  Sidney.  Again  hi 
the  Pastoral  ^Eclogue  upon  the  Death  of  Sidney,  printed  with 
Colin  Clout's  Come  home  again,  1595,  Sidney  is  addressed  as  Phili- 
sides. The  truth  is,  the  name  is  simply  a  compound  of  Philfip] 
Sid[ney]  with  a  connecting  vowel  and  a  Greek  termination.  -Mr 
C.  Elliot  Browne  (Notes  and  Queries,  4th  S.  xii.  510)  corroborates 
these  arguments  by  quoting  from  the  Earl  of  Stirling's  Supplement 
of  the  Defect,  1G21,  a  note  in  which  the  Earl  apologizes  for  several 
divergences  from  the  plan  of  the  Arcadia, 

"  specially  in  the  death  of  Philisides  making  choice  of  a  course  whereby  I  might 
best  manifest  what  affection  I  beare  to  the  memorie  of  him  whom  1  tooke  to  be 
alluded  unto  by  that  name,  and  whom  I  only  by  this  imperfect  parcell  (denying 
more)  had  a  mind  to  honour," 

clearly  referring  to  the  fall  of  Sidney  on  the  field  of  Zutphen. 
Further,  as  Mr  C.  E.  Browne  points  out,  the  Earl  thus  describes 
his  hero :  "  Philisides  [was]  a  Muroni  of  courage  and  courtesie, 
of  learning  and  armes  ; — so  that  it  seemed  that  Mars  had  begotten 
him  upon  one  of  the  Muses." 

The  identification  of  Chettle's  Philesides  with  Sidney  is  the  car- 
dinal point  in  the  interpretation  of  the  prose  passage  ;  and  there- 
fore we  make  no  apology  for  reprinting  the  following  remarks 
on  that  point  from  an  admirable  paper  by  Dr  Brinsley  Nicholson 
(Notes  and  Queries,  5th  S.  i.  109).  We  agree  with  him  that 
we  may  positively  assert  Philesides,  as  well  as  Philisides,  to  be 
Sir  Philip  Sidney  ;  and  that  we  must  not  allow  this  identification 
to  be  disputed,  whatever  may  be  its  consequences. 

First,  Alexander,  in  his  addition  to  the  third  book  of  the  Arcadia,  makes  Pliili- 
sides  die  of  a  wound  in  the  thigh  from  an  empoisoned  dart  thrown  by  an  unknown 
hand,  and  Sidney  died  of  a  chance  bullet  wound  in  the  thigh,  which,  ending  in  in- 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION.  XV11 

ward  mortification,  seemed  to  confirm  the  belief  that  shot  wounds  were  poisoned 
wounds.  [Secondly,]  Philisides'  calm  death  and  quiet  address  to  his  friends  is  an 
imitation  of  Sidney's,  and  the  desire  to  live  in  their  friends'  memories  is  common  to 
both  deathbed  speeches.  [Thirdly,]  The  history  of  the  "tilting  in  Iberia  (where  I 
was  borne)  dedicated  to  the  memorie  of  the  Queen  Andromanes  marriage," — when  a 
novice  in  armes  he,  with  Musidorus,  Pyrocles,  and  others  in  their  train,  ran  in  a 
pastoral  show  against  the  Corinthian  knights, — is  a  plain  reference  to  the  magnifi- 
cent tournament  and  show  before  the  French  embassy  that  came  over  to  negociate 
the  marriage  with  the  Duke  of  Anjou  in  1581,  and  in  which  Sidney,  Fulke  Greville, 
the  Earl  of  Arundel,  and  the  Lord  Windsor  were  the  challengers  and  knights  of 
Desire  that  attacked  the  Fortresse  of  Perfect  Beautie.  In  the  chroniclers  (see 
Nichols'  Progr.),  the  feats  of  arms  in  this  tournament  are  described  in  much  the 
same  glowing  terms  as  those  used  by  Alexander's  Philisides.  Fourthly,  Sidney 
writing,  Philisides  speaks  autobiographically  of  himself  in 

"  The  song  I  sang  old  Lanquet  [»'.  e.  Languet]  had  me  taught ''  (Arc.,  B.  III.), 

and  thus  identifies  himself  with  Sidney.  Fifthly,  the  second  book  of  Browne's 
Britannia! s  Pastorals  is  dedicated  to  William,  Earl  of  Pembroke  (1616) ;  and 
in  one  of  the  commendatory  verses,  probably  by  Win.  Herbert,  we  have, 

"  Hee  masters  no  low  soul  who  hopes  to  please 
The  Nephew  of  the  brave  Philisides." 

As  to  the  name  of  Melibee,  Mr  C.  E.  Browne,  in  the  note  from 
which,  we  have  already  quoted,  suggests  "  that  Melibee  and  Meli- 
cert  were  dead  Statesmen,  not  living  poets ;  that,  in  fact,  the 
allusions  in  the  political  portion  of  the  work  [of  Chettle]  are  en- 
tirely independent  of  those  in  the  poetical  part,  and  refer,  per- 
haps, to  Walsingham  and  Burghley,  who,  with  Sidney,  were 
associated  together  in  the  popular  mind,  as  the  three  great  leaders 
of  the  Anti-Spanish  policy."  Mr  Browne  specifies  these  reasons 
for  this  view : 

1.  The  nature  of  Collin's  narrative,  which  reads  more  like  a 
piece  justificative  or  State  paper  than  anything  likely  to  be  derived 
from  a  drama  or  poem.     The  context  also  clearly  shows  that  the 
writer  is  referring  to  a  past  state  of  the  Spanish  question,  and  to 
a  period  when   Shakspere   and  Marstou  were  little  more  than 
children. 

2.  The  use  of  the  word  "  sawes,"  which  although  certainly  not 
excluding  the   idea  of   poetry,  has  primarily,  I  think,  a  graver 
meaning.     Shakspere  has  "  holy  sawes  of  sacred  writ  "  (Hen.  IV., 
part  ii.,  i.  3),  and  Marstou,  in  What  you  will,  speaks  of 

" the  musty  sawe 

Of  antick  Donate." 

3.  The  great  improbability  that  any  work  which  at  this  time 
(1603)  was  well  known  to  have  been  written  by  Shakspere  would 
be  allowed  to  perish. 

4.  The  curious  infelicity  of  the  word  "  good,"  if  applied  to  such 
a  professor  of  strong  language  as  Marston,  and  the  unlikelihood 
that  he  would  be  coupled  with  Sidney. 

ALLUSIO.N-BOOKS.  C 


XV111  GENERAL    INTRODUCTION. 

5.  Thomas  "Watson  had  celebrated  Walsingham  under  the 
name  of  Melibocus  in  his  Eclogue  of  1590.  (Statesmen  and  poli- 
ticians, as  well  as  poets,  were  spoken  of  pastorally  as  shepherds. 
Lodge  has  introduced  Burghley  in  his  eclogues  as  Eglon,  and  there 
is  the  well-known  epitaph  on  Robin  ascribed  to  lialeigh. 

As  to  the  origin  aud  employment  of  the  name  Melicert,  Mr 
Browne  writes : — 

It  is  scarcely  likely  that  Chettle  intended  to  allude  to  the  son  of  Ino,  who  was  no 
shepherd,  but  it  is  probable,  I  think,  that  he  referred  to  the  Melicertun  of  Greene's 
Me/iaphon,  one  of  the  principal  characters  in  the  most  popular  fiction  of  Shakipeare'i 
old  antagonist,  and  whether  Chettle  originated  or  only  applied  the  compliment,  it 
shows,  at  any  rate,  the  continuance  of  the  good  understanding  which  had  been 
commenced  by  tbe  amende  made  to  Shakspeare  ten  years  before  in  Kind  Heart's 
Dreame.  Greene's  Melicertus  had  been  a  shepherd  "  elsewhere  "  before  he  came 
to  Arcadia,  and  though  himself  born  to  "  base  fortunes,"  yet  knowing  that 
"  Venus  loved  Adonis,  and  Luna  Endymion,  that  Cupid  had  bolts  feathered  with 
tbe  plumes  of  a  crow  as  well  as  with  the  pen  of  an  eagle,"  he  devoted  himself  to  a 
mistress  of  much  higher  rank  than  himself.  She  dies,  or  appears  to  die,  very 
suddenly,  and  the  wretched  Melicertus,  after  the  manner  of  the  pastoral  romances, 
retires  into  Arcadia  to  keep  sheep,  where  he  meets  with  the  beautiful  shepherdess, 
Samela,  who  in  the  end  turns  out  to  be  his  former  mistress,  still  alive.  Melicertus 
contends  with  Menaphon  for  the  mastery  of  the  shepherds.  "  Am  I  not  the  king's 
shepherd,"  says  Menaphon,  "  and  chief  of  all  the  bordering  swains  of  Arcadia  ?  " 
"I  grant,"  quoth  Melicertus,  "but  am  not  I  a  gentleman,  though  tired  in  a 
shepherd's  skin-coat,  superior  to  thee  in  birth,  though  equal  now  in  profession  ?  " 
Their  rival  pretensions  are  decided  by  a  kind  of  poetical  tournament,  and  Melicertus 
is  declared  the  winner.  The  character  was  evidently  a  favourite  with  Greene,  who 
has  put  into  bis  mouth  the  best  poetry  in  tbe  book.  There  are  certainly  some  points 
of  resemblance  between  Melicertus  and  the  traditional  idea  of  Shakspeare.  Meli- 
certus is  a  great  maker  of  sonnets,  and  after  his  poetical  excellence,  the  leading 
quality  ascribed  to  him  is  the  possession  of  a  very  ready  and  smooth  wit,  which 
enables  him  to  shine  in  the  euphuistic  chaffing-matches  with  which  the  work  is 
interlarded. 

Dr  Brinsley  Nicholson,  in  the  note  from  which  we  have  made 
one  extract,  replies  to  Mr  Browne  as  to  the  names,  Melibee,  and 
Melicert.  As  Dr  Nicholson's  paper  is  exceedingly  able,  we  make 
110  apology  for  giving  nearly  all  the  rest  of  it  in  extenso : 

Next,  as  to  "  good  Melibee."  Thenot  asks  Collin — that  is,  Chettle,  who,  as 
appears  from  another  passage  in  the  Mourning  Garment,  was  then  about  fifty — what 
had  been  said  by  wise  men  of  old  as  to  certain  state  events  of  tbeir  times.  He  asks 
Collin,  one  of  the  passing  generation,  what  he  had  heard  from  men  of  his  own  and 
a  past  generation  as  to  the  causes  of  war  between  Spain  and  England  in  1586  or  7. 
Now  here  it  is  to  be  noted  that,  Spenser  being  dead,  Chettle  wittingly  calls  himself 
"  Collin,"  acknowledging  that  he  takes  the  name  in  these  words — "  I  cannot  now 
forget  the  excellent  and  cunning  Collin  indeed  (for  alas  I  confesse  my  selfe  too  too 
rude)."  And  it  is  to  be  noted,  in  that  it  is,  as  I  believe,  one  of  the  three  examples  in 
the  book  of  the  re-giving  of  a  pastoral  name  after  the  first  owner's  death.  Melibee 
is  a  second  instance.  The  "  good  Melibee"  of  this  passage  I  have  for  some  time 
taken  to  be  Walsingham,  as  suggested  by  MR  ELLIOT  BUOWXE,  not  only  because 
Watson  so  called  him  in  his  eclogue  on  his  death,  but  because  Spenser  in  reference 
to  this  very  eclogue  calls  him,  in  The  Ruins  of  Time  (1591),  by  the  epithet  which 
Chettle,  as  Collin  the  second,  takes  from  him — 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION.  XIX 

"  Good  Melibee,  that  hath  a  poet  got 
To  sing  his  living  praises  being  dead." 

But  this  good  Melibee  being  dead,  Chettle,  speaking  of  poets  now  alive,  calls 
Marston  the  friend  of  Anti-Horace  Dekker,  not  good  Melibee  nor  even  Melibee,  but 
"  young  Melibee."  The  error  of  thinking  that  "songs"  in  pastorals  necessarily 
meant  songs  or  plays,  and  not  the  sayings,  or  as  the  text  glosses  it  "  saws,"  of  the 
persons  spoken  of,  according  as  they  were  poets,  statesmen,  or  prose  writers,  and 
non-attention  to  this  distinctive  epithet  young,  have  lead  to  Mr  R.  Simpson's  curious 
mistakes  in  his  Introduction  to  the  Siege  of  Antwerp.  As  MR  BROWNE  justly 
says,  Marston  in  1586,  or  even  1588,  was  but  a  child.  Again,  Walsingham,  being 
dead  in  1590,  Drayton,  not  bound  by  Chettle's  authority,  or  probably  writing  some 
time  before  1603,  applies  the  name  Melibee  to  some  one  who  was  either  related  to, 
or  a  great  friend  of,  Sidney,  and  of  a  station  at  least  equal  with  Sidney's  or  Wals- 
ingham's.  In  his  eclogue  lament  of  Sidney  he  says  (Eel.  vi.)  — 

"  Thou  that  down  from  the  goodly  western  waste 
To  drink  at  Avon  driv'st  thy  sunned  sheep, 
Good  Melibceus  that  so  wisely  hast 
Guided  the  flocks  delivered  thee  to  keep, 
Forget  not  Elphin." 

And  then  in  similar  strains  he  adjures 

"  Alexis  that  dost  with  thy  flocks  remain 
Far  off  within  the  Caledonian  ground." 

Now  this  Melibceus  cannot  be  "Walsingham,  because  the  latter  had  no  connexion  by 
birth  or  property  with  Salisbury  Plain  and  Wiltshire,  and  because  we  know  that 
this  eclogue  is  are-written  form  of  a  previous  lament  published  in  1593.  Nor  can 
he  be  Marston,  as  ME  SIMPSON  would  again  have  it,  for  first  the  words  and  the  con- 
text show  that  statesmen  or  nobles  are  spoken  of ;  secondly,  because  Marston  was 
then  a  young  man  about  town  writing  plays,  and,  in  1605,  imprisoned  for  writing 
Eastward  Ho  ;  thirdly,  because  though  his  father-in-law,  or  future  father-in-law, 
as  a  clergyman  in  Wilts,  might  have  had  sheep  to  keep  there,  Marston  had  none  ; 
and,  fourthly,  because  all  that  we  know  or  rather  can  suppose  of  Marston's  place  of 
residence  after  he  ranged  himself  is  that  it  was  at  Coventry.  But,  as  I  have  said, 
the  poem,  by  its  subject  and  wording,  was  probably  written  long  before  its  supposed 
date  of  publication  in  or  about  1605  (for  the  volume  has  no  date),  and  its  good 
Melibceus  is,  I  should  say,  the  husband  of  Mary  Sidney,  Countess  of  Pembroke. 

Lastly,  as  to  Melicert.  I  confess  that  though  the  conjunction  of  Sidney,  Wal- 
singham, and  Shakspeare  was  a  strange  one,  I  Avas  inclined  to  think  that  Chettle 
could  not  have  given  the  same  name  to  two  people  in  one  book.  But,  since  reading 
MB  ELLIOT  BROWNE'S  note,  and  reconsidering  the  matter,  I  believe  that  the 
smooth-tongued  Melicert  of  the  Philisides  and  Melibee  trio  must  have  been  a  states- 
man or  person  of  eminence,  and  the  significant  name  Honeycomb,  or  he  of  the 
honeycomb,  agrees  well  with  Ascham's  notice  of  Burghlcy  in  his  Introduction  to 
his  Scholemaster,  and  with  the  description  given  for  instance  in  Chalmers'  Bio- 
graphy. The  same  consideration  is,  I  believe,  the  common  key  of  the  three 
examples.  Colin  dead,  Chettle  adopts  the  name  ;  Walsingham  dead,  Drayton  gives 
the  name  Melibceus  to  another  of  eminence,  probably  the  Earl  of  Pembroke,  who 
died  1601 ;  and  both  being  gone,  Chettle  gives  it,  with  the  distinctive  adjunct 
young,  to  a  new  poet ;  Melicert  the  statesman,  being  dead,  Chettle  applies  it,  when 
speaking  of  living  poets,  to  Shakspeare  of  the  honied  muse. 

Clearly,  if  it  be  a  condition  of  identification,  that  all  three 
shepherds  shall  be  poets,  or  at  least  well-known  versifiers  (and 
this  is  primd  facie  the  inference  from  Chettle's  use  of  the  word 
songs),  Mr  C.  E.  Browne's  conjecture,  that  "the  smooth-tongued 


XX  GENERAL   INTRODUCTION. 

Mcliccrt"  is  Burghley,  is  put  out  of  court.  Apart  from  this 
condition,  we  do  not  understand  Dr  Nicholson  to  give  Burghley 
the  decided  preference  over  every  competitor  ;  for  manifestly  Lord 
Buckhurst  would  equally  well  fit  the  place,  besides  satisfying  the 
condition  of  being  a  song-writer;  and  for  choice,  perhaps  we 
should  give  the  preference  to  the  latter,  as  the  associate  of  Sidney 
and  Walsingham  in  Chettle's  prose.  Meanwhile  the  phrase 
"  smooth-tongued  Melicert "  is  perhaps  too  vague  to  furnish 
ground  for  more  than  a  plausible  guess. 

Yet,  after  all,  it  is  by  no  means  certain  that  by  songs  Chettle 
had  in  view  the  lyrical  or  other  poetical  performances  of  the  three 
personages  in  question  :  for  in  a  pastoral  work,  the  prose  judgments 
of  the  real  men  would  be  described  as  the  songs  of  the  shepherds ; 
and  that  being  so,  the  allusion  is  altogether  too  indefinite  to  be 
spotted.  On  the  other  hand,  Philesides  being  called  a  Poet,' 
the  songs  in  his  case  would  seem  to  be  actual  poetical  performances  ; 
and  if  so,  it  would  be  difficult  to  contend  that  the  word  has  not 
the  same  meaning  in  the  reference  to  the  other  two. 

The  chief  point  of  interest  ^in  Dr  Nicholson's  paper,  is  the 
doctrine,  now  first  propounded,  that  literary  nick-names  not 
infrequently  lapsed  on  the  death  of  their  owners,  and  were 
revived  in  certain  of  their  survivors.  If  we  are  right  in  identify- 
ing Philesides,  Melibee,  and  Melicert  in  Chettle's  prose,  with 
Sidney,  Walsingham,  and  Buckhurst,  we  may  very  well  look  for 
those  names  in  association  with  others  after  their  former  owners 
had  passed  away.  Thus  Walsingham  and  Buckhurst  being  dead, 
it  is  the  most  natural  thing  in  the  world  for  Chettle  to  bestow 
them  on  Marston  and  Shakspere. 

To  persons  unaccustomed  to  the  literary  practices  of  those 
times  it  must  seem  almost  incredible  that  in  his  prose  Chettle 
should  speak  of  the  songs  of  "  good  Melibee  and  smooth-tongued 
Melicert"  and  in  his  verse  prolusion  (in  the  same  work)  of  "  the 
silver-tonged  Melicert "  and  "  yong  Mcelibee"  and  not  intend  to 
designate  the  same  two  personages  by  the  latter  as  by  the  former 
pair  of  nick-names.  But  we  believe  that  there  is  really  nothing 
incredible  in  the  supposition.  On  the  contrary,  we  have  shown 
that  the  very  attempt  to  restrict  the  allusions  to  two  persons 
only,  involves  the  question  in  a  mesh  of  absurdities. 

At  page  61  is  a  passage  which  recals  the  magniloquent  speech 
of  the  King  in  Hamlet  : 

Do  not  feare  our  person : 
There's  such  Divinity  doth  hedge  a  King, 
That  Treason  can  hnt  peepe  to  what  it  would, 
Acts  little  of  his  will. 


GENERAL   INTRODUCTION.  XXI 

In  Chettle'a  tract  Colin  says  of  Queen  Elizabeth, 

"  Such  majestic  had  her  presence,  and  such  boldnesse  her 
heart,  that  she  despised  all  feare  ;  and  was,  as  all  Princes  are,  or 
shall  be,  so  full  of  divine  fulnesse  [?],  that  guiltie  mortalitie  durst 
not  beholde  her  but  with  dazeled  eyes." 

In  1591  Chettle  became  a  partner  with  William  Hoskins  and 
John  Danter  in  a  printing  business  (Ames,  Typ.  Ant.  by 
Herbert,  ii.  1113).  That  he  died  about  1607  may  be  inferred 
from  Dekker's  Knight's  Conjuring,  Done  in  Earnest,  Discovered 
in  Jest,  published  in  that  year,  where  Chettle  is  introduced,  as  a 
new  comer,  into  the  limbo  of  poets.  A  list  of  Chettle's  writings 
is  given  in  Mr  H.  Barrett  Leonard's  Introduction  to  his  edition 
of  The  Tragedy  of  Hoffman ;  or,  A  Eevenge  for  a  Father,  1631, 
the  only  extant  play  of  those  which  Chettle  wrote  alone.  This  list 
contains,  besides  one  translated  and  four  original  works,  sixteen 
plays  of  which  Chettle  was  sole  author,  and  thirty-one  plays 
which  he  wrote  in  conjunction  with  another  or  others.  Only 
three  or  four  of  the  latter  are  extant. 

We  know  but  very  few  biographical  details  of  Henry  Chettle. 
Dr  Rimbault's  researches  have  added  but  little  to  the  slender 
stock  of  his  predecessors.  Henry  Chettle  was  born  about  the 
year  1564-5.  He  had  a  child  named  Mary  buried  in  the 
Church  of  St  John,  New  Windsor.  The  inscription  upon  her 
tomb,  which  is  preserved  in  Ashmole's  Antiquities  of  Berkshire, 
1719,  iii.  75,  is  as  follows : — 

Here  lyeth  the  Body 

of  MAIIY  CHETTLE, 

The  Daughter  of  Henry  Chettle ;  who 

dy'd  the  22  of 

September  1595.     -ZEtatis  Suae  12. 
In  Memory  of  whom,  Robert  Gwine, 

Yeoman  of  the  Guard, 
hath  cans' d  this  to  be  done. 

IV.,  V.  In  connection  with  Englandes  Mourning  Garment  we 
take  A  Mournefull  Dittie  and  I.  C.'s  Epigrams,  the  latter  referring 
to  that  and  other  ballads  published  upon  the  accession  of  James. 
We  are  unable  to  identify  I.  C.  In  the  old  catalogue  of  the  Bod- 
leian Library,  the  volume  of  Epigratnes  is  given  under  E,  and  is 
attributed  to  John  Elsurn  :  but  in  correcting  this  for  the  new 
Catalogue,  the  clerk  has  placed  the  work  under  C.  (I)  only^  and 
cancelled  the  entry  under  Elsum.  In  Lowndes'  B.  M.  the  initials 
are  altered  and  expanded  into  J.  Can.,  on  what  authority,  and 
with  what  view,  we  are  unable  to  say.  Anyhow,  John  Elsum  can 
hardly  be  the  author,  if  he  be  rightly  credited  there  with  two 


XX11  GENERAL   INTRODUCTION. 

books  respectively  dated  1700  and  1701.     The  uncomplimentary 
style  in  which  I.  C.  speaks  of  the  ballad-writers  of  the  day,  as 

"  The  hated  Fathers  of  vildc  balladrie," 
and  also  as 

'  the  slanderers  of  the  time,' 

is  accounted  for  in  a  sonnet  prefixed  to  Kobert  Anton's  Philo- 
sophers satyrs,  1016  : 

To  his  ingenious  friend,  R.  A.  [Rohert  Anton.] 

Poesert  [sic]  and  praise  are  Twins.     The  first  being  quicke, 

The  second  still  is  so  ;  or  if  it  die, 

Then  is  the  first  too  sound,  or  else  too  sicke, 

And  so  may  dye  in  grace,  or  Envies  eye  ! 

But  this  with  wonder  in  my  stomacke  stickes, 

That  Satyrs  wrapt  but  in  base  Balladrie 

Are  praisd  beyond  the  moone  (of  lunatickcs) 

As  being  sun-begot ;  so  cannot  die. 

Needes  must  I  hugge  the  Muse,  and  praise  the  pen 

Of  him  that  makes  his  Satires  dance  a  brail 

Unto  the  musicke  of  the  spbearcs  even  then 

When  as  the  planets  footed  it  withall : 

Thou  sharply  singst,  but  he  the  burden  bcnres 
That  would  have  songe  more  sharpe  but  for  his  earcs. 

I.  D. 

The  allusion  in  the  llth  and  12th  lines  to  Sir  John  Davies' 
Orchestra  inclines  us  to  believe  that  the  signature  I.  D.  stands 
for  his  name.  The  truth  is  that  not  a  few  of  the  poets  of  the 
time  were  envious  of  the  popularity  which  greeted  the  political 
ballads,  due  not  to  their  literary  merit,  but  to  their  scurrility,  and 
to  the  impunity  enjoyed  by  the  authors,  which  they  owed  to 
their  obscurity. 

YI.  We  have  reprinted  Gabriel  Harvey's  Third  Letter  for  his 
remarkable  notices  of  Ilobert  Greene  (pp.  130-133,  139,  142), 
and  for  his  supposed  allusions  to  Shakspere  (pp.  130,  148),  viz. 
"  The  worst  of  the  four,"  and  "  one  whom  I  salute  with  a  hundred 
blessings."  We  know  otherwise  that  Harvey  was  a  great  admirer 
of  Shakspere's  writings  ;  for  we  learn  from  George  Steevens  (Ed. 
of  Sh.  1766)  that  Harvey  had  written  on  a  blank  leaf  of  Speght's 
Chaucer, 

"  The  younger  sort  take  much  delight  in  Shakespeare's  Tenus  and  Adonis  ;  but 
his  Lucrece,  and  his  tragedy  of  Hamlet,  Prince  of  Denmarke,  have  it  in  them  to 
please  the  wiser  sort.  1598." 

The  editors  of  the  Clarendon  Press  Ed.  of  Shakespeare  (Ilamht, 
1872,  p.  ix.)  write  thus  : — • 

"  Steevens  .  .  .  attributed  to  the  note  the  date  of  the  book,  but  Malone  has 
shewn  that,  although  Harvey  may  have  purchased  the  volume  in  159?,  there  is 
nothing  to  prove  that  he  wrote  the  note  till  after  1600,  in  which  year  Fairfax's 
translation  of  Tasso,  mentioned  in  another  note,  was  published." 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION.  XX111 

If  the  book  could  be  found  we  might  possibly  set  this  question  at 
rest ;  but  unfortunately,  after  making  search,  we  have  been  unable 
to  trace  it.  It  belonged  to  Bishop  Percy,  then  Dean  of  Carlisle, 
and  was  probably  destroyed  in  1780  with  his  first  Library  in  the 
fire  at  Northumberland  House.1 

This  letter,  long-winded  and  verbose  as  it  is,  is  interesting  for 
its  connection  with  Green's  Groats-ivortli  of  Wit.  On  p.  130 
Greene  is  abused  for  his  voluminous  writings,  being  called 
"  Greene  with  the  running  Head,  and  the  scribbling  Hand,  that 
never  linnes  [i.  e.  ceases]  putting  forth  new,  newer,  and  newest 
books  of  the  maker."  Harvey  then  says,  "  Green,  vile  Greene, 
would  thou  wearest  [wert]  halfe  so  honest,  as  the  worst  of  the 
foure,  whom  thou  upbraidest :  or  halfe  so  learned,  as  the  un- 
learnedst  of  the  three."  That  is,  half  as  honest  as  Shakspere, 
or  half  as  learned  as  Nash  :  the  four  being,  as  we  have  seen, 
Marlow,  Peele,  Nash,  and  Shakspere.  "  Thanke  other  for  thy 
borrowed  and  filched  plumes  of  some  little  Italianated  bravery  : 
and  what  remaineth,  but  flat  Impudence,  and  grosse  Detraction: 
the  proper  ornaments  of  thy  sweete  utterance  ?  "  This  clearly 
alludes  to  Greene's  attack  on  the  Shake-scene.  He  had  called 
Shakspere  "  an  upstart  crow  beautified  with  our  feathers."  Harvey 
now  retaliates  on  Greene,  and  tells  him  that  his  plumes  are  bor- 
rowed and  filched  from  the  Italian  stories. 

Harvey  here,  also,  seems  to  apply  to  Nash  the  expression 
"  good  sweet  orator." 

The  motto,  "  Omne  tulit  punctum,"  is  that  of  Greene's 
Oleron,  and  not  improbably  appears  on  other  of  his  writings. 

VII.  "We  have  next  taken  "  Eive  Sections  of  Palladia  Tamia" 
out  of  their  chronological  order,  with  the  view  of  preserving  the 
series  of  works  which  contain  any  notice  or  have  any  bearing  upon 
the  first  of  our  Allusion-Books. 

Wits  Common-Wealth  is  a  generic  title  for  (probably)  four 
distinct  works,  which  were  a  series  of  literary  commonplace  books, 
containing  miscellaneous  jottings  on  important  truths,  and  also  on 
notable  persons,  with  their  wise  or  witty  sayings.  The  book 
which  gave  this  name  to  the  series  bears  the  title 

(1)  Politeuphuia,  Wits  Common-Wealth,  1597.  It  was  a 
compilation  by  John  Bodenham,  and  such  was  its  popularity,  that 
it  was  from  time  to  time  "  newly  corrected  and  amended,"  and 
passed  through  eighteen  editions  before  the  Restoration  of 

1  The  worthy  Bishop's  second  Library  now  forms  part  of  that  of  Ambrose  Isted, 
Esq.,  of  Ecton  II  all,  Northamptonshire. 


XXiV  GENERAL   INTRODUCTION. 

Charles  II.,  and  twenty-two  before  the  abdication  of  his  successor. 
A  copy  of  this  edition  was  in  the  catalogue  of  Asher  of  Berlin, 
for  18-14.  The  second  edition  of  1598  was  issued  conjointly  with 

(2)  Palladis  Tamia.  Wits  Treasury,  being  the  second  part  of 
"VVits  Commonwealth.  By  Francis  Meres,  1598.  Then  followed 
the  third  part,  which  Mr  "W.  C.  Ilazlitt  believes  to  be  "  'Wit's 
Theatre  of  the  Little  World,"  (X.  Ling)  1599  :  but  we  think 
this  hardly  likely.  Lastly, 

(4)  Palladis  Palatium  :  Wisedomes  Pallace,  or  the  fourth  part 
of  Wit's  Commonwealth,  (Gr.  Elde  for  Francis  Burton)  1604. 

Of  the  second  of  these  works  we  reprint  from  leaf  275  to  leaf 
288  of  the  first  edition.  In  this  short  compass  we  have  nine 
references  to  Shakspere  by  name,  and  mention  is  made  of  his  two 
principal  poems,  his  sonnets,  and  twelve  of  his  plays,  including 
Love[s~\  Labours  Wonne,  which  has  not  been  satisfactorily  identified 
with  any  of  the  plays  in  our  collection.  For  one  thing,  we  do  not 
think  it  likely  to  be  All's  well  that  ends  icell,  as  Farmer  conjectured, 
which,  in  our  opinion,  offers  no  sufficient  resemblance  or  contrast 
to  serve  as  a  pendant  to  Loves  Labours  Lost.  Meres  has  also  one 
quotation  from  I  Hen.  IV.  ii.  3  ;  and  on  leaf  286,  what  is  more 
important  for  our  purpose,  we  find  the  most  curious  notices  of  3J. 
Greene,  G.  Harvey,  Nash,  Peele,  and  Marlowe.  Here  we  obtain 
the  evidence  of  Nash  being  nicknamed  "young  juvenall"  and 
being  called  "  sweet  " — whether  boy  or  Tom  matters  not. 

"  As  Actaeon  was  wooried  of  his  owne  hounds :  so  is  Tom  JvTrsA  of  his  Isle  of 
Dogs.  Dogges  were  the  death  of  Euripedes,  but  bee  not  disconsolate,  gallant  young 
Juvenall,  Linus,  the  Sonne  of  A 'polio  died  the  same  death.  Yet  God  forbid  that  so 
brave  a  witte  should  so  basely  perish,  thine  are  but  paper  dogges,  neither  is  thy 
banishment  like  Ofids,  eternally  to  converse  with  the  barbarous  Getes.  Therefore 
comfort  thy  selfe  sweet  Tom." 

VIII.  Spenser's  ACTION  has  been  identified  with  Shakspere 
on  two  grounds.  (1)  because 

"  A  gentler  shepherd  may  nowhere  be  found  ;  " 

and  gontle  was  the  proverbial  prefix  to  his  Christian  and  sur- 
name :  (2)  because  his  name, 

"  Doth  like  himself e  heroically  sound  ; " 

and  Shake-speare  was  par  excellence  an  heroic  name,  and  our  Shak- 
spere  was  the  author  of  heroic  histories.  As  to  the  first  point : 
•we  may  very  well  demand  the  evidence  of  the  assertion  that 
Shakspere  was  proverbially  called  "  gentle  Shakspere,"  or  "  gentle 
Will ;"  and  to  this  we  shall  find  no  answer  till  we  come  to  those 
who  wrote  of  him  regretfully  after  his  death.  That  he  was  re- 


GENERAL   INTRODUCTION.  XXV 

wembered  as  such  tJien  is  no  proof  that  he  was  recognized  in  his 
lifetime  as  the  "  gentle  shepherd."  As  to  the  second  point :  we 
remark  that,  just  as  Chettle,  calling  Shakspere  Melicert  (Honey- 
comb), expounds  its  meaning  by  referring  to  "  his  honied  Muse  ; " 
eo  may  Spenser  be  expanding  the  classical  nickname  Action,  by 
referring  to  its  heroic  sound.  If  this  be  so,  what  poet  soever  may 
be  alluded  to  under  that  heroic  name,  the  last  two  lines  are  per- 
fectly intelligible. 

But  for  ourselves,  we  must  own  to  a  pretty  strong  conviction 
that  Action  is  applied  by  Spenser  to  Shakspere.  Doubtless, 
so  far  as  concerns  the  heroic  name  Ae'tion  (i.  e.  'Aeruoy,  from 
aeros,  an  eagle,1)  meaning  the  man  of  eagle-flight,  Spenser  might 
just  as  well  be  celebrating  "Warner,  Dray  ton,  or  Daniell,  all  of 
whom  had  dealings  with  the  heroic  muse.  Mr  W.  Miuto,  indeed, 
remembering  that  Drayton  had  first  written  under  the  heroic 
name  of  Rowland,  is  convinced  that  Ae'tion  is  Drayton,  whose 
"  high  thoughts  invention  "  is  sufficiently  shown  in  his  Barons' 
Warres  and  other  works  (Academy,  January  24,  1874).  Mr 
J.  O.  Halliwell  (Phillipps),  on  the  other  hand,  wag  in  1848  dis- 
posed to  see  in  that  expression  an  allusion  to  Albion's  England, 
and  found  an  heroic  sound  in  Warner  (Life  of  Shakespeare,  p. 
142).  But  ShaJce-speare  is  the  typical  name  of  martial  achieve- 
ment as  surely  as  his  series  of  heroic  dramas,  English  and  Boman, 
are  matchless  in  English  literature. 

In  proof  of  our  assertion  as  to  Shakspere's  surname,  take  the 
following :  Fuller  compares  him  to  Martial  (the  Roman  poet)  for 

'  the  warlike  sound  of  his  Surname  (whence  some  may  conjecture  him  of  a  Military 
extraction],  Hastiv ibrans,  or  Shake-speare."  (The  Worthies  of  England,  1662,  pp. 
120.) 

The  name,  too,  is  perfectly  represented  by  either  of  two  Greek 
words,  'Eyxeo-TraAo?  and  AoptVaA.ro?.  There  could  not  be  better 
proof,  than  is  aiforded  by  these  equivalents  in  the  classical  languages, 
that  the  act  of  shaking  the  speare  was  a  recognized  type  of  all 
martial  deeds.  In  many  places  the  act  itself  is  described.  The  fol- 
lowing may  serve  as  examples  of  the  heroic  and  the  mock-heroic : 

"  He  all  enraged,  his  shivering  speare  did  shake, 
And  charging  him  afresh  thus  felly  him  bespake." 

(Faerie  Queen,  b.  iv.  c.  iii.  st.  10.) 

1  Malone's  two  attempts  at  the  etymology  of  this  name  ( Variorum,  1621,  ii.  274) 
are  a  caution  to  ambitious  editors.  He  was  ignorant  of  the  only  two  essentials  :  lie 
neither  knew  that  Ae'tion  was  a  recognized  Greek  surname  ;  nor  that  it  took  its  rise 
from  the  Greek  word  for  Eagle.  See  Shakspeare's  Centurie  of  Prayse,  1874,^. 
73-4  ;  and  the  Academy  for  January  10,  1874.  Our  note  in  the  former  was  printed 
six  months  too  early  to  profit  by  that  of  Mr  Hales. 


XXVI  GENERAL   INTRODUCTION. 

"  Behold,  behold,  thy  garter  blue, 
Thy  knight  his  valiant  clboe  weares, 
That  when  he  shakes  his  furious  apcare, 
The  foe  in  shivering  fearefull  sort, 
May  lay  him  downe  in  death  to  snort." 
(Histriomastix,  or,  the  Player  whipt,  1610.     Sig.  C.  4  recto.} 

Finally,  we  have  the  name  designated  in  an  undated  work  of 
the  time,  entitled  Polydoron  : 

"  Names  were  first  qnestionlesse  given  for  distinction,  facultie.  consanguinitie, 
desert,  qualitie :  for  Smith,  Taylor,  Joyner,  Saddler,  &c.,  were  doubtlesse  of  the 
trades;  Johnson,  Robinson,  Williamson,  of  the  blood;  Sackville,  Saville,  names  of 
honourable  desert ;  Armestrong,  Shakespeare  of  high  qualitie." 

In  our  recently-published  work,  Shakespeare's  Centurie  of 
Prayse,  p.  10,  "we  have  referred  this  poem  to  the  period  April 
16 — December  27,  in  the  year  1594,  believing,  with  Malone  and 
Halliwell,  that  1591  at  the  foot  of  the  dedication  was  a  misprint 
for  1594  ;  i.  e.  the  period  elapsed  between  the  death  of  Lord 
Derby  and  the  supposed  date  of  the  dedication.  As  there  are 
difficulties  to  clear  up  in  this  matter  of  date,  we  have  submitted 
it  to  Mr  J.  ~W.  Hales,  who  sends  us  the  following  remarks : — 

"  Colin  Clout's  Come  Home  Again  was  not  published  till  1595  ; 
but  there  is  no  reason  for  doubting  that  it  was  in  the  main  written 
by  the  time  mentioned  in  the  Dedicatory  letter  to  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh,  viz.  December,  1591.  Spenser  crossed  over  to  England 
in  1589  ;  he  probably  returned  to  Ireland  in  1591,  but  he  may 
have  done  so  in  1590.  That  he  was  back  in  Ireland  sometime  in 
1591  may  be  confidently  concluded  from  the  words  of '  the  Printer 
to  the  gentle  reader '  prefixed  to  '  Complaints ;  containing  sundrie 
small  poemes  of  the  world's  vanitie ' ;  see  the  Globe  Edition  of 
Spenser's  Works,  p.  xliv.  In  the  quiet  of  Kilcolman  his  thoughts 
would  naturally  recall  his  recent  sojourn  in  the  midst  of  the  busy 
world.  In  the  letter  just  referred  to  he  speaks  of  '  my  late  being 
in  England '.  He  wishes  his  friend  to  accept  '  this  simple 
pastoral'  'in  part  of  paiment  of  the  infinite  debt  in  which  I  ac- 
knowledge my  selfe  bounden  unto  you  for  your  singular  favours 
&  sundrie  good  turns  shewed  to  me  at  my  late  being  in  England  '. 
This  would  have  little  force,  if  not  written  till  December  1594,  as 
Todd  and  others  have  urged,  declaring  1591  to  be  a  mere  misprint. 
That  Colin  Clout's  Come  Home  Again  could  have  been  written  in  no 
December  later  than  that  of  1591  is  further  proved  by  this  fact : 
that  when  Spenser  wrote  it  the  image  of  Rosalind  had  not  yet 
been  superseded  in  his  fancy  ;  see  the  concluding  lines  of  the 
poem.  The  old  love  still  prevailed.  Now  it  was  in  1592  that  a 
new  love  arose.  It  was  in  the  course  of  that  year  that  the  Eliza- 
beth, whom  he  married  in  1594,  conquered  him  with  her  charms ; 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION.  XXV11 

see  Amoretti  fy  Epifhalamion.  Clearly  then  the  dedicatory  letter 
is  accurate ;  Colin  Clout's  Come  Home  Again  was  written  by  the 
close  of  1591.  But  it  was  slightly  altered  at  the  time  of  its 
publication  in  1595.  One  of  the  '  shepheard's  '  commemorated  in 
it  had  died  in  the  interval.  Ferdinando,  Earl  of  Derby,  the 
'  Amyntas '  of  the  poem,  died  April  16,  1594  ('  in  the  flower  of 
his  youth  .  .  .  not  without  suspicion  of  poyson,'  says  Dugdale, 
Baronage  of  England,  ii.  250).  The  words  are  these,  and  they 
sufficiently  indicate  some  alteration  : 

There  also  is  (ah  no,  he  is  not  now  !) 

But  since  I  said  he  is,  he  quite  is  gone, 
Amyntas  quite  is  gone,  and  lies  full  low, 

Having  his  Amaryllis  left  to  mone. 
Helpe,  0  ye  Shephcards,  helpe  ye  all  in  this, 

Helpe  Amaryllis  this  her  loss  to  mourne ; 
Her  losse  is  yours,  your  losse  Amyntas  is, 

Amyntas,  floure  of  Shepheards  pride  forlorne. 
He  whilest  he  lived  was  the  noblest  swaine, 

That  ever  piped  in  an  oaten  quill ; 
Both  did  he  other,  which  could  pipe,  maintains, 

And  eke  could  pipe  himselfe  with  passing  skill. 

It  may  plausibly  be  conjectured  that  the  original  copy  ran  thus : 

There  also  is  Amyntas,  noblest  swniue, 

That  ever  piped  in  an  oaten  quill ; 
Both  does  he  other,  which  can  pipe,  maintaine, 

And  eke  can  pipe  himselfe  with  passing  skill. 

"  '  Nash  had  reproached  Spenser  with  not  having  admitted  this 
nobleman,  then  Lord  Strange,  into  that  honourable  catalogue  of 
our  English  Heroes  which  insueth  the  Conclusion  of  thy  famous 
Faerie  Queene '  (see  quotation  from  the  Pierce  Pennilesse  his 
Supplication,  fyc.,  apud  Todd's  Spenser,  i.  xci.),  and  in  the  revi- 
sion of  Colin  Clout's  Come  Home  Again  Spenser  made  amends. 
Possibly  other  corrections  were  introduced,  as  in  the  case  of 
Daniel ;  see  Todd,  i.  xciii ;  but  with  regard  to  this  point  one 
must  remember  how  commonly  in  the  Elizabethan  works  circulated 
in  manuscript  years  before  they  found  their  way  into  print. 

"  The  only  external  objection  to  the  date  1591  for  the  writing 
of  Colin  Clout's  Come  Home  Again — and  it  is  really  trivial  by  the 
side  of  the  arguments  in  favour  of  that  date — is  that  Daphnaida 
is  dated  '  London  this  first  of  Januarie  1591.' — Either  this  is  a 
misprint,  to  adopt  Todd's  method  of  solving  such  a  difficulty,  only 
applying  it  differently ;  or,  as  the  late  Prof.  Craik  suggested, 
Spenser  here  makes  January  the  first  month  of  the  year  1591." 
This  argument  would  require  modification  if  Mr  Edward  Arber's 
view  should  turn  out  to  be  correct :  viz.  that  Spenser's  Amyntas 
was  Thomas  "Watson.  (English  Reprints:  Thomas  Watson's  Poems. 


XXVlll  GENERAL   INTRODUCTION. 

15  March,  1870,  p.  16.)  But  Mr  Hales's  view  is  probably  right. 
Prof.  Craik's  suggestion  is  supported  by  Spenser's  division  of 
the  year  in  his  Shepherds  Calender.  After  all,  we  need  not  inquire 
whether  six  days  was  not  enough  time  for  Spenser  to  have  travelled 
from  Kilcolman  to  London  :  for  the  Daphnaida  appears  to  be 
alluded  to  in  Colin  Clout's  Come  Home  Again,  so  that  the  Decem- 
ber of  the  latter  should  be  after  the  January  of  the  former  work. 

IX.  Willobie  his  Aviso,  said  to  be  a  poem  "  in  hexameter 
verse,"  because  each  verse  contains  six  lines,  was  first  published 
in  1594  ;  and  we  have  reprinted  the  commeudatory  poem  and  four 
canti  from  that  edition.  Other  editions  were  in  159G,  1605,  1609, 
and  1635.  From  the  Epistles  found  in  these  several  editions  we 
learn  all  we  know  of  the  presumptive  author  of  this  remarkable 
poem.  A  word  on  some  of  these  first.  To  the  edition  of  1594 
are  prefixed  an  "  Epistle  Dedicatory  "  as  well  as  an  "  Epistle  to 
the  lleader."  Both  are  from  Hadrian  Dorrell,  the  reputed  editor 
of  the  book  and  friend  of  its  author.  The  latter  he  dates  "  from 
iny  chamber  in  Oxford,  this  first  of  October."  To  the  edition  of 
1605  Dorrell  adds  an  "  apologie,  shewing  the  true  meaning  of 
Willobie  his  Avisa,"  which  professes  to  answer  some  who  mis- 
construed the  poem,  especially  P.  C.  [Peter  Colse] ,  and  ends 
with  these  remarkable  words  : — 

"  If  any  notwithstanding  will  continue  the  errour  of  their  vnsatisfied  minds  they 
must  for  ever  rest  in  the[ir]  rightlesse  erring,  till  the  author  (now  of  late  gone  to 
God)  returne  from  Heaven  to  satisfie  them  farder  touching  his  meaning.  And  so 
farewel.  Oxford  this  30  of  June  1596." 

A  poem  called  The  Victory  of  English  Chastity  printed  next  to 
the  Apologie  is  signed  "  Thomas  Willoby  Frater  Henrici  Willoby 
nuper  defuncti  "  [n.  d].1  From  these  premises  we  should  naturally 
conclude  that  there  were  two  brothers,  Henry  and  Thomas  Willoby 
(Willobie,  or  Willoughby,  the  orthography  being  phonetic),  both 
of  whom  were  poets,  and  wrote  on  one  and  the  same  subject. 
The  Apologie  also  records  that  Henry  Willobie  left  "  many  other 
pretty  things — of  his  devising,"  and  a  poem  called  Susanna,  which 
must  have  been  suggested  by  the  story  of  Susanna  and  the  Elders, 
and  therefore  we  are  asked  to  believe  that  both  brothers  wrote 
poems  (Avisa,  Susanna,  and  The  Victory  of  English  Chastity}  on 
one  subject — chastity,  maidenly,  or  matronly ;  which,  to  say  the 
least,  is  surprising.  We  also  learn  from  the  same  premises  that 
Henry  Willobie  died  at  Oxford  between  Oct.  1,  1594,  and  June 

1  Having  been  unable  to  see  a  copy  of  this  edition,  we  are  here  trusting  to  the 
account  of  it  in  the  Britixh  Bibliographer,  vol.  iii.  p.  241.  The  edition  of  1596  is 
only  "  presumed  "  in  that  work,  nor  has  Mr  Hazlitt  "  met  with  "  it. 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION.  XXIX 

SO,  1596,  and  that  his  brother  survived  him.  One  might  almost 
guess  already  that  Hadrian  Dorrell  is  hoaxing  us ;  that  he  was 
the  Henry  Willobie  of  the  Aviso,  and  Susanna,  and  after  June, 
1596,  the  Thomas  Willobie  of  the  Viclorie.  "We  shall  soon  find 
fresh  suggestions  of  doubt. 

In  the  editions  of  1605  and  1635  are  found  the  Apology  and  the 
Epistle  to  the  Reader.  In  the  former  Dorrell  says  the  author 
"  fained  an  Individuum  :  *  *  to  this  fained  Individuum,  he  gave 
this  fained  name  Avisa ;  "  and  in  the  latter  he  writes 

"  I  found  this  very  name  AVISA,  written  in  great  letters,  a  pretty  distance  a 
sunder,  and  under  every  letter,  a  word  beginning  with  the  same  letter,  in  this  forme, 

A  .  V  .  I.  S  .  A  . 

Amans      Vxor        Inuiolata      Semper        Amanda." 

But  Dorrell  presently  goes  on  to  say, 

"  Tet  of  the  other  side,  when  I  doe  more  deeply  consider  of  it  and  more  narrowly 
•weigh  every  particular  part,  I  am  driven  to  thinke  that  there  is  something  of  truth 
hidden  under  this  shadow.  The  reasons  that  move  me  are  these.  First  in  the  same 
paper  where  I  found  the  name  of  AVISA  written  in  great  letters,  as  I  said  before,  I 
found  this  also  written  with  the  author's  owne  hand,  viz. '  Yet  I  would  not  have  Avisa 
to  be  thought  a  publike  fiction,  nor  a  truthlesse  invention,  for  it  may  be,  that  I  have 
at  least  heard  of  one  in  the  west  of  England,  in  whom  the  substance  of  all  this 
hathe  been  verified,  and  in  many  things  the  veiie  words  specified  which  hath 
endured  these  and  many  more,  and  many  greater  assaults,  yet,  as  heere,  she  stands 
unspotted,  and  unconquered.' " 

Who  the  lady  was  has  never  been  determined,  nor  yet  where 
she  abode.  We  must  not  rush  to  the  conclusion  that  her  name 
was  Susan,  from  the  mention  of  Avi-Susan  in  the  commendatory 
poem :  for  that  has  no  more  reference,  of  necessity,  to  the  real 
lady's  name  than  Lucres-Avis  (phonetic  for  Lucrece- Avis] ,  the 
Susan  being  the  Susanna  of  the  Apocrypha,  and  the  Lucres  being 
the  Lucrece  of  Roman  History ;  the  former  celebrated  by  H.  W. 
(Henry  Willobie),  the  latter  by  W.  S.  (William  Shakspere). 
Avisa,  like  the  lady  "  in  the  west  of  England,"  abode 

At  "Westerne  side  of  Albion's  isle 
Where  Austine  pitcht  his  monkish  tent, 

which  suggests  Glastonbury ;  and  her  homestead  is  described  in 
the  single  stanza  which  constitutes  Canto  XL VI.  If  one  might 
make  a  guess  at  the  lady's  real  name,  from  the  hint  given  in  that 
stanza,  St  George  is  at  once  suggested,  and  one  is  reminded  of 
Rich.  III.  v.  3, 

Our  ancient  word  of  courage,  fair  Saint  George, 
Inspire  us  with  the  spleen  of  fiery  dragons ! 
Upon  them  !     Victory  sits  upon  our  helms. 

But  there  are  two  statements  in  DorrelPs  Apology  which  are 
hard  to  reconcile.  He  writes  : 


XXX  GENERAL    INTRODUCTION. 

"  This  poeticall  fiction  was  penned  by  the  Author  at  least  for  thirtie  and  five  yeercs 
since  (as  it  will  be  proved),  and  lay  in  wast  papers  in  his  study,  as  many  other 
prettie  things  did  of  his  devising ;  and  so  might  have  continued  still  (as  his  Susanna 
yet  doth)  had  not  I,  coutrarie  to  his  knowledge,  with  paiuc  collected  it  and  pub- 
lisht  it." 

"We  know  from  the  British  Bibliographer,  vol.  iii.  pp.  242, 
258,  that  this  passage  is  iu  the  Apology  (dated  1596)  added  to  the 
edition  of  1605.  Now,  35  from  1596  leaves  1561,  so  that,  ac- 
cording to  DorrelFs  statement,  Henry  Willobie  had  written  his 
Aviso,  by  June,  1561.  The  poem  showing  no  sign  of  immaturity, 
we  must  conclude  that  he  was  nearly  of  age  at  that  date ;  which 
will  throw  his  birth  back  to  about  1540.  Taking  that  year  as  a 
basis  of  computation,  he  must  have  been  from  53  to  56  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  At  least  he  was  then  a  man  of  fifty,  an  elderly 
man,  of  whose  achievements  Dorrell  might  have  written  with 
praise,  but  of  whom  he  could  uot  have  written  as  of  a  promis- 
ing student  and  a  young  soldier:  yet  Dorrell  describes  him,  in 
his  epistle  of  Oct.  1594,  as  "  a  scholar  of  very  good  hope,"  and 
what  is  even  more  absurd,  as  a  "  young  man,  who,  desirous 
of  seeing  the  fashion  of  other  countries,  had  not  long  sithence 
departed  voluntarily  in  her  Majesty's  service,"  whereas  he 
was  in  June,  1596,  nuper  defunctus,  and  had  "  not  long  sithence  " 
departed  at  the  bidding  of  the  King  of  kings.  Sir  Egerton 
Brydges  considered  that  this  "  anachronism  [might]  be  ascribed 
to  inadvertency."  For  ourselves,  we  see  in  it  the  pes  clauda 
which  so  persistently  dogs  the  hoaxer  ;  and  we  are  led  to  the 
conclusion,  already  mentioned,  that  Willobie  his  Aviso,  is  of  the 
same  class  as  The  Legacy  of  an  Etonian,  Edited  by  Robert  Nolands, 
sole  executor  (Macmillau,  1846),  where  the  executor's  name  is  a 
pseudonym,  and  the  editor  was  sole  author  of  the  poems,  which 

are  there  attributed  to  "  a  young  friend,  Mr  E n."  Here, 

nostro  judicio,  we  have  the  key  to  the  Willobie-Dorrell  mystery. 
Otherwise,  we  should  be  driven  to  the  conclusion  that  this  poem, 
which  is  redolent  of  late  Elizabethan  associations,  belongs  (by  a 
miraculous  anachronism)  to  the  reign  of  Henry  V11I.,  and  that 
therefore  the  interlocutor  whose  initials  are  W.  S.  could  not  be 
William  Shakspere,  seeing  he  was  not  born  till  the  third  year 
after  the  poem  was  written. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  name  of  Willobie  is  found  in  a  marginal 
note  in  William  Clarke's  Polimanteia,  15 '•.•,' 5,  where  he  is  referred 
to  as  one  of  those  of  Oxford  who  "  are  able  to  sing  sweetly  when 
it  please  thee."  Clarke  makes  "  England  to  her  three  daughters," 
the  Universities,  say, 


GENERAL   INTRODUCTION.  XXXI 

sweet  Ma-  "  I  know,  Cambridge,  howsoeuer  now  old,  thou  hast  some  young,  hid 

stcr  campiow.  ^^  |,e  ffoiist,  yet  suffer  them  to  be  wittie ;  let  them  be  soundly 

Britton.  learned,  yet  suffer  them  to  he  gentlemanlike  qualified :  Oxford  thou 

^"n't'i  hast  many,  and  they  are  able  to  sing  sweetly  when  it  please  thee. 

Frounce.'  And  thou  youngest  of  all  three,  either  in  Hexameter  English,  thou 

Lodge.  art  cui-ious  (but  that  thou  learncdst  of  my  daughter  Cambridge)  or  in 

uisV/r,.  il  any  other  kinde  thou  art  so  wisely  menie,  as  myselfe  (though  olde) 

Drayton.  am  often  delighted  with  thy  musick,  tune  thy  sweet  strings,  &  sing 

piat.  what  please  thee."    [sign,  as,  back.] 

But  this  does  not  clear  up  the  difficulty,  as  Clarke  may  have  only 
known  Willobie's  name  from  the  book. 

The  commendatory  poem  (called  an  Hexameton}  contains 
the  earliest  printed  mention  of  Shakspere  that  has  yet  been 
discovered.  Its  date  is  at  least  as  early  as  the  first  edition  of 
Willobie  Ins  Avisa,  viz.  1594 ;  i.  e.  one  year  earlier  than  that 
of  Clarke's  Polimanfeia,  in  a  marginal  note  to  which  the 
name  of  Shakspere  also  occurs.  The  second  verse  of  this 
Hexameton,  in  which  Shakspere  is  named  as  the  author  of 
Lucrece,  was  quoted  by  Mr  J.  P.  Collier  in  his  Introduction 
to  that  poem  (Ed.  of  Shakespeare,  1858,  vol.  vi.  p.  526).  He 
here  also  refers  to  the  Canti  of  the  Avisa,  which  we  have  re- 
printed at  large,  in  his  Life  of  Shakespeare  (Ibid.  vol.  i.  p.  115). 
The  dialogue  between  H.  W.  and  "W.  S.  was  first  reprinted  in 
Ellis'  Specimens,  vol.  ii.  p.  378,  and  subsequently  at  greater  length 
by  Sir  Walter  C.  Trevelyan,  in  Notes  and  Queries,  2nd  S.  ix.  59- 
60,  under  date  Jan.  28,  1860. 

The  Hexameton  is  signed  Contraria,  Contrariis  :  Vigilantius  : 
Dormitanus,  under  which  fanciful  signature  some  have  supposed  to 
lurk  the  real  name  of  the  writer :  but  all  that  it  appears  to  mean 
is  that,  if  we  designate  contraries  by  contraries,  the  author  is 
Wide-awake  Sleepy-head :  which  might  possibly  contain  a  pun  on 
his  name. 

X. — XVII.   Sir  ~Wm  Harbert's  Epiccdium  and  the  stanza  from 
Michael  Drayton's  Matilda  are  supposed  to  allude  to  Shakspere's 
Rape  of  Lucrece,  which  was  first  printed  in  1594.     Some  doubt  as 
to  the  latter  allusion  is  raised  by  the  expression 
Acting  her  passions  on  our  stately  stage. 

Undoubtedly  that  line  means  what  it  says  ;  for  in  another 
poem  of  Drayton's,  Mistress  Shore  to  Edward  V.,  we  have  the  same 
expression  applied  to  Tragedy, 

Or  passionate  Tragedian  in  his  rage 
Acting  a  Love-sick  passion  on  the  stage. 

But  we  know   of  but  one  play  on  the  subject   of  Lucrece, 


XXX11  GENERAL   INTRODUCTION. 

Thomas  Hey  wood's  Rape  of  Lucrece  ;  and  that  was  not  printed  till 
1008  ;  and  we  do  not  know  of  its  having  been  performed  before 
that  year  ;  and  having  regard  to  the  recent  publication  of  Shak- 
spere's  poem,  we  should  naturally  refer  Drayton's  allusion  to  that 
piece.  The  verse  we  have  reprinted  is  found  in  two  editions  of 
Matilda,  viz.  those  of  159i  and  1506.  A  copy  of  the  former  is  at 
Sion  College,  and  of  the  latter  in  the  British  Museum.  In  subse- 
quent editions  that  verse  is  not  found.  Can  it  be  that  Drayton 
was  originally  under  the  impression  that  Shakspere's  poem  was 
a  play  ;  and  on  finding  out  his  mistake  expunged  the  allusion  ? 
"Who  shall  say  ? 

"We  have  reprinted  nearly  two  pages  of  "  a  letter  from  Eng- 
land to  her  three  daughters,"  appended  to  Polimanteia,  1595,  for 
the  sake  of  some  most  curious  and  enigmatical  marginalia  or  side- 
notes,  where  occurs  what  is  for  us  the  "  captain-jewel  of  the 
carkanet  " — "  Lucrecia  sweet  Shakspeare  ; "  in  which  we  see  a 
recommendation  of  Shakspere's  second  heir,  Lucrece,  so  called 
on  the  title-page  of  the  first  edition,  1594.  This  is  the  second 
mention  of  Shakspere  ;  and  in  both  Aviso,  and  Polimanteia  his 
name  is  associated  with  his  Rape  of  Lucrece.  We  may  note,  too, 
the  epithet  "  sweet,"  which  must  be  taken  in  corroboration  of  the 
fact,  to  which  we  have  already  adverted,  that  Shakspere  was, 
par  excellence,  designated  mellifluous  and  lioney -tongued,  and  his 
muse  proverbially  compared  to  honey,  sugar,  and  nectar.  In  this 
we  recognize  a  conventional  compliment  of  the  day  ;  but  also  to 
some  extent  an  accurate  estimate  of  Shakspere's  poetry ;  for  his 
versification  was  so  melodious,  and  his  subject  and  treatment  so 
sensuous,  that  with  young  and  susceptible  readers  his  poems  were 
"  the  best  books  in  the  wrorld."  (See  Machin's  Dumb  Kniglit.) 

Most  of  the  text  of  our  extract  relates  to  Samuel  Daniel, 
whose  tragedy  of  Cleopatra  (and  "  well  graced  Anihonie  "),  Com- 
plaint of  Rosamond,  and  LVII.  Sonnets  (with  Ode  and  Pastorall) 
To  Delia,  are  here  praised.  The  divine  Lady  is  Daniel's  patron- 
ess, Mary,  Countess  of  Pembroke. 

Below  "  sweet  Shakspeare  "  is  "  Eloquent  Gaveston,"  which  is 
certainly  an  allusion  to  Michael  Drayton,  who  wrote  Piers  Gaves- 
ton :  and  between  this  and  the  allusion  of  Daniel's  Cleopatra  (or 
else  to  the  prefixed  Letter  from  Octavia  to  Anthony)  are  the 
enigmatical  words  "  "Wanton  Adonis.  "Watson's  heyre."  These 
have  been  variously  explained.  Some  have  read  the  two  expres- 
sions together,  and  identifying  "  Wanton  Adonis  "  with  the  "  first 
heir"  of  Shakspere's  invention,  have  declared  him  to  be  "  Wat- 
son's heyre  "  or  literary  successor.  This  would  appear  to  be  Mr 
Edward  Arber's  view  (English  Reprints :  Thomas  Watson's 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION.  XXX111 

Poenu,  15  March,  1870,  p.  16),  but  he  unintentionally  gives  a  point 
to  the  allusion  which  the  original  work  does  not  countenance,  by 
printing  "  Wanton  Adonis.  Watson's  heyre,"  by  itself,  on  the 
opposite  margin  of  the  extract  from  Polimanteia  ;  it  is  so,  indeed, 
in  the  original ;  but  only  because  it  is  on  the  next  page,  all  the 
notes  being  on  the  outside  margin  of  the  text.  If  the  division  of 
the  pages  be  disregarded,  the  four  words  in  question  should  be 
placed  on  the  same  margin  as  the  preceding  notes.  Mr  C.  Elliot 
Browne  argues  for  the  same  conclusion  (Notes  and  Queries,  4th 
S.  xi.  378,  May  10,  1873)  ;  and  regarding  the  heirship  of  Shak- 
spere  to  concern  the  Sonnets  mainly  or  solely,  sees  in  that  fact 
(if  fact  it  be)  "  some  ground  for  inferring  that  he  [Shakspere] 
had  acquired  a  reputation  for  his  sonnets,  three  years  before  the 
notice  by  Meres  in  1598."  But  this  is  mere  circular  reasoning  : 
for  we  must  first  know  the  fact  of  that  reputation  before  we  can 
infer  the  desired  heirship  from  the  note  in  Polimanteia  :  since  it 
is  highly  probable  that  W.  C.  would  not  have  given  Shakspere 
such  a  name  as  "  Watson's  heyre  "  (q.  d.  in  sonnet-writing)  unless 
Shakspere  had  already  been  publicly  recognized  as  Watson's 
chief  rival  in  that  art. 

Others  have  seen  in  the  same  four  words  an  allusion  to  some 
posthumous  poetical  work  of  Watson's,  which  at  that  time  would 
be  recognized  under  the  name  of  "  Wanton  Adonis,"  and  evidently 
the  date  of  AVatson's  death  favours  that  hypothesis,  for  there 
would  bo  from  two  to  three  years  for  such  a  work  to  be  printed 
and  published  ;  so  that  it  might  be  just  exciting  notice  at  the 
time  W.  C.  wrote  his  Polimanteia.  Another  view  has  occurred 
to  ourselves;  viz.  that  as  Watson  was  nicknamed  "the  Eng- 
lish Petrarch,"  and  W.  0.  himself  calls  Spenser  "  thy  Petrarch," 
i.  e.  the  Petrarch  of  Cambridge,  he  may  have  regarded  Spenser 
(who  survived  Watson)  as  "  Watson's  heyre."  It  is  true  he  has 
already  named  Spenser  in  the  margin :  but  he  names  Drayton  in 
the  margin,  and  afterwards  praises  his  Gaveston.  On  this  view, 
however,  "  Wanton  Adonis  "  presents  some  difficulty :  for  if  the 
"  sweet  and  chaste  "  poem  of  Venus  and  Adonis,  in  which  Venus 
is  the  wanton  and  assailing  party  and  Adonis  the  coy  and  uncon- 
querable youth,  could  be  called  by  that  singularly  inappropriate 
name,  W.  C.  would  surely  have  mentioned  it  with  "  Lucrecia," 
and  not  have  inserted  "  Eloquent  Gaveston "  between  Shak- 
spere's  two  poems. 

Another  view  is  that  "  Watson's  heyre  "  is  Henry  Constable  ; 
and  Dr  Brinsley  Nicholson  has  with  some  ingenuity  supported  this 
as  the  more  probable  conjecture  (Notes  and  Queries,  4th  S.  xi. 
491,  June  14,  1873),  but  his  argument  does  not  carry  conviction 

ALLU3IOX-BOOKS.  d 


XXXIV  GENERAL   INTRODUCTION. 

to  our  mind.  Others  think  the  "  heyre  "  was  Abraham  Fraunce. 
Our  impression  is,  that  the  full  points  in  these  marginalia  were 
intended  to  mark  a  complete  separation  of  names  ;  and  therefore 
that  "  Wanton  Adonis  "  (poem  or  author)  is  not  to  be  identified 
with  "  Watson's  heyre."  At  present  there  is  not  sufficient  evidence 
before  us  to  interpret  satisfactorily  those  enigmatical  terms.  The 
marginalia  are  just  such  notes  as  the  author  might  have  written  on 
the  margins  of  his  manuscript,  as  suggestions  for  perfecting  the 
"  Letter ;  "  and  these,  by  reason  of  his  absence  or  death,  might  have 
been  printed  as  integral  parts  of  his  work.  It  is  always  exceed- 
ingly difficult  to  identify  these  loose  allusions  of  an  Elizabethan 
author  to-  a  contemporary  writer,  especially  if  they  are  compli- 
mentary :  for  either  the  compliment  is  too  weak  a  generality,  or 
it  contains  an  estimate  of  literary  merit  which  is  utterly  discre- 
pant with  the  verdict  of  posterity.  This  fact  is  brought  home  to 
us  with  great  force  when  we  see  how  inappropriate,  as  well  as 
inadequate,  was  the  praise  bestowed  on  Shakspere  by  his  con- 
temporaries :  and  to  this  day  we  are  unable  to  identify  the  rising 
wit,  whose  exceeding  great  promise,  as  that  of  a  splendid  sun- 
rising,  is  celebrated  by  John  Davies  of  Hereford  in  his  Paper's 
Complaint. 

Of  the  other  small  pieces  here  reprinted,  the  little  that 
was  to  be  said,  is  said  iu.  the  brief  notes  appended  to  them 
respectively. 

We  will  only  add  that  the  allusions  in  Marston' s  Scourge  of 
Villanie  are  the  earliest  distinct  allusions  to  any  of  Shak- 
spere's  plays.  Those  of  Greene,  Chettle,  and  Harvey,  and  that 
of  Spenser  (if  it  be  an  allusion  to  Shakspere,  which  is  certainly 
somewhat  doubtful)  do  severally  contain  a  side  glance  at  his 
Histories :  the  writers  of  our  other  excerpts  know  him,  for  the 
most  part,  as  an  amatory  poet.  In  Marston  we  meet  with  a 
distinct  recognition  of  his  popularity  as  a  playwright.  Prom  this 
time  forward  till  Shakspere's  death  (as  we  shall  see  in  the 
Second  Part  of  our  Allusion-BooJct]  his  contemporaries  notice 
his  plays  much  more  frequently  than  his  poems,  and  utterly 
ignore  his  Sonnets. 

The  lines  parodied  by  Marston  in  the  first  extract  from  The 
Scourge  of  Villanie  are  in  Borneo  and  Juliet ;  where  Capulet  cries, 

A  hall !  a  hall !  give  room  and  foot  it  girls. 
More  light,  ye  knaves. 

The  "  worthy  poet "  was  Sir  John  Davies,  the  gifted  author 
of  Orchestra,  or  a  Poeme  on  Dauncing,  1596.  Kemp's  jig  (like 
Tarleton's  jig,  alrea  iy  mentioned)  was  one  of  those  diversions  of 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTION-.  XXXV 

combined  singing  and  dancing,  which  was  invented  and  performed 
by  him.  (See  Dyce's  Introduction  to  Kemp's  Nine  days  Wonder,  p. 
xx.,  and  Collier's  Memoirs  of  Actors,  pp.  100-102.) 

The  Committee  desire  me  to  express  their  thanks  to  Mr 
Henry  Huth  for  his  great  kindness  in  lending  them  his  very  rare 
originals  of  the  first  three  of  these  '  Allusion-Books '  to  reprint. 
I  have  also  to  record  my  thanks  to  Miss  L.  Toulmin  Smith  for  her 
aid  in  the  revision  of  my  proofs. 

C.  M.  I. 
Valentines,  II ford,  September,  1874. 


XXXVI 

A  FEW  NOTES  AND  CORRECTIONS 
TO 

GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER. 


V»gt      Line 

125     34  "  the  olde  Fox"  is  Dr  Perne,  who  is  mentioned  on  p.  5.     Nash 

alludes  to  him  more  than  once.  See  his  Strange  Neires  or 
Four  Letters  Coupled  (Sig.  F  4.  verso),  where  we  find  in 
italics,  "  the  olde  Foxe  Doctour  Perne  ". 

129  1  "than ".     It  is  "then  "  in  the  old  copy. 

20  "  we  "  is  an  error  of  the  old  copy  for  "  with  ". 

130  22,  23     "  him  or  them  "  :  i.  e.  Robert  Greene  or  the  brothers  Harvey. 

24  "their  lives"  :  i.  e.  the  lives  of  the  brothers. 

25  " he  that  liued  not"  is  John  Harvey. 

131  20  "The  second  Toy  of  London":  Toy  was  the  name  of  a  con- 

temporary stage  clown.  (See  Dodsley's  Old  Plays,  ed.  Col- 
lier, 1825,  vol.  9,  p.  50,  note.) 

30  "a  Player"  means  a  gamester  or  gambler — not  an  actor  or  a 

playwright. 

133  17  "  be  like  "  (sic  in  the  old  copy)  is  "  belike  ". 

24,  25  "  and  how  many  millions  of  greene  youthes,  haue  in  ouer- 
mounting,  most  ruefully  dismounted  "  :  a  parallel  to  a  well- 
known  crux  in  Macbeth. 

134  4,  5        "  his  inwardest  companion,  that  tasted  of  the  fatall  herringe  "  : 

an  allusion  to  Robert  Greene's  death.  (See  our  reprint  from 
Meres'  Wits  Treasiny,  p.  164,  11.  29,  30.) 

34,  35  "  Fauste  precor  gelida  ".  This  is  also  given  to  Holofernes  in 
Locet  Labours  Lost,  IV.  iii.  95.  It  is  quoted,  says  Dyce,  from 
the  beginning  of  the  First  Eclogue  of  Mantuanus  :  i.  e.  Bap- 
tista  Spagnolo. 

136  11  Nocta  is  our  error  for  Nocte. 

137  17  Harvey  has  "  bostesse  ",  an  evident  error  for  "  hostesse  ". 
139     24            "haunted"  (sic  in  the  old  copy)  should  be  "hunted". 

143  17  "  mouths ".     The  old  copy  has  "  mouth  ". 

144  24  The  "  verse  "  is  probably  Gabriel  Harvey's. 

26  The  "  Sonnet "  is  probably  that  printed  by  Harvey  at  the  end  of 

his  Foure  Letters  and  Certaine  Sonnets. 

148  4  May  not  "Gnomes  "  be  an  error  for  "Tomes",  a  word  elsewhere 

used  by  Harvey  ? 

9,  10  The  mention  of  Thomas  Watson  proves  that  he  was  alive  at  the 
date  of  the  letter ;  and  we  know  that  he  died  before  the  end 
of  the  year. 

149  7  "  Dammeo"  is  the  word  of  the  old  copy.  It  is  probably  an  error 

for  "Dammes",  i.e.  "Dams." 


xxxvn 


SUPPLEMENT 


I.   GREENE   ON  NASH-      II.    CHETTLE  ON  SIIAKSPERE. 

III.   MARLOWE,   GREENE,   AND   SHAKSPERE. 

BY  RICHARD  SIMPSON,  ESQ.,  B.A. 

(Reprinted  from  THE  ACADEMY,  April  11,  1874,  p.  400.) 


Ma  HOWARD  STAUNTON,  in  a  recent  letter  to  the  Athenceum, 
tries  to  show  that  a  passage  in  the  Epistle  prefixed  to  Chettle's 
Kind  Heart's  Dream,  1592,  which  has  been  always  considered  to 
refer  to  Shakspere,  does  not  so  refer ;  and,  incidentally,  that  the 
three  playwriters  to  whom  Greene  addressed  his  epistle,  appended 
to  his  Groatsworth  of  Wit,  are  not  Marlowe,  Lodge,  and  Peele, 
but  Marlowe,  Nash,  and  Peele.  On  the  former  point  I  differ  from 
Mr  Staunton,  on  the  latter  I  agree  with  him.  Perhaps  it  is  worth 
while  to  discuss  the  two  points,  as  .Chettls's  and  Greene's  two 
pamphlets  are  to  be  among  the  first  publications  of  the  New 
Shakspere  Society. 

I. — First,  with  regard  to  the  question  whether  the  "  Young 
Juvenal  "  of  Greene's  letter  was  Lodge  or  Nash — Dr  Farmer  first 
said  it  was  Nash,  but  Malone  denied  it  on  two  grounds ;  that  we 
know  that  Greene  and  Lodge  wrote  a  comedy  together,  The 
Looking-glass  for  London,  but  we  know  of  no  comedy  written  by 
Greene  and  Nash  ;  and  that  Nash  was  pointed  at  as  the  real 
author  of  Greene's  posthumous  letter,  which  would  not  be  natural 
if  he  was  one  of  those  to  whom  it  was  addressed.  Therefore, 
Malone  concluded  "  Toung  Juvenal  "  was  Lodge  and  not  Nash. 
And  Shaksperian  scholars  have  generally  followed  Malone's  lead, 
till  Mr  Howard  Staunton. 

But  "  Young  Juvenal "  cannot  be  Lodge.  The  chief  point 
which  Greene  dwells  upon  is  the  age  of  the  man  he  addresses. 
He  is  "  young,"  and  "  boy."  Now  Lodge  was  three  years  older 
than  Greene.  In  1592  Lodge  was  35  and  Greene  was  32,  neither 
•of  them  "  boys."  Lodge  was  born  probably  in  1557  ;  he  was  B.A. 
July  8,  1577.  In  1592  he  was  a  weather-beaten  sailor.  Greene 
was  born  in  1560,  and  became  BA.  at  an  earlier  age  in  1578. 

Again,  Lodge  was  absent  from  England  at  the  date  of  Greene's 
letter.  He  sailed  in  Cavendish's  second  expedition ;  the  ships 
left  Plymouth  Aug.  26,  1591,  reached  Brazil  Dec.  15,  and  re- 


XXX  viii    LODGE  CANNOT  BE  THE  "  YOUNG  JUVENAL  "  OF  GREENE'S  LETTER. 

mained  at  Santos  till  Jan.  22,  1592,  when  they  sailed  for  the 
Straits  of  Magellan:  on  Sept.  13,  1592  the  South  Sea  was 
sighted,  but  the  ships  were  driven  back  into  the  straits.  October 
2  they  fetched  the  South  Sea  again,  where  they  were  cruelly 
buffetted,  but  recovered  the  straits  a  third  time.  February  6, 
1593,  they  were  at  Placentia.  One  of  the  ships,  without  victuals, 
sails,  and  almost  without  men,  came  to  land,  at  Bearhaven  iu 
Ireland,  June  11,  1593.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  absent 
Lodge  was  one  of  those  to  whom  Greene  addressed  his  letter,  as 
if  they  were  all  present  in  London  at  the  time. 

Again,  it  is  generally  thought  that  Lodge  had  forsworn 
writing  for  the  theatre  in  1589.  The  last  stanza  of  his  SciUaes 
Metamorphosis  of  that  date  contains  the  lines  : — 

..."  And  then  by  oath  he  [Glaucus]  bound  me 
To  write  no  more  of  that  whence  shame  doth  grow, 
Or  tie  my  pen  to  Pennie  Knaves  delight, 
But  live  with  fame,  and  so  for  fame  to  write." 

If  he  kept  this  vow,  it  is  clear  that  his  two  plays  must  be  dated 
before  1589.  And  The  Looking-glass  for  London,  in  which  Greene 
was  parcel  author  with  him,  seems  to  have  been  written  early  in 
1589,  for  Greene  in  the  dedication  of  his  Mourning  Garment 
(1589)  to  the  Earl  of  Cumberland  has  some  allusions  to  the 
matter  of  the  play,  as  if  it  was  then  fresh  in  his  memory.  Thus 
Lodge  and  Greene  had  written  a  comedy  together  early  in  1589. 
Is  this  any  proof  that  Lodge  must  have  been  the  person  whom 
Greene,  three  and  a  half  years  later,  addressed  as  having  "  lastly 
with  me  together  writ[ten]  a  comedy  "  ?  Lastly  means  "  quite 
lately."  It  would  be  absurd  to  torture  the  meaning  of  the  word 
to  prop  up  so  weak  a  conclusion  as  this,  that  Lodge  must  have 
been  the  man,  because  a  comedy  written  by  Lodge  and  Greene 
nearly  four  years  before  happens  to  have  survived,  whereas  in  the 
general  shipwreck  of  Greene's  dramatic  works  no  comedy  avow- 
edly written  by  him  with  any  one  else  has  been  preserved. 

Again,  Lodge  could  not  with  propriety  be  called  a  Juvenal 
in  1592.  A  Fig  for  Momus,  his  only  satirical  .work,  was  not 
published  till  1595.  And  when  he  there  states  that  the  present 
instalment  was  only  a  trial,  and  that  he  had  in  his  hands  a  whole 
centon  more  Satires,  which  should  suddenly  be  published  if  those 
passed,  he  implies  that  those  then  printed  were  the  only  ones  that 
had  seen  the  light,  or  had  been  submitted  to  men's  judgment. 
But  the  satirist  whom  Greene  mentions  had  already  "vexed  scholars 
with  his  sharp  and  bitter  lines,"  and  they  had  "  reproved  his  too 
much  liberty  of  speech."  "  Young  Juvenal "  had  attacked  indi- 
viduals, and  Greene  advises  him  to  do  so  no  more.  Lodge  had 


NASH    IS    THK    "YOUNG   JUVENAL"    OF    GREENE'S    LETTER.       XXxix 

never  done  so.  Even  after  1595  Lodge  was  never  called 
"  Juvenal."  His  Satires  fell  flat,  and  the  world  never  asked  him 
to  publish  the  store  which  he  had  in  reserve,  or  to  print  a  new 
edition  of  those  he  had  given  forth.  Two  years  after  A  Fig  for 
Momus,  Hall  published  the  first  three  books  of  his  Satires,  and  in 
his  prologue,  oblivious  of  Lodge,  claimed  to  be  the  first  writer  of 
this  kind : 

"  I  first  adventure,  follow  me  who  list, 
And  be  the  second  English  satirist." 

In  the  controversy  about  priority  between  Hall  and  Marston,  no 
one  ever  thought  of  pleading  Lodge's  indubitable  first  claim. 
Perhaps  the  title  of  Juvenal,  except  in  irony,  would  have  been 
the  last  to  be  conceded  by  his  contemporaries  to  this  sweet 
pastoral  poet,  indifferent  satirist,  and  still  less  commendable 
playwriter. 

Young  Juvenal  then  is  not  Lodge.     Is  he  Nash  ? 

Nash's  age  and  appearance  fit  well.  He  was  born  in  Novem- 
ber, 1567.  He  was  7  years  younger  than  Greene,  and  wanted 
some  two  months  of  25  years  when  Greene's  letter  was  written. 
He  was  a  beardless  youth,  with  a  shaggy  head  of  hair,  if  we  may 
credit  his  portrait1  in  The  Trimming  of  Thomas  Nash,  where  how- 
ever his  open  mouth  and  "  lips  ugly  wrested  "  might,  on  a  too 
slight  inspection,  be  mistaken  for  a  hungry  beard. 

Nash  also  was  a  "  biting  satirist,"  who  since  1589  had  been 
sowing  his  pasquinades  broad-cast,  and  had  already  "  vexed 
scholars  with  his  sharp  and  bitter  lines."  He  had  begun  writing 
as  Greene's  coadjutor,  with  a  preface  to  Menaphon,  in  which  whole 
classes  of  the  writers  of  the  time  were  treated  with  much  disdain. 
The  attack  was  followed  up  the  same  year  in  his  Anatomy  of 
Absurdity.  The  Puritans,  their  favourers,  and  all  who  wished  to 
give  them  a  fair  hearing,  were  attacked  with  wit,  malice,  buffoon- 
ery, and  venom  in  The  Countercuffe,  1589,  The  Return  of  the  Re- 
nowned Cavaliero,  Pasquil  of  England,  1859,  Martin's  Month's 
Mind,  1589,  PasquiVs  Apology,  1590,  An  Almond  for  a  Parrott, 
1590.  The  personal  war  with  the  Harveys  was  already  begun  in 
the  Wonderful  Strange  Astrological  Prognostication,  1591.  Pierce 
Penniless,  1592,  is  subsequent  to  Greene's  death,  for  Nash  tells 
us  that  he  had  intended  to  print  an  epistle  "  to  the  ghost  of 
Eobert  Greene  "  in  the  first  edition  of  it,  had  not  the  fear  of 
infection  detained  him  with  his  Lord  (Whitgift)  in  the  country 
(at  Croydon).  Here  was  abundant  material  for  calling  Nash 

1  He  is  also  spoken  of  as  beardless  in  Harvey's  text ;  and  in  it  (further  back, 
I  think)  there  are  two  satirical  lines  on  his  want  and  its  cause. — B.  Nicholson. 


xl  NASH   IS   THE    "  YOUNG   JUVENAL "   OF   GREENE*  S    LETTER. 

"  Young  Juvenal."  Ho  had  already  christened  himself  the  Pasquil 
of  England  ;  and  "  Juvenal,"  if  I  remember  rightly,  was  the  name 
given  him  by  Meres  in  1598. 

It  remains  to  show  that  Nash  and  Greene  had  probably  written 
a  comedy  together  shortly  before  September,  1592.  That  Greene 
joined  Nash,  Lily,  and  perhaps  Kempe  in  writing  the  Anti- 
Martinist  plays  and  pamphlets  we  have  this  evidence,  among  much 
more  to  the  same  purpose.  Nash,  in  his  Strange  News,  1592, 
explains  why  Greene  attacked  the  Harvey  family  in  his  Quip  for 
an  Upstart  Courtier.  He  says  that  Richard  Harvey,  in  his 
Percival  the  Peacemaker,  took  upon  him  to  play  "jack  of  both 
sides  twixt  Martin  and  us,"  and  snarled  at  Lily  and  Nash 
himself;  and  afterwards  in  his  Lamb  'of  God  reviled  Nash  and 
Lily,  and  "  inistermed  all  our  other  poets  and  writers  about  town 
'  piperly  make-plays  and  make-bates.'  "  Then,  Greene,  "  being 
chief  agent  for  the  company,"  canvassed  Harvey  and  his  brothers 
in  the  work  mentioned  above.  This  shows  that  Greene  was  one 
of  those  who  wrote  the  plays  and  pasquinades  against  Martin,  and 
that  they  were  a  company,  and  wrote  in  common.  Hence  it  is 
more  than  probable  that  Greene  and  Nash  together  wrote  one  or 
more  of  those  multitudinous  comedies,  referred  to  by  Lily  in  Pap 
toith  a  Hatchet,  and  Nash  in  his  Martin's  Month's  Mind,  and 
Pasquil's  Return,  some  of  which  only  were  acted,  and  those  so 
violent  that  the  children  of  Paul's  were  inhibited  from  acting 
before  October,  1589,  and  a  strict  censorship  set  up  over  all  other 
companies  of  actors  a  month  later.  But  the  company's  business 
was  not  over  with  this  inhibition ;  nor  did  the  controversy  with 
the  Puritans  altogether  forsake  the  stage.  In  1592  we  find  it 
still  going  on.  Early  in  that  year,  Lord  Strange's  company 
brought  out  a  new  play,  or  rather  an  old  one  re-written,  A  Knack 
to  know  a  Knave,  a  "moral"  similar  to  Greene  and  Nash's  Look- 
ing-glass, consisting  of  an  historical  over-plot — in  which  Edgar 
stands  for  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  Dunstan  for  Whitgift,  where 
Dunstan  is  treated  much  as  Bacon  is  treated  in  Greene's  Friar 
Bacon, — and  a  satirical  underplot,  in  which  the  puritanical  clerical 
knave  comes  in  for  the  chief  lashing.  A  careful  perusal  will  show 
many  scenes  written  by  a  euphuistic  poet  like  Greene,  and  many 
others,  pervaded  with  the  gibing  spirit  of  Nash.  I  should  be  loth 
to  affirm  that  this  is  the  comedy  actually  referred  to  by  Greene  in 
his  letter  to  the  play-writers,  but  it  seems  to  me  to  be  much  more 
likely  to  be  the  play  "  lastly "  written  by  him  and  "  Young 
Juvenal "  together,  than  the  Looking -glass  for  London  is  ;  because 
for  other  reasons  Lodge,  the  joint-author  of  the  latter  play,  cannot 
be  the  "  Young  Juvenal  "  of  the  letter. 


CHETTLB,  IN  HIS  PREFACE,  DOES  REFER  TO  SHAKSPERE.     xli 

There  is  only  one  other  point  to  notice  ;  it  is  Malone's  argu- 
ment, that  because  some  contemporaries  supposed  the  letter  to  be 
Nash's  and  not  Greene's,  therefore  Nash  could  not  be  one  of  the 
persons  to  whom  it  was  addressed.  But  surely  these  readers  may 
have  been  either  careless  readers  who  had  failed  to  notice  the  two 
short  sentences  in  which  Nash  is  described,  or  wary  readers  who 
thought  that  Nash,  when  he  wrote  in  Greene's  name,  not  impo- 
liticly addressed  the  letter  to  himself,  in  order  to  put  guessers  off 
the  true  scent,  and  to  suggest  to  them  the  very  same  false  argu- 
ment which  took  in  so  good  a  critic  as  Malone. 

Mr  Staunton  says  that  he  has  "  evidence  "  that  Nash  and  not 
Lodge  is  the  person  intended.  If  he  has  any  new  facts  bearing 
on  the  point,  "I  take  it  there  is  but  two  ways,  either  to  utter 
them  or  to  conceal  them."  For  myself,  what  I  have  adduced 
convinces  me  that  Lodge  certainly  was  not,  and  Nash  almost  as 
certainly  was,  the  person  addressed  by  Greene  as  "  Young 
Juvenal." 

II. — The  second  point  is,  whether  Chettle  refers  to  Shakspere 
in  the  apology  for  the  G-roatsworth  of  Wit.  In  the  Epistle  to  the 
Gentlemen  readers  prefixed  to  Kind  Heart's  Dream,  Chettle  says, 

"  About  three  months  since  died  M.  Robert  Greene,  leaving  many  p;ipers  in 
sundry  booksellers'  hands ;  among  other,  his  Groatsworth  of  Wit,  in  which  a  letter 
written  to  divers  playmakers  is  offensively  by  one  or  two  of  them  taken  ;  and  because 
on  the  dead  they  cannot  be  avenged,  they  wilfully  forge  in  their  conceits  a  living 
author  ;  and  after  tossing  it  to  and  fro,  no  remedy  but  it  must  light  on  me.  .  .  . 
With  neither  of  them  that  take  offence  was  I  acquainted,  and  with  one  of  them  I 
care  not  if  1  never  be  :  the  other  whom  at  that  time  I  did  not  so  much  spare  as 
since  I  wish  I  had.  .  .  .  I  am  as  sorry  as  if  the  original  fault  had  been  my  fault, 
because  myself  have  seen  his  demeanour  no  less  civil  than  he  excellent  in  the  quality 
he  professes:  besides,  divers  of  worship  have  reported  his  uprightness  of  "dealing 
which  argues  his  honesty,  and  his  facetious  grace  in  writing  that  approves  his  art." 

Mr  Staunton  bows  to  the  general  consent  which  identifies  the 
first  of  these  two  with  Marlowe,  but  not  to  the  equal  unanimity 
which  identifies  the  other  with  Shakspere.  For,  he  remarks, 
Chettle  Expressly  says  that  Greene's  letter  was  written  to  divers 
playmakers  and  by  one  or  two  of  them  offensively  taken.  Now 
the  letter  was  not  written  to  Shakspere,  but  against  him. 

This  is  true,  and  if  Chettle  wrote  with  unerring  accuracy  and 
with  classical  refinement  he  would  not  have  confounded  the  "  ad  " 
and  "in."  As  the  epigrammatist  says  : — • 

In  libris  tria  verba  meis  celebrantur ;  ad,  in,  de : 
Do  docct ;  Ad  dignos  laudat ;  et  In  lacerat. 

Greene  wrote  ad,  to  Marlowe,  "  Young  Juvenal ",  and  Peele,  and 
in,  against  Shakspere.  Chettle,  if  he  had  been  writing  with  the 
forethought  and  care  with  which  a  lawyer  makes  a  will,  should 


xlii  CHETTLE,    IX    HIS    PREFACE,    DOES   REFER   TO    SHAKSPERE. 

have  said  that  Greene's  letter  was  to  divers  playmakers  and 
against  another.  But  in  common  and  less  fastidious  speech  the 
first  phrase  "  to  divers  "  would  comprehend  the  second,  and  would 
point  out  all  the  persons  aimed  at  in  the  letter.  A  Frenchman 
would  say  that  the  letter  was  directed  to  Shakspere  as  much  as 
to  the  others :  "  Ce  trait  malin  est  alle  a  son  adresse."  The 
argument,  therefore,  which  builds  so  much  on  Chettle's  use  of  the 
word  "  to  "  is  entirely  unsafe.  The  assumption  of  such  a  prudish 
precision  in  him  is  a  precarious  hypothesis. 

The  application  of  Chettle's  words  to  Shakspere  should  be 
rather  tested  by  facts,  than  by  grammatical  niceties.  First,  we 
may  examine  it  thus.  Greene  addresses  (so  to  say)  four  persona, 
and  says  something  characteristic  of  all  four.  Two  of  them  take 
offence,  and  Chettle  apologises ;  the  apology  ought  naturally  to 
fit  the  offensive  remarks.  We  may  see  for  whom  the  apology  is 
meant,  by  finding  out  to  whom  Greene  addressed  the  insults 
which  it  retracts. 

The  four  objects  of  Greene  were  :  1.  Marlowe ;  2.  "  Young 
Juvenal "  (either  Lodge  or  Nash)  ;  3.  Peele ;  4.  Shakspere. 
The  first  three  he  extols,  but  with  some  mixture  of  blame.  Mar- 
lowe, though  the  famous  gracer  of  tragedians,  had  said  in  his 
heart  there  is  no  God ;  had  an  excellent  wit,  but  gave  no  glory 
to  the  Giver;  studied  Machiavelli,  and  was  a  disciple  of  his 
political  liberty. 

"  Young  Juvenal  "  was  a  biting  satirist,  who  made  enemies 
by  bitter  words  addressed  to  persons  not  to  characters,  and  who 
"  had  vexed  scholars  with  bitter  lines,"  and  had  in  turn  been  re- 
proved for  his  too  much  liberty  of  speech. 

Peele  was  no  less  deserving  than  the  other  two,  in  some 
things  rarer,  in  nothing  inferior.  He  had  but  one  fault,  he  wrote 
for  the  common  players,  and  thereby  was  worthy  of  the  extreme 
shifts  to  which  he  was  driven. 

All  these  three  in  common  were  also  warned  against  profane 
oaths,  drunkenness,  lust,  and  epicurean  flatterers. 

Shakspere  is  described  as  an  upstart  crow  "  beautified  with 
our  feathers  "  (by  which  I  believe  Greene  meant  simply  an  actor 
who  had  assumed  the  part  of  an  author,  but  which  Chettle  and 
others  understood  as  implying  a  charge  of  dishonest  appropriation 
of  other  men's  compositions),  "  a  tiger's  heart  wrapped  in  a 
player's  hide  "  (a  ferocious  ruffian) — one  who  supposed  himself 
as  well  able  to  bombast  out  a  blank  verse  as  Marlowe  himself;  an 
absolute  Johannes  factotum  ;  in  his  own  conceit  the  only  Shake- 
scene  in  a  country  ;  and  one  who,  by  favour  of  his  fellows  the 
players,  those  apes,  rude  grooms,  buckram  gentlemen,  peasants, 


CHETTLE,  IN  HIS  PREFACE,  DOES  REFER  TO  SHAKSPERE.     xliii 

and  despicable  painted  monsters,  had  already  supplanted  Greene 
in  his  calling  of  playwriter,  and  would  soon  supplant  Marlowe, 
Peele,  and  "  Toung  Juvenal "  also,  unless  they  were  beforehand 
with  him,  and  forsook  the  trade. 

Chettle' s  apology  is  made  to  two  of  these  four  persons.  To 
Marlowe  he  can  say  no  more  than  this :  that  he  does  not  desire 
his  acquaintance  ;  that  he  reverences  his  learning  ;  that  he  hopes 
he  will  use  him  no  worse  than  he  deserves ;  and  that  he  did 
greatly  mitigate  Greene's  charges  against  him.  To  the  other  he 
apologises  by  bearing  witness  to  his  "  civil  demeanour,"  his  "  ex- 
cellence in  the  quality  he  professes,"  his  "  honesty  and  uprightness 
of  dealing,"  his  "  facetious  grace  in  writing,"  and  his  "  art."  These 
are  exactly  the  points  which  Greene  had  assailed  in  Shakspere, 
but  had  not  touched  in  the  cases  of  "  Toung  Juvenal "  and  Peele. 
If  Chettle,  therefore,  dealt  out  his  retractation  with  any  view 
whatever  to  the  imputations  he  was  retracting,  he  must  have 
meant  Shakspere,  and  neither  of  the  others. 

Again,  if  this  apology  was  not  addressed  to  Shakspere,  it  must 
have  been  meant  either  for  Peele,  or  Lodge,  or  Nash.  No  one 
has  ever  suggested  that  Peele  took  offence ;  nor  indeed  had  he 
reason  to  be  offended.  It  could  not  have  been  Lodge,  because 
Chettle  within  three  months  of  Greene's  death,  September  3, 
1592,  had  become  acquainted  with  the  man,  had  witnessed  his 
civil  demeanour  and  his  excellent  carriage  in  his  profession.  But 
at  Christmas,  1592,  Lodge  was  in  the  Straits  of  Magellan.  Mr 
Staunton  thinks  that  it  was  Nash  ;  but  there  are  several  reasons 
against  this.  First,  Chettle  says  that  the  two  who  took  offence, 
because  they  could  not  be  revenged  on  a  dead  man,  wilfully  forged 
a  living  author ;  and  having  tossed  it  to  and  fro,  having  thrown 
suspicion  first  on  one,  then  another,  at  last  they  fixed  on  Chettle. 
In  reply  to  this,  he  ends  his  apology  by  protesting  that  "  it  was 
all  Greene's,  not  mine,  nor  Master  Nash's,  as  some  unjustly  have 
affirmed."  This  clearly  means  that  the  two  who  took  offence  in 
tossing  the  imputed  authorship  to  and  fro,  had  first  fixed  on 
Nash,  and  then  on  Chettle.  Nash,  then,  cannot  have  been  one 
of  those  two. 

But  though  he  was  not  one  of  these  two  offended  persons, 
Nash  did  take  offence  at  Greene's  posthumous  pamphlet,  or  rather, 
perhaps,  at  the  report  that  it  was  his.  "  Other  news  I  am  adver- 
tised of,"  he  writes  in  an  Epistle  prefixed  to  the  second  edition 
of  Pierce  Penniless,  "  that  a  scald,  trivial,  lying  pamphlet  called 
Greene's  Groatswortk  of  Wit  is  given  out  to  be  of  my  doing. 
God  never  have  care  of  my  soul,  but  utterly  renounce  me,  if  the 
least  word  or  syllable  in  it  proceeded  from  my  pen,  or  if  I  were 


ClIiCTTLE,    IN    HIS    PREFACE,    DOES    REFER   TO    SHAKSPERE. 

in  any  way  privy  to  the  writing  or  printing  of  it."  He  was 
evidently  aore  that  Marlowe  and  the  other  [Shakspere]  should 
have  attributed  the  pamphlet  to  him,  and  in  his  vexation  he  called 
it  "  scald,  trivial,  lying."  "  Possibly,"  observes  Mr  Collier,  "  one 
of  the  lying  portions  of  it,  in  the  opinion  of  Nash,  was  that  in 
which  an  attack  was  made  upon  Shakspere."  Dyce  is  surprised 
at  this  remark,  because  Nash  was  in  the  same  fellowship  of  play- 
wrights, and  must  have  shared  Greene's  jealousy  and  fear  of 
Shakspere.  But,  he  adds,  Nash's  offence  at  the  pamphlet  resulted 
from  his  view  "  of  the  probable  consequences  of  such  a  publication 
to  himself:  he  was  vexed  and  irritated  because  its  disclosures 
concerning  men  with  whom  he  was  well  known  to  have  associated 
— the  dead  Greene  and  the  still-living  Marlowe — had  a  strong 
tendency  to  injure  his  own  character ;  and  he  boldly  pronounced 
it  to  be  a  '  lying  pamphlet,'  in  the  hope  of  shaking  its  credit  with 
the  world."  Dyce's  observation  gains  much  force  from  the  fact, 
unknown  to  him,  that  at  this  time,  in  the  autumn  of  1592,  Nash 
was  the  guest  of  Archbishop  -Whitgiffc  at  Croydon,  whither  the 
household  had  retired  for  fear  of  the  plague,  and  that  as  the 
official  antagonist  of  Martin  Marprelate,  he  had  to  keep  up  such 
a  character  as  would  not  disgrace  his  clerical  employers. 

A  second  reason  why  this  "  other,"  to  whom  Chettle  apolo- 
gises, cannot  be  Nash,  is  this.  The  person  was  evidently  an 
anonymous  writer,  none  of  whose  compositions  had  as  yet  been 
published  ;  so  Chettle,  instead  of  referring  to  his  books  as  show- 
ing his  skill,  only  brings  forward  the  witness  of  sundry  gentlemen 
who  "  reported  his  facetious  grace  in  writing."  Now  Nash,  as  I 
have  shown,  had  already  published  a  whole  series  of  works. 
Shakspere  had  published  nothing,  and  his  authorship  of  his  ,  lays 
was  only  known  within  a  very  narrow  circle. 

A  third  reason  is,  that  Chettle  had  seen  this  man's  "  excellence 
in  the  quality  he  professed."  The  man  professed  some  calling 
which  obliged  him  to  make  a  personal  exhibition  of  himself — such 
as  preaching,  pleading,  or  acting.  Shakspere  was  an  actor.  I 
never  heard  that  Nash  was  either  actor,  advocate,  or  preacher. 

A  fourth  is  this ;  Chettle,  at  the  time  of  the  publication  of 
Greene's  letter,  was  not  acquainted  with  either  of  the  two  to 
whom  he  afterwards  apologised.  But  he  seems  to  have  been 
acquainted  with  Nash.  Greene  reproves  Nash  for  vexing  scholars 
with  bitter  lines.  Chettle  in  his  apology  protests  that  he  has,  all 
the  time  of  his  conversing  with  printing,  hindered  the  bitter 
inveighing  against  scholars ;  and  in  1596  he  signs  himself,  in  a 
letter  to  Nash,  "your  old  compositor."  It  seems  as  if  Chettle 
had  set  up  some  of  Nash's  satirical  works,  and  had  induced  him. 


MARLOWE,    GREENE,    AND    SHAKSPERE.  xlv 

to  mitigate  their  gall.  The  very  title  page  of  Kind  Heart's  Dream 
bears  witness  to  the  familiarity  between  Chettle  and  Piers  Penni- 
less or  Nash. 

In  the  fifth  place,  the  gentlemen  who  reported  to  Chettle  on 
the  honesty  and  art  of  the  "  other,"  are  much  more  likely  to  have 
been  the  patrons  of  the  stage  where  Shakspere  acted,  or  the  private 
friends  among  whom  his  Sonnets  circulated,  than  the  reverend 
circle  of  Archbishop  "Whitgift's  family  at  Croydon,  among  whom 
Nash's  patrons  were  then  to  be  sought. 

I  do  not  claim  very  great  weight  for  these  last  four  arguments 
taken  separately  ;  but  their  converging  conclusions  go  to  reinforce 
the  peremptory  conclusion  of  the  first  argument,  that  the  "  other" 
(besides  Marlowe)  to  whom  Chettle  apologised,  was  not  Nash, 
but  Shakspere. 

No  doubt  Mr  Staunton  has  started  a  difficulty  which  deserved 
investigation,  but  investigation  dissolves  the  mist  which  he  has 
raised  ;  and  he  has  not  established  the  faintest  pretence  for  asking 
the  New  Shakspere  Society  to  refrain  from  publishing  Chettle's 
Kind  Heart's  Dream  as  a  book  containing  a  manifest  and  indubit- 
able allusion  to  Shakspere. 


III.   MARLOWE,  GREENE,  AND  SHAKSPERE. 

FROM  the  passage  above  it  appears  that  Marlowe  and  Shak- 
spere, having  been  insulted  in  common  by  the  publication,  took 
prevailing  action  against  it.  Chettle  says  of  them,  that  "  because 
on  the  dead  they  could  not  be  avenged,  they  wilfully  forged  in 
their  conceits  a  living  author ;  and  after  tossing  it  to  and  fro,  no 
remedy  but  it  must  light  on  me."  In  this  "  tossing  to  and  fro  " 
it  appears  that  at  one  time  they  fixed  upon  Nash  as  the  author; 
he  therefore  protests  that  "  it  was  all  Greene's,  not  mine,  nor 
Master  Nash's,  as  some  unjustly  have  affirmed." 

Shakspere  and  Marlowe  thus  acting  together,  and  fixing  upon 
Nash  as  their  common  enemy,  is  somewhat  inconsistent  with  the 
prevailing  idea  which  classes  together  Marlowe,  Greene,  Peele, 
Lodge,  and  Nash,  as  the  confraternity  of  University  wits,  more  or 
less  in  hostility  to  the  interloper  Shakspere.  The  idea  is  founded 
on  this  letter  of  Greene's,  which  has  been  accepted  without 
making  allowances  for  the  ingrained  falsehood  of  the  man. 
Greene  gives  us  to  understand  that  he  and  Marlowe  were  great 
friends ;  yet  in  addressing  Marlowe  he  makes  against  him  the 
vilest  insinuations  ;  and  those  which  we  can  now  read  are  little  in 
comparison  with  those  which  the  manuscript,  probably,  contained. 


Xlvi  MARLOWE,    GREENE,    AND    SHAKSPERE. 

At  the  perusing  of  Greene's  book,  says  Chettle,  I  "  stroke  out  what 
then  in  conscience  I  thought  he  in  some  displeasure  writ  [con- 
cerning Marlowe],  or,  had  it  beene  true,  yet  to  publish  it  was 
intolerable." 

Greene  had  alluded  to  Marlowe  in  previous  writings,  but 
always  in  the  same  spirit.  In  the  Epistle  prefixed  to  his  Peri- 
inedes  (1588)  he  tells  how  a  play  of  his  had  been  scorned  "  for 
that  I  could  not  make  my  verses  jet  upon  the  stage  in  tragical 
buskins,  every  word  filling  the  mouth  like  the  fa-burden  of  Bow- 
bell,  daring  God  out  of  heaven  with  that  atheist  Tamburlaine,  or 
blaspheming  with  the  mad  priest  of  the  sun."  Marlowe,  we  know 
by  Harvey's  sonnets,  was  known  by  the  name  of  Tamburlaine,  just 
as  Shakspere  was  called  by  the  name  of  his  most  popular  cha- 
racter, and  was  written  of  by  the  Countess  of  Southampton,  and 
by  Sir  Edwin  Sandys,  as  Sir  John  Falstaff.1 

Again,  in  his  Farewell  to  Folly,  1591,  Greene  tells  his  Univer- 
sity readers  that  his  Mourning  Garment  had  so  ready  a  sale  that 
the  pedlar  "  found  them  too  dear  for  his  pack,  and  was  fain  to 
bargain  for  the  life  of  Tamburlaine  to  wrap  up  his  sweet 
powders  in  those  unsavoury  papers."  And  when  he  employed 
JsTash,  then  just  returned  from  a  three  years'  absence,  to  criticize 
his  contemporaries  in  the  Epistle  prefixed  to  Menaplion  in  1589, 
he  made  Nash  cite,  not  Marlowe,  to  whom  common  consent  gave 
the  palm,  but  Peele,  as  "  the  chief  supporter  of  pleasaunce  now 
living,  the  Atlas  of  poetry,  and  primus  verborum  artifex  "  with  a 
"pregnant  dexterity  of  wit  and  manifold  variety  of  invention, 
wherein  (me  judice)  he  goeth  a  step  beyond  all  that  write." 

The  impression,  then,  that  Greene  seems  to  wish  to  make, 
that  he  had  been  an  intimate  friend  and  comrade  of  Marlowe, 
appears  to  be  untrue.  On  the  contrary,  in  the  heyday  of  Mar- 
lowe's success  in  1588-91,  Gre§ne  was  as  jealous  of  him  as  he  was 
of  Shakspere  in  1592,  and  for  a  similar  reason. 

On  the  other  hand,  I  know  of  no  evidence,  beyond  Greene's 
malicious  insinuation,  of  any  unfriendly  rivalry  between  Shak- 
spere and  Marlowe.  Marlowe,  I  believe,  is  one  of  the  two  con- 
temporary poets  to  whom  Shakspere  directly  refers  in  any  of  his 
plays,  and  then  his  allusion  is  anything  but  unfriendly : — 

Dead  Shepherd,  now  I  find  thy  saw  of  might, 
'  He  never  loved  that  loved  not  at  first  sight.' 

1  See  Historical  MSS.  Commission,  3rd  Report,  p.  148,  and  Sir  Edwin  Sandys 
letters — a  volume  published  in  the  middle  of  the  17th  century  ;  I  have  mislaid  the 
reference.  Of  course  I  assume  Marlowe  to  be  the  author  of  Tamburlaine ;  the  in- 
direct evidence  is  abundant ;  the  chief  direct  evidence  hitherto  relied  on  has  been 
proved  to  be  a  forgery. 


MARLOWE,    GREENE,    AND    SHAKSPERE. 

That  there  was  a  rivalry  may  be  surmised  from  this ;  that 
in  1593  they  were  both  occupied  in  writing  amatory  poems ; 
Shakspere  with  his  Venus  and  Adonis,  Marlowe  with  his  Hero  and 
Leander.  If  this  rivalry  was  friendly,  whatever  there  may  be  in 
common  between  Marlowe  and  Shakspere  in  the  3  parts  of  Henry 
VI.  is  not  to  be  imputed,  on  Greene's  word,  to  dishonest  pilfering 
on  the  part  of  Shakspere — a  charge  from  which  Chettle's  apology 
ought  to  bear  him  free, — but  rather  to  the  co-operation  not  unusual 
among  dramatists.  Dyce  has  pointed  out  some  verbal  parallel- 
isms of  Marlowe's  Edward  II.  with  the  1st  part  of  the  Con- 
tention, and  the  True  Tragedy.  The  very  structure  of  Edward  II. 
seems  to  bear  witness  to  the  counsel  and  aid  of  Shakspere,  just  as 
the  construction  of  Ben  Jonson's  Scjanus,  as  compared  with  his 
Catiline,  may  bear  witness  to  the  co-operation  of  some  "second  pen" 
whose  contributions  Ben  erased,  preferring  "  to  put  weaker,  and 
no  doubt  less  pleasing,  of  mine  own,  than  to  defraud  so  happy  a 
genius  of  his  right  by  my  loathed  usurpation."  A  play  brought 
out  by  the  same  company  (that  of  Lord  Pembroke),  and  about 
the  same  time  with  Edward  II.,  is  The  taming  of  a  Shrew.  Marlowe's 
share  in  this  only  fails  of  proof  through  the  abundance  of  internal 
evidence.  There  are  whole  passages  of  three  and  four  lines  each 
verbally  transcribed  from  Marlowe's  plays.  That  an  author  should 
so  closely  repeat  himself  is  unusual ;  but  that  any  one  should 
so  openly  plagiarize  from,  the  works  of  a  living  or  recently  de- 
ceased writer  universally  known,  and  where  detection  would  be 
certain,  is  next  to  incredible,  except  perhaps  on  the  hypothesis 
that  Shakspere  might  have  written  the  comedy,  with  its  Mar- 
lowesque  turgidity  in  the  more  serious  parts,  in  order  to  show 
what  manner  of  writer  he  would  be,  if,  as  had  been  said  of  him,  he 
was  a  mere  plagiarist  from  Marlowe;  just  as  he  seems  to  have 
published  Locrine  in  1595  (it  was  entered  in  the  Stationers'  books, 
July  20,  1594)  "  newly  set  forth,  overseene  and  corrected  by 
W.  S.," — an  old  play,  written,  according  to  Sir  George  Buck,  by 
Charles  Tylney,  who  was  executed  for  treason  in  Sept.  1586, — with 
interpolations  from  Peele  (pointed  out  by  Dyce),  and  imitations 
from  Greene,  and  perhaps  from  Marlowe.  Either,  it  seems  to 
me,  we  must  accept  the  hypothesis  that  these  two  plays  are  an 
ironical  answer  to  Greene's  charges,  showing  the  difference  of  the 
new  school  of  Comedy  and  Tragedy  from  the  old,  which  the  author 
was  accused  of  plagiarizing  from  ;  or  else,  if  we  think,  as  most  of 
us  do  think,  that  Shakspere  must  have  had  a  hand  in  the  old 
Taming  of  a  Shrew,  we  must  assign  to  him  as  a  partner  in  writing 
it,  either  Marlowe  himself,  or  one  of  his  direct  imitators  and 
scholars. 


Xlviii  MARLOWE,    GREEN'E,    AND    SIIAKSPERE. 

Again,  when  Greene  reproaches  Marlowe  ag  being  a  defender 
of  liberty,  which  Greene  chooses  to  designate  as  being  the  doc- 
trine of  Machiavelli,  and  Bame  as  atheism  (see  Batne  on  Mar- 
lowe's opinions,  Harleian  MS.  (5853,  fol.  320,  printed  by  Dyce),it 
is  doubtful  whether  by  liberty  he  meant  anything  more  than  toler- 
ation, as  understood  by  those  whom  the  men  in  power  chose  to 
designate  politiques ;  who  considered  that  the  State  ought  to  act 
for  the  good  of  the  State,  not  in  the  interests  of  the  Church  ;  and 
that  useful  citizens  should  not  be  burned  or  subjected  to  penal  laws, 
because  they  happened  to  differ  in  religion  from  their  sovereign, 
or  the  majority  of  their  fellow- subjects.  This  is  probably  the 
tenet  of  Marlowe  which  Greene  describes  as  teaching  that  it  is 
"  lawful,  y^s  et  nefas,  to  do  anything  that  is  beneficial."  That  is, 
that  the  general  prosperity  of  the  country  ought  to  be  aimed  at, 
without  attending  to  the  bloodthirsty  demands  of  Whitgift  and 
the  clergy,  who  held  that  the  first  thing  was,  fas  out  nefas,  to 
reduce  the  people  to  unity  of  belief,  and  to  suppress  with  equal 
weight  both  Puritans  and  Papists.  If  this  was  the  charge  against 
Marlowe,  it  is  no  prejudice  against  the  probability  of  an  intimate 
sympathy  between  him  and  Shakspere.  That  Marlowe  was  really 
as  much  opposed  to  Machiavelli's  reputed  teaching  as  Greene 
himself  may  be  seen  from  his  prologue  to  the  Jew  of  Malta,  where 
he  confesses  that  Barabas  is  meant  for  the  maligned  philosopher. 

Two  of  the  matters  I  have  advanced  are  facts  that  can  hardly 
be  controverted :  the  co-operation  of  Marlowe  and  Shakspere  in 
investigating  the  authorship  of  the  Groats-worth  of  Wit,  and  Shak- 
spere's  sympathetic  mention  of  the  dead  poet  in  As  You  Like  It. 
The  rest  is  hypothesis,  which  I  put  forward  for  the  purpose  of 
further  inquiry,  not  as  propositions  already  proved. 

E.  SIMPSOX. 


GREENS, 

Groats-worth   of  Wit, 

bought  with  a  Million  of 

Repentaunce. 

Describing  the  follie  of  youth,  the  falshoode  of  makeshift 

flatterers,  the  miserie  of  the  negligent,  and  mischiefes 

of  deceiuing  Courtezans. 

Written  before  before  his  death,  and  published  at  his 
dying  request. 

Faelicem  fuisse  infaustum. 


LONDON, 

Printed  by  Thomas  Creede,  for  Richard  Oliue, 

dwelling  in  long  long  Lane,  and  are  there 

to  be  solde.      1596. 


THE    PRINTER    TO 

the  Gentle  Readers. 


Haue  publifhed  heere,  Gentlemen,  for  your  mirth  and 
benefit,  Greenes  groatefwoorth  of  wit.     With  fun-  4 
dry  of  his  pleafant  difcourfes,  ye  haue  beene  before 
delighted:    But  now  hath   death  giuen  a  period  to   his  pen; 
onely  this  happened  into  my  hands,  which  I  haue  publimed  for 
your  pleafures :  Accept  it  fauourably  becaufe  it  was  his  laft  8 
birth,  and  not  leaft  worth,  in  my  poore  opinion.     But  I  will 
ceafe  to  praife  that  which  is  aboue  my  conceit,  and  leaue  it 
Telfe  to  fpeake  for  it  felfe :  and  fo  abide  your  learned  cenfuring. 


Yours,   V7:  VV. 


12 


TO   THE   GEN- 

tlemen  Readers 

|Entlemen.    The  Ssvan  fings  melodioufly  before  death, 
that  in  all  his  life  time  vfeth  but  a  iarring  found. 
Greene,  though  able  inough  to  write,  yet  deeplyer 
fearched  with  ficknefle  then   euer  heretofore,  fendes  you   his 
Swanne-like  fong,  for  that  he  feares  he  fhal  neuer  againe  carroll 
8  to  you  woonted  loue  layes,  neuer  againe  difcouer  to  you  youths 
pleafures.     How  euer  yet  ficknefle,  riot,  incontinence,  haue  at 
once  fhown  their  extremitie,  yet,  if  I  recouer,  you  mall  all  fee 
more  frefh  fprings  then  euer  fprang  from  me,  directing  you  how 
12  to  Hue,  yet  not  diffracting  you  from  loue.     This  is  the  laft  I 
haue  writ;  and  I  feare  me,  the  laft  I  (hall  write.     And  how  euer 
I  haue  beene  cenfured  for  fome  of  my  former  bookes,  yet  Gen- 
tlemen I  proteft,  they  were  as  I  had  fpeciall  information.     But 
16  pafsing  them,  I  commend  this  to  your  fauourable  cenfures ;  and 
like  an  Embrion  without  fhape,  I  feare  me  [t]will  beethruft  into 
the  world.     If  I  Hue  to  ende  it,  it  mall  be  otherwife  :  if  not, 
yet  will  I  commend  it  to  your  courtefies,  that  you  may  as  wel 


T'o  the  Gentlemen  Readers.  5 

be  acquainted  with  my  repentant  death,  as  you  haue  lamented 
my  carelefle  courfe  of  life.     But  as  Nemo  ante  obitumfelix,  fo 
A6ia  Exitus '  prolat :  Befeeching  therefore  to  bee  deemed  hereof 
as  I  deferue,  I  leaue  the  worke  to  your  likings,  and  leaue  you  4 
to  your  delights. 

1  Orig.  Exiitus. 


GREENES 

Groatsworth  of  wit. 

[N  an  Hand  bound  with  the  Ocean,  there  was  fometime  a 
Citie  fituated,  made  rich  by  Merchandize,  and  populous 
by  long  fpace;  the  name  is  not  mentioned  in  the  An- 
tiquary, or  elfe  worne  out  by  times  Antiquitie :  what  it  4 
was,  it  greaily  fkilles  not :  but  therein  thus  it  happened.     An  old  new 
made  Gentleman  herein  dwelt,  of  no  fmall  credit,  exceeding  wealth, 
and  large  confcience  :  he  had  gathered  from  many  to  beftowe  vpon 
one ;  for  though  he  had  two  fonnes,  he  efteemed  but  one,  that,  being  8 
as  himfelfe,  brought  vp  to  be  goldes  bondman,  was  therefore  held 
heire  apparent  of  his  ill  gathered  goods. 

The  other  was  a  Scholler,  and  maried  to  a  proper  Gentlewoman, 
and  therefore  leaft  regarded  ;  for  tis  an  olde  faidfaw  :  To  learning  and  12 
law,  ther's  no  greater  foe,  then  they  that  nothing  know  :  yet  was  not 
the  father   altogether   vnlettered,  for  he   had  good  experience  in  a 
Nouerint,  and  by  the  vniuerfall  tearmes  therein  contained,  had  driuen 
many  gentlewomen  to  feeke  vnknowen  countries  :  wife  he  was,  for  he  16 
boare  office  in  his  parifh,  and  fate  as  formally  in  his  fox-furd  gowne, 
as  if  he  had  beene  a  very  vpright  dealing  Burges :  he  was  religious 
too,  neuer  without  a  booke  at  his  belt,  and  a  bolt  in  his  mouth,  ready 
to  fhoote  through  his  finfull  neighbor  20 

And  Latin  he  had  fome  where  learned,  which,  though  it  were  but 
little,  yet  was  it  profitable,  for  he  had  this  Philofophie  written  in  a 
ring,  Tu   tibi  cura,  which  precept  he   curioufly  obferued,  being  in 
felfeloue  fo  religious,  as  he  held  it  no  point  of  charitie  to  part  with  24 
any  thing,  of  which  he,  liuing,  might  make  yfe. 


8  Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit. 

But  as  all  mortall  things  are  momentarie,  and  no  certaintie  can  bee 

founde  in  this  vncertaine  world,  fo  Gorinius,  (for  that  fhall  be  this 

Ufurers  name)  after  many  a  goutie  pang  that  had  pincht  his  exterior 

4  parts,  many  a  curfe  of  the  people  that  mounted  into  heauens  prefence, 

was  at  laft  with  his  laft  fummons,  by  a  deadly  difeafearrefted ;  where- 

againft  when  hee   had  long  contended,  and  was  by  Phifitions  giuen 

ouer,  hee  cald  his  two  fonnes  before  him  :  and  willing  to  peribrme 

8  the  olde  prouerbe,  Qualis  vita,  finis  Ita,  hee  thus  prepared  himfelfe, 

and  admonished  them. 

My  fonnes,  (for  fo  your  mother  faide  ye  were)   and  fo  I  afl'ure 
my  felfe  one  of  you  is,   and  of  the  other  I   \vil  make  no  doubt. 

12  You  fee  the  time  is  come,  which  I  thought  would  neuer  haue 
aproached,  and  we  muft  now  be  feperated,  I  feare  neuer  to  meete 
againe.  This  fixteene  yeares  daily  haue  I  liued  vexed  with  difeafe : 
and  might  I  liue  fixteene  more,  how  euer  miferably,  I  mould  thinke 

1 6  it  happie.  But  death  is  relentlelTe,  and  will  not  be  intreated  witlefTe  : 
and  knowes  not  what  good  my  gold  might  do  him  :  fenfelefle,  & 
hath  no  pleafure  in  the  delightfull  places  I  would  offer  him.  In 
breefe,  I  thinke  he  hath,  with  this  foole  my  eldeft  fonne,  beene  brought 

20  vp  in  the  vniuerfitie,  and  therefore  accounts  that  in  riches  is  no  vertue. 
But  you  my  fonne,  (laying  then  his  hand  on  the  yongers  head)  haue 
thou  another  fpirit :  for  without  wealth,  life  is  a  death  :  what  is  gentry, 
if  wealth  be  wanting,  but  bafe  feruile  beggerie  ?  Some  comfort  yet  it 

24  is  vnto  me,  to  fee  how  many  gallants  fprung  of  noble  parents,  haue 
croucht  to  Gorinius  to  haue  fight  of  his  gold  :  O  gold,  defired  gold, 
admired  golde !  and  haue  loft  their  patrimonies  to  Gorinius,  becaufe 
they  haue  not  returned  by  their  day  that  adored  creature !  How 

28  many  fchollers  haue  written  rimes  in  Gorinius  praife,  and  receiued 
(after  long  capping  and  reuerence)  a  lixpeny  reward  in  figne  of  my 
fuperficiall  liberalitie.  Breefely,  my  yong  Lucanio,  how  I  haue  bin 
reuerenft,  thou  feeft,  wrhen  honefter  men,  I  confefle,  haue  beene  fet 

32  farre  off:  for  to  be  rich  is  to  be  any  thing,  wife,  honeft,  worfhipfull, 
or  what  not  ?  I  tell  thee  my  lonne  :  when  I  came  firft  to  this  Cittie, 
my  whole  wardrop  was  onely  a  fute  of  white  fheepe  (kins,  my  wealth 
an  olde  Groate,  my  woonning,  the  wide  wrorld.  At  this  inftant  (O 

36  greefe  to  part  with  it)  I  haue  in  readie  coyne  threefcore  thoufand 


Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit.  9 

pound  j  in  plate  and  Jewels,  xv.  thoufand  ;  in  bonds  and  fpecialties,  as 
much ;  in  land,  nine  hundred  pound  by  the  yeere  :  all  which,  Lucanio, 
I  bequeath  to  thee  j  onely  i  referue  for  Roberto  thy  well  red  brother, 
an  olde  Groate,  (being  the  ftocke  -I  firft  began  with,)  wherewith  I  4 
wifh  him  to  buy  a  groatfworth  of  wit :  for  he  in  my  life  hath 
reprooued  my  maner  of  life,  and  therefore  at  my  death,  {hall  not  bee 
contaminated  with  corrupt  gaine. 

Heere  by  the  way,  Gentlemen,  muft  I  difgreffe  to  fhew  the  reafon  8 
of  Gorinius  prefent  fpeech  :    Roberto  being  come  from  the  Academic, 
to  vifit  his  father,  there  was  a  great  fealt  prouided :  where  for  table 
talke,  Roberto,  knowing  his  father  and  moft  of  the  companie  to  be 
execrable  vfurers,  inuayed  mightily  againft  that  abhorred  vice,  info-  12 
much  that  he  vrged  teares  from  diuers  of  their  eyes,  and  compun£tion 
in  fome  of  their  hearts.     Dinner  being  paft,  hee  comes  to  his  father, 
requeuing  him  to  take  no  oifence  at  his  liberall  fpeech,  feeing  what 
he  had  vttered  was  truth.     Angrie  fonne  (faide  he)  no,  by  my  hon-  16 
efty,  (&  that  is  fomwhat,  I  may  fay  to  you)  but  vfe  it  ftill,  and  if  thou 
canft  perfwade  any  of  my  neighbours  from  lending  vppon  vfurie,  I 
mould  haue  the  more  cuftomers  :    to  which  when  Roberto  would 
haue  replied,  he  fhut  himfelfe  into  his  ftudie,  and  fell  to  telling  ouer  20 
his  money. 

This  was  Robertas  offence  :  nowe  returne  we  to  ficke  Gorinius, 
who,  after  he  had  thus  vnequally  diftributed  his  goods  and  pofieffions, 
began  to  afke  his  fons  how  they  liked  his  bequeftes :  either  feemed  24 
agreed,  and  Roberto  vrged  him  with  nothing  more  then  repentance 
of  his   fin:  loke  to   thine  owne,  faid  he,  fond  boy,  and  come  my 
Lucanio,  let  me  giue  thee  good  counfel  before  my  death  :  as  for  you, 
fir,  your  bookes  are  your  counfellors,  and  therefore  to  them  I  bequeath  28 
you.     Ah  Lucanio,  my  onely  comfort,  becaufe  I  hope  thou  wilt,  as 
thy  father,  be  a  gatherer,  let  me  bleffe  thee  before  I  die.     Multiply  in 
wealth,  my  fonne,  by  anie  meanes  thou  maift  ;  onely  flie  Alchymie,  for 
therein  are  more  deceites  then   her  beggerly  Artiftes  haue  wordesj  32 
and  yet  are  the  wretches  more  talkatiue  then   women.      But    my 
meaning  is,  thou  mouldeft  not  ftand  on  confcience  in  caufes  of  profite, 
but  heape  treafure  vppon  treafure,  for  the  time  of  neede :  yet  feeme 
to  be  deuout,  elfe  {halt  thou  be  held  vile :  frequent  holy  excercifes,  36 


io  Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit. 

graue  companie,  and  aboue  all,  vfe  the  conuerfation  of  yong  Gentle- 
men, who  are  fo  wedded  to  prodigalitie,  that  once  in  a  quarter 
neceflity  knocks  at  their  chamber  doores  :  prefer  them  kindnetfe  to 
4  relieue  their  wants,  but  be  fure  of  good  alVurance :  giue  faire  words 
till  dayes  of  payment  come,  and  then  vfe  my  courle,  fpare  none  :  what 
though  they  tell  of  confcience,  (as  a  number  will  talke)  looke  but 
into  the  dealings  of  the  world,  &  thou  flialt  fee  it  is  but  idle  words. 
8  Seeft  thou  not  many  perifh  in  the  ftreetes,  and  fall  to  theft  for  neede, 
whom  fmall  fuccor  would  releeue  :  then  where  is  confcience,  and  why 
art  thou  bound  to  vfe  it  more  then  other  men  ?  Seeft  thou  not  daily 
forgeries,  periuries,  oppreflions,  rackings  of  the  poore,  rayfing  of 

12  rents,  inhauncing  of  duties,  euen  by  them  that  Ihuld  be  all  confcience, 
if  they  meant  as  they  fpeake  :  but  Lucanio,  if  thou  reade  well  this 
booke  (and  with  that  hee  reacht  him  Machiauels  works  at  large),  thou 
(halt  fee  what  it  is  to  be  fo  foole-holy,  as  to  make  fcruple  of  con- 

16  fcience,  where  profit  prefents  it  felfe. 

Betides,  thou  haft  an  inftance  by  thy  threed-bare  brother  heere, 
who,  willing  to  do  no  wrong,  hath  loft  his  childs  right :  for  who  would 
wifh  any  thing  to  him,  that  knowes  not  how  to  vfe  it  ? 

20  So  much,  Lucanio,  for  confcience  :  and  yet  I  knowe  not  whats  the 
reafon,  but  fomewhat  flings  mee  inwardly  when  I  fpeake  of  it.  I, 
father,  faid  Roberto,  it  is  the  worme  of  confcience,  that  vrges  you  at 
the  laft  houre  to  remember  your  life,  that  eternall  life  may  follow 

24  your  repentance.  Out  foole  (faid  this  miferable  father)  I  feele  it  now, 
it  was  onely  a  ftitch.  I  will  forward  with  my  exhortation  to  Lucanio. 
As  I  faide,  my  fonne,  make  fpoyle  of  yong  gallants  by  infinuating  thy 
felfe  amongft  them ;  and  be  not  mooued  to  think  their  Aunceftors 

28  were  famous,  but  confider  thine  were  obfcure,  and  that  thy  father 
was  the  firft  Gentleman  of  the  name.  Lucanio,  thou  art  yet  a 
Bacheler,  and  fo  keepe  thee,  till  thou  meete  with  one  that  is  thy 
equall,  I  meane  in  wealth  :  regard  not  beautie,  it  is  but  a  baite  to 

32  entice  thine  neighbors  eie  :  and  the  moft  faire  are  commonly  moft 
fond  :  vfe  not  too  many  familiars,  for  few  prooue  friends ;  and  as  eafie 
it  is  to  weigh  the  wind,  as  to  diue  into  the  thoughts  of  worldly  glofers. 
I  tell  thee,  Lucanio,  I  haue  feene  foure  fcore  winters  betides  the  odde 

36  feauen,  yet  faw  I  neuer  him  that  I  efteemed  as  my  friend,  but  gold, 


Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit.  1 1 

that  defined  creature,  whom  I  haue  deerely  loued,  and  found  fo  firme 
a  friend,  as  nothing,  to  me  hauing  it,  hat  hbeene  wanting.  No  man 
but  may  thinke  deerely  of  a  true  friend,  and  fo  doe  I  of  it,  laying  it 
vnder  fure  locks,  and  lodging  my  heart  therwith.  4 

But  now  (Ah  my  Lucanio)  now  rnuft   I  leaue  it ;  and  to   thee  I 
leaue  it  with  this  leffon,  loue  none  but  thy  felfe,  if  thou  wilt  liue 
efteemed.     So  turning  him  to  his  ftudy,  where  his  chiefe  treafure  lay, 
he  loud  cried  out  in  the  wife  mans  words,  O  mors  quam  amara,  O  8 
death  how  bitter  is  thy  memorie  to  him  that  hath  al  pleafures  in  this 
life ;  and  fo  with  two  or  three  lamentable  groanes  he  left  his  life  :  and 
to  make  fhort  worke,  was  by  Lucanio  his  fonne  enterd,  as  the  cuftome 
is,  with  fome  folemnitie  :  But  leauing  him  that  hath  left  the  world,  12 
to  him  that1  cenfureth  of  euery  worldly  man,  paffe  we  to  his  fons  :  and 
fee  how  his  long  laied  by  ftore  is  by  Lucanio  looked  into.     The  youth 
was  of  condition  limple,   fhamefaft,  and  flexible  to  any  counfaile, 
which  Roberto  perceiuing,  and  pondering  how  little  was  left  to  him,  16 
grew  into  an  inward  contempt   of  his  fathers  vnequall  legacie,  and 
determinate  refolution  to  worke  Lucanio  al  poflible  iniurie  :    here- 
vpon,  thus  conuerting  the  fweetnefTe  of  his  ftudie  to  the  fharpe  thirft 
of  reuenge,  he  (as  Enuie  is  feldome  idle)  fought  out  fit  companions  20 
to  effecl  his  vnbrotherly  refolution.     Neither  in  fuch  a  cafe  is  ill  com- 
panie  farre  to  feeke,  for  the  Sea  hath  fcarce  fo  [many]  ieoperdies,  as 
populous  Citties  haue  deceiuing  Syrens,  whole  eies  are  Adamants, whole 
wor[d]es  are  witchcrafts,  whofe  doores  leade  downe  to  death.    With  one  24 
of  thefe  female  Serpents  Roberto  conforts,  and  they  conclude,  what  euer 
they  compafled,   equally  to  fliare   to  their  contentes.     This  match 
made,  Lucanio  was  by  his  brother  brought  to  the  bum,  where  he  had 
fcarce  pruned  his  wings,  but  hee  was  fail  limed,  and  Roberto  had  what  28 
he  expe&ed.     But  that  we  may  keepe  forme,  you  fliall  heare  how  it 
fortuned. 

Lucanio  being  on  a  time  very  penfme,  his  brother  brake  with  him 
in  thefe  tearmes :    I  wonder,  Lucanio,  why  you  are  fo  difconfolate,  32 
that  want  not  any  thing  in  the  world  that  may  worke  your  content. 
If  wealth  may  delight  a  man,  you  are  with  that  fufficiently  furnifht : 
it  credit  may  procure  a  man  any  comfort,  your  word,  I  knowe  well,  is 

1   Orig.  yt. 


1 2  Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit. 

as  well  accepted  as  any  mans  obligation  :  in  this  Citie  are  faire  build- 
ings and  pleafant  gardens,  and  caufe  of  Iblace ;  of  them  I  am  aflured 
you  haue  your  choyfe.  Confider,  brother,  you  are  yong  j  then  plod  not 
4  altogether  in  meditating  on  our  fathers  precepts  :  which,  howlbeuer 
they  fauoured  of  profit,  were  moft  vnfauerly,  to  one  of  your  yeeres 
applied.  You  muft  not  thinke  but  certaine  Marchants  of  this  Citie 
expe6t  your  company,  fundry  Gentlemen  delire  your  familiaritie,  and 
8  by  conuerling  with  fuch,  you  will  be  accounted  a  Gentleman  :  other- 
wife  a  pefant,  if  ye  Hue  thus  obfcurely.  Befides,  which  I  had  almoft 
forgot,  and  then  had  all  the  reft  beene  nothing,  you  are  a  man  by 
nature  furnimed  with  all  exquifite  proportion,  worthy  the  loue  of  any 

12  courtly  Ladie,  be  flie  neuer  fo  amorous  :  you  haue  wealth  to  main- 
taine  her,  of  women  not  little  longed  for :  wordes  to  court  her  you 
fhall  not  want,  for  my  felfe  will  be  your  fecretary.  Brieflie,  why 
ftande  I  to  diftinguiili  abilitie  in  perticularities,  when  in  one  word  it  may 

16  bee  fayde,  which  no  man  can  gainfay,  Lucanio  lacketh  nothing  to 
delight  a  wife,  nor  any  thing  but  a  wife  to  delight  him  ?  My  young 
maifter  beeing  thus  clawde,  and  puft  vp  with  his  owne  prayfe,  made 
no  longer  delay,  but  hauing  on  his  holyday  hofe,  he  tricked  himfelfe 

20  vp,  and  like  a  fellowe  that  meant  good  footh,  hee  clapped  his  Brother 
on  the  Shoulder,  and  fayde :  Faith,  Brother  Rolerto,  and  yee  fay  the 
worde,  lets  go  feeke  a  wife  while  it  is  hote,  both  of  vs  togither,  He  pay 
well,  and  I  dare  turne  you  loofe  to  fay  as  well  as  anye  of  them  all : 

24  well  He  doe  my  beft,  faid  Roberto,  and  fince  ye  are  fo  forward,  lets 
goe  nowe  aud  trie  our  good  fortune. 

With  this,  foorth  they  walke,  and  Rolerto  went  direftlie  towarde 
the  houfe  where  Lamilia  (for  fo  wee  call  the  Curtezan)  kept   her 

28  Hofpitall,  which  was  in  the  Suburbes  of  the  Cittie,  pleafauntly  feated, 
and  made  more  dele£table  by  a  pleafaunt  Garden,  wherein  it  was 
fcituate.  No  fooner  come  they  within  ken,  but  Miftrefle  Lamilia 
like  a  cunning  angler  made  readie  her  chaunge  of  baytes,  that  fhee 

32  might  effe6t  Lucanios  bane :  and  to  begin,  fhee  difcouered  from  her 
window  her  beauteous  inticing  face,  and  taking  a  lute  in  her  hand 
that  me  might  the  rather  allure,  me  fung  this  Sonnet'  with  a  delicious 
voice. 

1  Orig.  Sounet. 


Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit.  1 3 

Lamilias  Song. 
Fiejie  on  Hindfancie, 
It  hinders  youths  ioy  : 

Faire  virgins  learne  by  me,  4 

To  count  loue  a  toy. 

When  Loue  learned  Jirjl  the  ABC  of  delight, 
And  knew  no  figures,  nor  conceited  phrafe  : 
Hejlinplie  gaue  to  due  defert  her  right, 
He  led  not  loners  in  darke  winding  ivayes, 

He  plainly  wild  to  loue,  orjlatly  anfwered  no, 
But  now  who  lifts  to  proue,JJiaUJind  it  nothing  fo  : 

Fiejie  then  on  f ancle,  12 

It  hinders  youths  ioy, 
Faire  virgins  learne  ly  me, 
To  count  loue  a  toy. 

Forjince  he  learnd  to  vfe  the  Poets  pen,  J6 

He  learnd  likewife  with  fmoothing  words  tofaine, 
Witching  chaft  eares  with  trothleffe  toungs  of  men, 
And  wronged  faith  with  faljliood  and  difdaine. 

He  giues  a  promife  now,  anon  hefweareth  no,  20 

Who  liftethfor  to  proue,jhalljind  his  changingsfo  : 
Fiejie  then  onfancie, 
It  hinders  youths1  ioy, 

Faire  virgins  learne  ly  me,  24 

To  count  Loue  a  toy. 

While  this  painted  fepulchre  was  fhadowing  her  corrupting  guilt, 
Hiena-like  alluring  to   definition,  Roberto  and  Lucanio  vnder  the 
windowe,  kept  euen  pace  with  euery  flop  of  her  inflrument,  but  28 
efpecially  my  yoong  Ruffler,  (that  before  time  like  a  bird  in  a  cage, 
had  beene  prentife  for  three  Hues,  or  one  and  twentie  yeeres  at  leafly 
to  extreame  Auarice,  his  deceafed  father)  O  twas  a  world  to  fee  how 
he  fometime  fimperd  it,  firming  to  fet  a  countenance  on  his  turnd  32 
face,  that  it  might  feeme  of  wainfcot  proofe,  to  beholde  her  face  with- 
out blu.fh.ing  :  anone  hee  would  flroake  his  bowbent-leg,  as  though  he 
went  to  fhoote  loue  arrows  from  his  fhins  :  then  wipte  his  chin  (for 

1  Orig.  youth, 


14  Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit. 

his  beard  was  not  yet  grown)  with  a  gold  wrought  handkercher,  whence 
of  purpofe  he  let  fall  a  handfull  of  angels.  This  golden  fhowre  was 
no  fooner  rained,  but  Lami/^a  ceaft  her  fong,  and  Roberto  (alluring 
4  hinifelfe  the  foole  was  caught)  came  to  Lucanio  (that  ftoode  now  as 
one  that  had  flarde  Meduf'a  in  the  face)  and  awaked  him  from  his 
amazement  with  thefe  words  :  What,  in  a  traunce,  brother  ?  whence 
fprings  thefe  dumps  ?  are  yee  amazed  at  this  obiecl  ?  or  long  ye  to 
8  become  loues  fubiecl  ?  Is  there  not  difference  betweene  this  deledl- 
able  life,'  and  the  imprifonment  you  haue  all  your  life  hitherto 
endured  ?  If  the  fight  and  hearing  of  this  harmonious  beautie  work 
in  you  effects  of  wonder,  what  will  the  poflelliou  of  fo  diuine  an 

12  effence,  wherein  beautie  and  Art  dwell  in  their  perfe&eft  excellencie  ? 
Brother,  laid  Lucanio,  lets  vfe  few  words,  and  llie  be  no  more  then  a 
woman,  I  truft  youle  helpe  mee  to  her !  and  if  you  doe,  well,  I  fay 
no  more,  but  I  am  yours  till  death  vs  depart,  and  what  is  mine,  flial 

1 6  be  yours,  world  without  end,  Amen. 

Roberto,  fmiliug  at  his  fimplenelTe,  helpt  him  to  gather  vp  hisdropt 
golde,  and  without  any  more  circumftance  led  him  to  Lamilias  houfe  : 
for  of  fuch  places  it  may  be  faid  as  of  hell, 

20  Nofles  atque  dies  patet  atri  ianua  ditis. 

So  their  doores  are  euer  open  to  entice  youth  to  deftruction.  They 
were  no  fooner  entred,  but  Lamilia  her  felfe,  like  a  fecond  Helen, 
court  like  begins  to  falute  Roberto,  yet  did  her  wandring  eie  glance 

24  often  at  Lucanio :  the  effect  of  her  entertainment  confilted  in  thefe 
tearmes,  that  to  her  limple  houfe  Signor  Roberto  was  welcome,  and 
his  brother  the  better  welcome  for  your  fake :  albeit  his  good  report, 
confirmed  by  his  prefent  demeaner,  were  of  it  felfe  enough  to  giue 

28  him  deferued  entertainement,  in  any  place  how  honourable  foeuer : 
•mutuall  thanks  returned,  they  lead  this  prodigal  childe  into  a  Parlor 
garnilhed  with  goodly  portratures  of  amiable  perlbnages  :  neere  which 
an  excellent  conlbrt  of  muficke  began  at  their  entrance  to  play. 

32  Lamilia,  feeing  Lucanio  fhamefalt,  tooke  him  by  the  hand,  and  ten- 
derly wringing  him,  vfed  thefe  words :  Beleeue  me,  Gentleman,  I  am 
verie  forie  that  our  rude  enter[tain]ment  is  fuch,  as  no  way  may  worke 
your  content :  for  this  I  haue  noted  fince  your  firft  entering,  that 


Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit.  1 5 

your  countenance  hath  beene  heauie,  and  the  face  being  the  glafle   of 
the  heart,  aflures  me  the  fame  is  not  quiet :  would  ye  willi  any  thing 
heere  that  might  content  you,  fay  but  the  word,  and  allure  ye  of 
prefent  deliuerauce  to  effect  your  full  delight.     Lucanio  being  fo  farre  4  * 
in  loue,  as  he  perfwaded  himfelfe  without  her  grant  hee  could  not 
liue,  had  a  good  meaning  to  vtter  his  minde,  but  wanting  fit  wordes, 
hee  ftoode  like  a  trewant  that  lackt  a  prompter,  or  a  plaier,  that  being 
out  of  his  part  at  his  firft  entrance,  is  faine  to  haue  the  booke  to  8 
fpeake  what  he  ihould  performe.     Which  Roberto  perceiuing,  replied 
thus  in   his  behalfe :    Madame,  the  Sunnes   brightneiTe  dailleth  the 
beholders  eies  j  the  maieftie  of  Gods  amazed  humane  men  j   Tullie, 
Prince  of  Orators,  once  fainted,  though  his  caufe  were  good ;  and  he  12 
that  tamed  monfters,  ftoode  amated  at  beauties  ornaments  :    Then 
blame  not  this  yoong  man  though  hee  replied  not,  for  he  is  blinded 
with  the  beautie  of  your  funne-darkening  eies,  made  mute  with  the 
celeftiall  organe   of  your  voyce,  and  feare  of  that  rich  ambufh  of  16 
amber  colored  darts,  whofe  pointes  are  leuelde  againft  his  heart.    Well, 
Signor  Roberto  faide  fliee,  how  euer  you  interpret  their  fharpe  leuell, 
be  fure  they  are  not  bent  to  doe  him  hurt ;  and  but  that  modeftie 
blinds  vs  poore  Maidens  from  vttering  the  inwarde  forrowe  of  our  20 
mindes,  perchaunce  the  caufe  of  greefe  is   ours,  how  euer  men   do 
colour,  for  as  I  am  a  virgin,  I  proteft,  (and  therewithall  fliee  tainted 
her  cheekes  with  a  vermilion  blufh)  I  neuer  fawe  Gentleman  in  my 
life,  in  my  eie,  fo  gratious  as  is  Lucanio;  onely  that  is  my  greefe,  that  24 
either  I  am  defpifed,  for  that  he  fcornes  to  fpeake,  or  elfe  (which  is 
my  greater  forrow)  I  feare  he  cannot  fpeake.     Not  fpeake,  Gentle- 
woman, quoth  Lucanio  ?  that  were  a  ieaft  indeede  !  yes,  I  thanke  God 
I  am  founde  of  winde  and  lim,  onely  my  heart  is  not  as  it  was  woont  :  28 
but  and  you  be  as  good  as  your  word,  that  will  foone  be  well,  and  fo 
craning  ye  of  more  acquaintance,  in  token   of  my  plaine   meaning 
receiue  this  diamond,  which  my  olde  father  loued  deerely  :  and  with 
that  deliuered  her  a  Ring,  wherein  was  a  pointed1  Diamond  of  won-  32 
derfull  worth.     Which  fliee  accepting  with  a  lowe  conge,  returned 
him  a  filke  Riband  for  a  fauour,  tyed  with  a  truelouers  knot,  which  he 
fattened  vnder  a  faire  lewell  on  his  Beuer  felt.  0  Orig.  a  pointed  a] 

After  this  Diamedis  &  Glauci  permutatio,  my  yoong  mafter  waxed  36 


16  Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit. 

cranke,  and  the  muficke  continuing,  was  very  forward  in  dauncing,  to 
{hew  his  cunning :  and  fo  defiring  them  to  play  on  a  hornepipe,  laid 
on  the  pauement  luftily  with  his  leaden  heeles,  coruetting  like  a  fteede 

'  4  of  Signor  Roccoes  teaching,  and  wanted  nothing  but  bels,  to  bee  a 
hobby horfe  in  a  morrice.  Yet  was  he  foothed  in  his  folly ;  and  what 
euer  he  did,  Lamilia  counted  excellent :  her  praife  made  him  proude, 
inlbmuch,  that  if  he  had  not  beene  intreated,  hee  would  rather  haue 
8  died  in  his  daunce,  then  left  off  to  fliew  his  miftrefie  delight.  At  laft 
reafonably  perfwaded,  feeing  the  table  furniflied,  he  was  contented  to 
ceafe,  and  fettle  himfelfe  to  his  victuals,  on  which  (hauing  before 
labored)  he  fed  luftily,  efpecially  of  a  Woodcocke  pie,  wherewith 

12  Lamilia  his  caruer,  plentifully  plied  him.  Full  difhes  hauing  furnimt 
emptie  ftomackes,  and  Lucanio  thereby  got  leifure  to  talke,  falles  to 
difcourfe  of  his  wealth,  his  lands,  his  bonds,  his  abilitie,  and  how  him- 
felfe, with  all  he  had,  was  at  Madame  Lamilias  dilpofing  :  defiring  her 

1 6  afore  his  brother,  to  tell  him  fimply  what  {he  meant.  Lamilia 
replied :  My  fweet  Lucanio,  how  I  efteeme  of  thee,  mine  eies  doe 
witnefie,  that,  like  handmaides,  haue  attended  thy  beautious  face  euer 
fince  I  firft  beheld  thee  :  yet  feeing  loue  that  lafteth  gathereth  by 

20  degrees  his  liking,  let  this  for  that  fuffice  :  if  I  finde  thee  firme, 
Lamilia  will  be  faithful :  if  fleeting,  (he  inuft  of  neceflitie  be  infor- 
tunate  that,  hauing  neuer  feene  any  whome  before  fliee  could  afte6t, 
{hee  fhoulde  bee  of  him  iniurioufly  forfaken.  Nay,  faide  Lucanio,  I 

24  dare  fay  my  brother  here  wil  giue  his  word  :  for  that  I  accept  your 
own,  faid  Lamilia,  for  with  me  your  credit  is  better  then  your 
brothers.  Roberto  brake  off  their  amorous  prattle  with  thefe 
fpeeches  :  Sith  either  of  you  are  of  other  fo  fond  at  the  firft  fight,  I 

28  doubt  not  but  time  will  make  your  loue  more  firme.  Yet,  madame 
Lamilia,  although  my  brother  and  you  be  thus  forward,  fome  croiTe 
chaunce  may  come  :  for  MuJta  cadunt  inter  calicemfupremaqne  lobe. 
And  for  a  warning  to  teach  you  both  wit,  He  tell  you  an  olde  wiues 

32  tale. 

Before  ye  go  on  with  your  tale  (quoth  miftrefle  Lamilia)  let  me 
giue  ye  a  caueat  by  the  way,  which  {hall  be  figured  in  a  Fable. 


Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit.  17 

Lamiliaes  Fable. 

|He  Foxe  on  a  time  came  to  vifite  the  Gray,  partly  for 
kindered,  cheefely  for  craft :  and  finding  the  hole  emptie 
of  all  other  companie,  fauing  onely  one  Badger,  enquiring  4 
the  caufe  of  his  folitarinefle,  he  defcribed  the  fodaine  death 
of  his  dam  and  fire,  with  the  reft  of  his  conforts.     The  Foxe  made  a 
Friday  face,  counterfeiting  forrow :  but  concluding  that  deaths  ftroke 
was  vneuitable,  perfwaded   him  to  feeke  fome  fit  mate  wherwith  to  8 
match.     The  Badger  foone  agreed,  fo  forth  they  went,  and  in  their 
way  met  with  a  wanton  ewe  ftraggling  from  the  fold  :  the  Foxe  bad 
the  Badger  play  the  tall  ftrippling,  and  ftrout  on  his  tiptoes  :  for  (quoth 
he)  this  ewe  is  lady  of  al  thefe  lands,  and  her  brother  cheefe  belwea-  12 
ther  of  fundrie  flocks.     To  be  fhort,  by  the  Foxes  perfwafion  there 
would  be  a  perpetuall  league,  betweene  her  harmelefle  kindred,  and 
al  other  deuouring  beafts,  for  that  the  Badger  was  to  them  all  allied : 
feduced,  fhee  yeelded  :  and  the  Foxe  conducted  them  to  the  Badgers  16 
habitation.     Where,  drawing  her  afide  vnder  color  of  exhortation, 
pulde  out  her  throate  to  fatiffie  his  greedie  thirft.     Here  I  Ihould 
note,  a  yoong  whelpe  that  viewed  their  walke,  infourmed  the  {hep- 
heard  of  what  hapned.     They  followed,  and  trained   the  Foxe  and  20 
Badger  to  the  hole  :  the  Foxe  afore  had  craftily  conuaied  himfelf  away  j 
the  (hepheard  found  the  Badger  railing  for  the  ewes  murtherj  his 
lamentation  being  helde  for  counterfet,  was  by  the  fheapheards  dog 
wearied.     The  Foxe  efcaped :  the  ewe  was  fpoiled ;  and  euer  fince,  24 
betweene  the  Badgers   and    the  dogges    hath   continued  a   mortall 
enmitie :  And  now  be  aduifed  Roberto  (quoth  {he)  goe  forward  with 
your  tale ;  feeke  not  by  flie  infinuation  to  turne  our  mirth  to  forrow. 
Go  too  Lamilio,  (quoth  hee)  you  feare  what  T  meane  not,  but  how  28 
euer  ye  take  it,  lie  forward  with  my  tale. 

Rolertoes  Tale. 

jjN  the  North  parts  there  dwelt  an  old  Squier,  that  had  a 
yong  daughter  his  heire;  who  had  (as  I  know,  Madame  32 
Lamilia,  you  haue  had)  many  youthfull  Gentlemen  that 
long  time  fued  to  obtaine  her  loue.     But  flie,  knowing  her 
owne  perfection  (as  women  are  by  nature  proude),  woulde  not  to  any 

ALLUSION-BOOKS.  2 


1 8  Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit. 

of  them  vouchfafe  fauour  :  infomuch  that  they,  perceiuing  her  relent- 
lefle,  fhewed  themfelues  not  altogether  witleffe,  but  left  her  to  her 
fortune,  when  they  founde  her  frowardnefTe.  At  laft  it  fortuned 
4  among  other  ftrangers,  a  Farmers  fonne  vifited  her  fathers  houfe  :  on 
whom  at  the  firft  fight  Ihee  was  enamored,  he  likewife  on  hir. 
Tokens  of  loue  paft  betweene  them,  either  acquainted  others  parents 
of  their  choife,  and  they  kindly  gaue  their  confent.  Short  tale  to 
8  make,  married  they  were,  and  great  folemnitie  was  at  the  wedding 
feaft.  A  yong  Gentleman,  that  had  beene  long  a  futer  to  her,  vexing 
that  the  fonne  of  a  farmer  fhould  be  fo  preferred,  caft  in  his  minde 
by  what  meanes  (to  marre  their  merriment)  he  might  Iteale  away  the 

12  Bride.  Hereupon  he  confers  with  an  old  beldam,  called  mother 
Gunl-y,  dwelling  thereby ;  whofe  counfell  hauing  taken,  he  fell  to  his 
pra&ife,  and  proceeded  thus.  In  the  after  noone,  when  dauncers 
were  very  bufie,  he  takes  the  Bride  by  the  hand,  and  after  a  turne  or 

1 6  two,  tels  her  in  her  eare,  he  had  a  fecret  to  impart  vnto  her,  appoint- 
ing her  in  any  wife,  in  the  euening  to  find  a  time  to  confer  with  him  : 
ihe  promifed  fhe  would,  and  fo  they  parted.  Then  goes  he  to  the 
bridegroome,  and  with  proteflations  of  entire  affecl:,  protefls  that  the 

20  great  forrow  hee  takes  at  that  which  he  muft  vtter,  wheron  depended 
his  efpecial  credit,  if  it  were  knowne  the  matter  by  him  fhould  be 
difcouered.  After  the  bridegroomes  promife  of  fecrecie,  the  gentle- 
man tels  him,  that  a  friend  of  his  receiued  that  morning  from  y 

24  bride  a  letter,  wherin  fhe  willed  him  with  fome  fixteene  horfe  to 
awaite  her  comming  at  a  Parke  fide,  for  that  Ihe  detefted  him  in 
her  heart  as  a  bale  country  hinde,  with  whom  her  father  compelled 
her  to  marrie.  The  bridegroome  almoft  out  of  his  wits,  began  to  bite 

28  his  lippe.  Nay,  faith  the  Gentleman,  if  you  will  by  me  be  aduifed, 
you  fhall  faue  her  credit,  win  her  by  kindnes,  and  yet  preuent  her 
wanton  complot.  As  how,  faid  the  Bridegroome  ?  Mary  thus,  faid 
the  gentleman  :  In  the  euening  (for  till  the  gueftsbe  gone,  {he  intends 

32  not  to  gad)  get  you  on  horfebacke,  and  feeme  to  be  of  the  companie 
that  attends  her  comming :  I  am  appointed  to  bring  her  from  the 
houfe  to  the  Parke,  and  from  thence  fetch  a  winding  compafle 
of  a  mile  about,  but  to  turne  vnto  olde  mother  Gunlyes  houfe, 

36  where   her    louer,    my   friend,    abides :    when    fhe   alights,    I    wil 


Greens  groatsworth  of  wit.  19 

conduct  her  to  a  chamber  far  from  his  lodging,  but  when  the  lights 
are  out,  and  fhe  expefts  her  adulterous  copefmate,  your  felfe  (as 
reafon  is)  fhall  prooue  her  bedfellow,  where  priuately  you  may 
reprooue  her,  and  in  the  morning  earely  returne  home  without  4 
trouble.  As  for  the  gentleman,  my  friend,  I  will  excufe  her  abfence 
to  him,  by  faying,  fhee  mockt  thee  with  her  maide  in  Head  of  her 
felfe,  whom  when  I  knew  at  her  lighting,  I  difdained  to  bring  her 
vnto  his  prefence.  The  Bridcgroome  gaue  his  hand  it  mould  be  fo.  8 

Now  by  the  way  we  muft  vnderftand,   this  mother  Gunly  had  a 
daughter,  who  all  that  day  fate  heauily  at  home  wi.th  a  willow  gar- 
land, for  that  the  bridegroome  (if  he  had  dealt  faithfully)  Ihould  haue 
wedded  her  before  any  other.     But  men  (Lamilia)  are  vnconftant  j  1 2 
mony  now  a  daies  makes  the  match,  or  elfe  the  match  is  marde. 

But  to  the  matter :  the  bridegroome  and  the  Gentleman  thus 
agreed  :  he  tooke  his  time,  conferred  with  the  bride,  perfwaded  her 
that  her  hufband  (notwithftanding  his  faire  fhew  at  the  marriage)  had  16 
fworne  to  his  olde  fweete  heart,  their  neighbour  Gunlyes  daughter, 
to  be  that  night  her  bedfellow  :  and  if  me  would  bring  her  father, 
his  father,  and  other  friends  to  the  houfe  at  midnight,  they  fhould 
finde  it  fo.  20 

At  this  the  yong  gentlewoman  inwardly  vext  to  be  by  a  peaiant  fo 
abufed,  promifed,  if  {he  fawe  likelyhood  of  his  flipping  away,  that  then 
fhe  would  doe  according  as  he  directed. 

All  this  thus  forting,  the  old  womans  daughter  was  trickly  attired,  24 
ready  to  furnifh  this  pageant,  for  her  old  mother  prouided  all  things 
neceflarie. 

Well,  Supper  paft,  dauncing  ended,  all  the  guefts  would  home ;  and 
the  Bridegroome,  pretending  to  bring  fome  friend  of  his  home,  got  28 
his  horfe,  and  to  the  Parke  fide  he  rode,  and  flayed  with  the  horfemen 
that  attended  the  Gentleman. 

Anone  came  Marian  like  miflris  Bride,  and  mounted  behind  the 
gentleman,  away  they  poft,  fetch  their  compafle,  &  at  lafl  alight  at  32 
an  olde  wiues  houfe,  where  fodenly  fhe  is  conuaied  to  her  chamber, 
&  the  bridegroome  fent  to  keepe  her  company,  where  he  had  fcarce 
deuifed  how  to  begin  his  exhortation,  but  the  father  of  his  bride 
knockt  at  the  chamber  doore.  At  which  being  fomewhat  amazed,  36 


2O  Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit. 

yet  thinking  to  turne  it  to  a  ieaft,  fith  his  wife  (as  he  thought)  was 
in  bed  with  him,  hee  opened  the  doore,  faying :  Father,  you  are 
heartily  welcome,  I  wonder  how  you  found  vs  out  heerej  this  deuife 
4  to  remooue  our  felues,  wns  with  my  wiues  confent,  that  we  might 
reft  quietly  without  the  Maids  and  Batchelers  disturbing  vs.  But 
where  is  vour  wife,  faid  that1  gentleman  ?  why,  heere  in  bed,  faid  he.  I 
thought  (quoth  the  other)  my  daughter  had  beene  your  wife,  for  fure 
8  I  am  to  day  lliee  was  giuen  you  in  marriage.  You  are  merrily  dif- 
pofed,  faid  the  Bridegroome  :  what,  thinke  you  I  haue  another  wife  ? 
I  thinke  but  as  you  fpeake,  quoth  the  gentleman,  for  my  daughter  is 
below,  &  you  fay  your  wife  is  in  the  bed.  Below  (faid  he)  you  are  a 

12  merie  man,  and  with  that,  cafting  on  a  night  gowne,  he  went  downe, 
where,  when  he  faw  his  wife,  the  gentleman  his  father,  and  a  number 
of  his  friends  afiembled,  he  was  fo  confounded,  that  how  to  behaue 
himfelfe  he  knew  not  j  onely  hee  cried  out  that  he  was  deceiued.  At 

1 6  this  the  olde  woman  arifes,  and  making  her  felfe  ignorant  of  al  the 
whole  matter,  enquires  the  caufe  of  that  fodaine  tumult.  When  me 
was  tolde  the  new  bridegroome  was  found  in  bed  with  her  daughter, 
flie  exclaimed  againft  fo  great  an  iniurie.  Marian  was  called  in 

20  quorum  :  fhe  iuftified  it  was  by  his  allurement :  he,  being  condemned 
by  al  their  confents,  was  iudged  vnworthy  to  haue  the  gentlewoman 
vnto  his  wife,  &  compelled  (for  efcaping  of  punifhment)  to  marrie 
Marian :  and  the  yong  Gentleman  (for  his  care  in  difcouering  the 

24  farmers  fonnes  lewdnes)  was  recompenft  with  the  Gentlewomans  euer 
during  loue.  t1  °"8-  y*- 

Quoth  Lamilia,  and  what  of  this  ?     Nay,  nothing,  faide  Roberto, 
but  that  I  haue  told  you  the  effects  of  fodaine  loue  :  yet  the  belt  is, 

28  my  brother  is  a  maidenly  batcheler ;  and  for  your  felfe,  you  haue  not 
beene  troubled  with  many  futers.  The  fewer  the  better,  faid  Lucanio. 
But  brother,  I  con  you  little  thanke  for  this  tale ;  hereafter  I  pray  you 
vfe  other  table  talke.  Lets  then  end  talk,  quoth  Lamilia,  and  you 

32  (fignor  Lucanio)  and  I  will  goe  to  the  Cheffe.  To  Chefle,  faid  he, 
what  meane  you  by  that  ?  It  is  a  game,  faid  fhe,  that  the  firft  danger 
is  but  a  checke,  the  worft,  the  giuing  of  a  mate.  Wei,  faid  Roberto, 
that  game  ye  haue  beene  at  alreadie  then,  for  you  checkt  him  firft 

36  with  your  beauty,  &  gaue  your  felf  for  mate  to  him  by  your  bountie. 


Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit.  2, 1 

That  is  wel  taken,  brother,  faid  Lucanio,  fo  haue  we  paft  our  game  at 
Chefle.  Wil  ye  play  at  tables  then,  faid  me  ?  I  cannot,  quoth  he, 
for  I  can  goe  no  furder  with  my  game,  if  I  be  once  taken.  Will  ye 
play  then  at  cards  :  I,  faid  he,  if  it  be  at  one  and  thirtie.  That  fooles  4 
game,  faid  me  ?  Weele  all  to  hazard,  faid  Roberto;  and,  brother,  you 
mall  make  one  for  an  houre  or  two  :  contented,  quoth  he.  So  to  dice 
they  went,  and  fortune  fo  fauoured  Lucania,  that  while  they  con- 
tinued fquare  play,  he  was  no  loofer.  Anone  cofonage  came  about,  8 
and  his  Angels  being  double  winged,  flew  cleane  from  before  him. 
Lamilia  being  the  winner,  prepared  a  banquet ;  which  finifhed, 
Roberto  aduifed  his  brother  to  depart  home,  and  to  furnim  himfelfe 
with  more  crowns,  leaft  he  were  outcrakt  with  new  commers.  12 

Lucania,  loath  to  be  out  countenanft,  followed  his  aduife,  defiring  to 
attend  his  returne,  which  he  before  had  determined  vnrequefted :  for 
as  foone  as  his  brothers  backe  was  turned,  Roberto  begins  to  reckon 
with  Lamilia,  to  bee  a  lharer,  as  well  in  the  mony  deceitfully  woonne,  16 
as  in  the  Diamond   fo  wilfully  giuen.      But    me,  fecundum   mores 
meretricis,  iefted  thus  with  the  fcholler  :    Why  Roberto,  are  you  fo 
well  read,  and  yet  fliew  your  felfe  fo  mallow  witted,  to  deeme  women 
fo  weake  of  conceit,  that  they  fee  not  into  mens  demerites.     Suppofe  20 
(to  make  you  my  ftalc  to  catch  the  woodcocke  your  brother)  that  my 
tongue  ouerrunning  mine  intent,  I  fpake  of  liberal  rewarde  :  but  what 
I  promifed,  there  is  the  point ;  at  leaft,  what  I  part  with,  I  will  be 
well  aduifed.      It  may  be  you  wil  thus  reafon :  Had  not  Roberto  24 
trained   Lucanio  vnto   LamUias  lure,    Lucanio  had   not  now  beene 
Lamilias  pray  :  therfore,  fith  by  'Roberto   me  pofleiTeth   her  prize, 
Roberto  merites  an  equall  part.     Monftrous  abfurd,  if  fo  you  reafon  ; 
as  wel  you  may  reafon  thus  :   LamUias  dog  hath  kilde  her  a  deere,  28 
therefore  his  miftris  muft  make  him  a  paftie.     No,  poore  pennilefle 
Poet,  thou  art  beguilde  in  me ;  and  yet  I  wonder  how  thou  couldeft, 
them  haft  beene  fo  often  beguilde.     But  it  fareth  with  licentious  men, 
as  with  the  chafed  bore  in  the  ftreame,  who,  being  greatly  refrefhed  32 
with  fwimming,  neuer  feeleth  any  fmart  vntill  he  perifh,  recurelefly 
wounded  with  his  owne  weapons.     Reafonlefle  Roberto,  that  hauing 
but  a  brokers  place,  afked  a  lenders  reward.     Faithlefle  Roberto,  that 
haft  attempted  to  betray  thy  brother,  irreligioufly  forfaken  thy  wife,  36 


22  Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit. 

deferuedly  beene  in  thy  fathers  eie  an  abie6t :  thinkeft  thou  Lamilia 
fo  loole,  to  confort  with  one  fo  lewd  ?     No,  hypocrite,  the  fweete 
Gentleman  thy  brother,  I  will  till  death  louej  and  thee,  while  I  Hue, 
4  loath.     This  fliare  Lamilia  giues  thee ;  other  getteft  thou  none. 

As  Roberto  would   haue  replied,  Lucanio  approched:    to  whom 

Lamilia  difcourft  the  whole  deceit  of  his  brother,  &  neuer  refted 

intimating  malitious  arguments,  till  Lucanio  vtterly  refufed  Roberto 

8  for  his  brother,  and  for  euer  forbad  him  of  his  houfe.     And  when  he 

wold  haue  yeelded  reafons,  and  formed  excufe,  Lucanios  impatience 

(vrged  by  her  importunate  malice)  forbad  all  reafoning  with  them 

that  was  reasonleffe,  and  fo,  giuing  him  lacke  Drums  entertainment, 

12  ftiut  him  out  of  doores :  whom  we  will  follow,  and  leaue  Lucanio  to 

the  mercie  of  Lamilia.    Roberto,  in  an  extreame  extafie,  rent  his  haire, 

curft  his  deftinie,  blamed  his  trecherie,  but  moft  of  all  exclaimed 

againft   Lamilia,  and  in  her  againft  all  enticing  Curtizans,  in  thefe 

1 6  tt-armes. 

IVJiat  meant  the  Poets  to  inuecTiue  verfe, 
Tojing  Medeasjhame,  and  Scillas  pride, 
Calipfoes  charmes,  by  which  fo  many  dide  ? 
20  Onely  for  this,  their  vices  they  rehearfe, 

That  curious  wits  which  in  this  world  conuerfe, 
Mayjlum  the  dangers  and  enticing Jhoes, 
Offuchfalfe  Syrens,  thofe  home-breeding  foes, 
.24  That  from  their  eies  their  venim  do  difperfe. 

So  foone  kils  not  the  Bqjlliske  withjight, 
The  Vipers  tooth  is  not  Jo  venemous, 
The  Adders  tung  not  halfe  fo  dangerous, 
28  As  they  that  beare  thejhadow  of  delight, 

IVlio  chaine  blinde  youths  in  tramels  of  their  haire, 
Till  waft  bring  woe,  andforrow  haft  defpaire. 

With  this  he  laide  his  head  on  his  hand,  and  leant  his  elbow  on  the 
22  ground,  fighing  out  fadly, 

Heu  patior  telis  vulnera  fa6la  meis  ! 
On  the  other  fide  of  the  hedge  fate  one  that  heard  his  forrow,  who 


Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit.  23 

getting  ouer,  came  towards  him,  and  brake  off  his  paffion.     When  he 
approched,  he  faluted  Roberto  in  this  fort : 

Gentleman,  quoth  hee,  (for  fo  you  feeme)  I  haue  by  chaunce  heard 
you  difcourfe  fome  part  of  your  greefe  ;  which  appeareth  to  be  more  4 
then  you  will  difcouer,  or  I  can  conceipt.     But  if  you  vouchfafe  fuch 
fimple  comfort  as  my  abilitie  will  yeeld,  aflure  your  felfe,  that  I  will 
endeuour  to   doe  the  beft,  that  either  may  procure  your  profit,  or 
bring  you  pleafure  :  the  rather,  for  that  I  fuppofe  you  are  a  fcholler ;  8 
and  pittie  it  is  men  of  learning  mould  Hue  in  lacke. 

Roberto  wondring  to  heare  fuch  good  words,  for  that  this  iron  age 
afFoordes  few  that  efteeme  of  vertue,  returned  him  thankfull  gratula- 
tions,  and  (vrged  by  neceflitie)  vttered  his  prefent  greefe,  befeeching  12 
his  aduife  how  he  might  be  imployed.     Why,  eafily,  quoth  hee,  and 
greatly  to  your  benefit :  for  men  of  my  profeffion  get  by  fchollers 
their  whole  liuing.     What  is  your  profeffion,  fayd  Roberto  ?     Truely 
fir,  faid  he,  I  am  a  player.     A  Player,  quoth  Roberto,  I  tooke  you  16 
rather  for  a  gentleman  of  great  liuing ;  for  if  by  outward  habit  men 
fhuld  be  cenfured,  I  tell  you,  you  would  be  taken  for  a  fubftantiall 
man.     So  am  I  where  I  dwell  (quoth  the  player)  reputed  able  at  my 
proper  coft,  to  build  a  Windmill.     What  though   the  worlde  once  20 
went  hard  with  mee,  when  I  was  faine  to  carrie  my  playing  Fardle  a 
footebacke ;   Tempora  mutantur:  I  know  you  know  the  meaning  of  it 
better  then  I,  but  I  thus  confter  it,  it  is  otherwife  now ;  for  my  very 
fhare  in  playing  apparrell  will  not  be  folde  for  two  hundred  pounds.  24 
Truely  (faid  Roberto)  it  is  ftrange,  that  you  fhould  fo  profper  in  that 
vaine  praclife,  for  that  it  feemes  to  me  your  voyce  is  nothing  gracious. 
Nay  then,  faid  the  player,  I  miilike  your  iudgement :  why,  I  am  as 
famous  for  Delphrigus,  and  the  king  of  Fairies,  as  euerwas  any  of  my  28 
time.     The  twelue  labors  of  Hercules  haue  I  terribly  thundred  on  the 
ftage,  and  plaied  three  fcenes  of  the  deuill  in  the  highway  to  heauen. 
Haue  ye  fo  (faid  Roberto  ?)  then  I  pray  you  pardon  me.     Nay  more 
(quoth  the  player)  I  can  ferue  to  make  a  prettie  fpeech,  for  I  was  a  -23 
countrie  Author,  parting  at  a  morrall,  for  it  was  I  that  pende  the 
Morral  of  mans  wit,  the  Dialogue  of  Diues,  and  for  feauen  yeeres 
fpace  was  abfolute  interpreter  of  the  puppets.     But  now  my  Alma- 
nacke  is  out  of  date  :  , 


24  Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit. 

The  people  make  no  ejlimation, 
Of  Morrals  teaching  education. 

Was  not  this  prettie  for  a  plaine  rime  extempore  ?  if  ye  will,  ye 
4  fliall  haue  more.     Nay  it  is  enough,  faid  Roberto,  but  how  meane 
you  to  vfe  mee  ?     Why  fir,  in  making  playes,  faid  the  other,  for 
which  you  fliall  be  well  paied,  if  you  will  take  the  paines. 

Roberto  perceiuing  no  remedie,   thought   beft,  to    refpe£t  of  his 
8  prefent  neceflity,  to  trie  his  wit,  &  went  with  him  willingly :  who 
lodged  him  at  the  townes  end  in  a  houfe  of  retaile,  where  what  hap- 
pened our  Poet,  you  fliall  heereafter  heare.     There,  by  conuerfing 
with  bad  company,  he  grew  A  malo  in  peius,  falling  from  one  vice  to 

12  another  5  and  fo,  hauing  found  a  vaine  to  finger  crownes,  he  grew 
cranker  then  Lucanio,  who  by  this  time  began  to  droope,  being  thus 
dealt  withall  by  Lamilia.  She,  hauing  bewitched  him  with  her 
enticing  wiles,  caufed  him  to  confume  in  lefle  then  two  yeares,  that 

1 6  infinite  treafure  gathered  by  his  father,  with  fo  many  a  poore  mans 
curfe.  His  lands  fold,  his  iewels  pawnd,  his  money  wafted,  he  was 
cafleerd  by  Lamilia  that  had  coofened  him  of  all.  Then  walked  he 
like  one  of  duke  Humfreys  Squires,  in  a  threedbare  cloake,  his  hole 

20  drawne  out  with  his  heeles,  his  fhooes  vnfeamed,  left  his  feete  fhould 
fweate  with  heate :  now  (as  witleffe  as  he  was)  hee  remembred  his 
fathers  words,  his  kindnes  to  his  brother,  his  carelefnefle  of  himfelfe. 
In  this  forrow  hee  fate  dovvne  on  pennilefle  bench ;  where  when 

24  Opus  and  Vfus  told  him  by  the  chimes  in  his  ftomacke,  it  was  time 
to  fall  vnto  meate,  he  was  faine  with  the  Camdion  to  feed  vpon  the 
aire,  &  make  patience  his  beft  repaft. 

While  he  was  at  his  feaft,  Lamilia  came  flaunting  by,  garnilhed 

28  with  the  iewels  whereof  fhe  beguiled  him ;  which  fight  ferued  to 
clofe  his  ftomacke  after  his  cold  checre.  Roberto  hearing  of  his 
brothers  beggerie,  albeit  he  had  little  remorfe  of  his  miferable  ftate, 
yet  did  he  feeke  him  out,  to  vie  him  as  a  propertie,  whereby  Lucanio 

32  was  fomewhat  prouided  for.  But  being  of  fimple  nature,  hee  ferued 
but  for  a  blocke  to  whet  Robertoes  wit  on :  which  the  poore  foole 
perceiuing,  he  forfooke  all  other  hopes  of  life,  and  fell  to  be  a 
notorious  Pandar,  in  which  detefted  courfe  hee  continued  till  deatli. 

36  But  Roberto,  nowe  famozed  for  an  Arch-plaimak ing-poet,  his  purle 


Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit.  25 

like  the  fea  fomtime  fweld,  anon  like  the  fame  fea  fell  to  a  low  ebbe  j 
yet  feldom  he  wanted,  his  labors  were  fo  well  efteemed.     Marry,  this 
rule  he  kept,  what  euer  he  fingerd  aforehand,  was  the  certaine  meanes 
to  vnbinde  a  bargaine ;  and  being  afked  why  he  fo  fleightly  dealt  with  4 
them  that  did  him  good  ?     It  becomes  me,  fath  hee,  to  be  contrarie 
to  the  worlde  :  for  commonly  when  vulgar  men  receiue  earneft,  they 
doe  performe ;  when  I  am  paid  any  thing  afore-hand,  I  breake  my 
promife.     He  had  fhift  of  lodgings,  where  in  euery  place  his  Hoftelfe  8 
writ  vp  the  wofull  remembrance  of  him,  his  laundreffe,  and  his  boy  3 
for  they  were  euer  his  in  houfhold,  betide  retainers  in  fundry  other 
places.     His  companie  were  lightly  the  lewdefl  perfons  in  the  land, 
apt  for  pilferie,  periurie,  forgerie,  or  any  villainie.     Of  thefe,  hee  knew  12 
the  cafts  to  cog  at  Cards,  coomi  at  Dice ;  by  thefe,  he  learned  the 
legerdemaines   of  nips,  foyftes,   connicatchers,  crofbyters,  lifts,  high 
Lawyers,  and  all  the  rabble  of  that  vncleane  generation  of  vipers  :  and 
pithily  could  he  paint  out  their  whole  courfes  of  craft :   So  cunning  16 
he  was  in  all  crafts,  as  nothing  refted  in  him  almoft  but  craftineffe. 
How  often  the  Gentlewoman  his  wife  laboured  vainely  to  recall  him, 
is  lamentable  to  note  :   but  as  one  giuen  ouer  to  all  lewdnes,  he  com- 
municated her  forrowfull  lines  among  his  loofe  truls,  that  iefled  at  20 
her  bootelefTe  laments.     If  he  could  any  way  get  credite  on  fcores,  he 
would  then  brag  his  creditors  carried  Hones,  comparing  euerie  round 
circle  to  a  groning  O,  procured  by  a  painfull  burden.     The  fhamefull 
ende  of  fundry   his  conforts,  deferuedly  punifhed  for  their  amiffe,  24 
wrought  no  compunction  in  his  heart :  of  which  one,  brother  to  a 
Brothell  he  kept,  was  trail  vnder  a  tree  as  round  [as]  a  Ball. 

To  fome  of  his  f wearing  companions  thus  it  happened :    A  crue  of 
ihem  fitting  in  a  Tauerne  carowmig.it  fortuned  an  honeft  Gentleman,  28 
and  his  friend,  to  enter  their  roome :  fome  of  them  being  acquainted 
with  him,  in  their  domineering  drunken  vaine,  would  haue  no  nay, 
but  downe  he  muft  needes  fitte  with  them  j  beeing  placed,  no  remedie 
there  was,  but  he   muft  needes  keepe  euen  comparfe  with  their  vn-  32 
feemely  carrowling.     Which  he  refufing,  they  fell  from  high  wordes 
to  found  ftrokes,  fo  that  with  much  adoe  the  Gentleman  faued  his 
owne,  and  ihifted  from  their  company.    Being  gone,  one  of  thefe  ti piers 
forfooth  lackt  a  gold  Ring,  the  other  fware  they  fee  the  Gentleman  36 


26  Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit. 

take  it  from  his  hande.     Upon  this  the  Gentleman  was  inditea  before 

a  ludge:  thefe  honed  men  are  depofed  :  whofe  wifedome,  weighing 

the  time  of  the  braule,  gaue  light  to  the  Jury,  what  power  wine- 

4  warning   poyfon   had :    they,  according  vnto    confcience,  found  the 

Gentleman  not  guiltie,  and  God  releafed  by  that  verdit  the  innocent. 

With  his  accufers  thus  it  fared  :    One  of  them  for  murther  was 

worthily  executed :    the   other   neuer   fince   profpered  :    the    third, 

8  fitting  not  long  after  vpon  a  luftie  horfe,  the  beafl  fuddenly  died  vnder 

him  :  God  amend  the  man. 

Roberto,  euery  day  acquainted  with  thefe  examples,  was  notwith- 
ftanding  nothing  bettered,  but  rather  hardened  in  wickednefle.     At 
12  laft  was  that  place  iuftified,  God  warneth  men  by  dreams  and  vilions 
in  the  night,  and  by  knowne  examples  in  the  day ;  but  if  he  returne 
not,  hee  comes  vpon  him  with  Judgement  that  {hall  bee  felt.     For 
now,  when  the  number  of  deceites  caufed  Roberto  bee  hatefull  almoft 
1 6  to  all  men,  his  immeafurable  drinking  had   made  him  the   perfect 
Image  of  the  dropfie,  and  the  loathfome  fcourge  of  Luft  tyrannized 
in  his  bones  :  liuing  in  extreamd  pouerty,  and  hauing  nothing  to  pay 
but  chalke,  which  now  his  Hoft  accepted  not  for  currant,  this  mifer- 
20  able  man  lay  comfortleflely  languishing,  hauing  but  one  groat  left 
(the  iuft  proportion  of  his  fathers  Legacie)  which  looking  on,  he  cried  : 
O  now  it  is  too  late,  too  late  to  buy  witte  with  thee :  and  therefore 
will  I  fee  if  I  can  fell  to  carelefle  youth  what  I  negligently  forgot  to  buy. 
24      Heere  (Gentlemen)  breake   I  off  Robertas  fpeech ;  whofe  life  in 
moft  parts  agreeing  with  mine,  found  one  felfe  punithment  as  I  haue 
doone.     Heereafter  fuppofe  me  the  faid  Roberto,  and  I  will  goe  on 
with  that  hee  promifed  :   Greene  will  fend  you  new1  his  groa[t]fworth 
28  of  wit,  that  neuer  {hewed  a  mites-worth  in  his  life  :  and  though  no 
man  now  be  by,  to  doe  me  good,  yet  ere  I  die,  I  will  by  my  repent- 
ance indeuour  to  doe  all  men  good.  [i  ?  now] 

Deceiuing  world,  that  with  alluring  toyes, 
32  Haft  made  my  life  the  fulie£l  of  thy  fcorne  : 

Andfcornejl  now  to  lend  thy  fading  ioyes, 
To  lengthen  my  life,  whom  friends  haue  left  forlorne. 
How  well  are  they  that  die  ere  they  be  borne, 
36  And  neuer  fee  thyjleights,  which  few  menJJiun, 

Till  vnawares  they  helpleffe  are  vndon. 


Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit.  27 

Oft  haue  I  Jung  of  loue,  and  ofhisjire  ; 

But  now  IJinde  that  Poet  was  aduixde, 

Which  made  full  feajls  increafers  of dejlre, 

And  prooues  weake  loue  was  with  the  poore  defpizde.  4 

For  when  the  life  with  foods  is  notfuffizde, 

What  thoughts  of  loue,  what  motion  of  delight, 
What  pleafance,  can  proceede  from  fuch  a  wight  ? 

VVitneJft  my  want,  the  murderer  of  my  wit  ;  8 

My  raui/Jitfenfe,  ofwoontedfurie  reft, 

VFantsfuch  conceit,  asjhould  in  Poimsjit. 

Set  downe  theforrow  wherein  I  am  left : 

But  therefore  haue  high  heauens  their  gifts  bereft:  12 

Becaufefo  long  they  lent  them,  me  to  vfe, 

And  I fo  long  their  bountie  did  alufe. 

O  that  a  yeare  were  granted  me  to  Hue, 

And  for  that  yeare  my  former  wits  rejlorde  :  16 

What  rules  of  life,  what  counfell  would  I  giue  ? 

Howjhould  myjlnne  withforrow  be  deplorde1  ? 

But  I  mujl  die  of  euery  man  alhorde.  I^Orig.  then  deplore] 

Time  loofely  fpent  will  not  againe  be  woonne,  20 

My  time  is  loofely  fpent,  and  I  vndone. 

O  horrenda  fames,  how  terrible  are  thy  aflaulres  ;  but  Vcrmis  con- 
fcientice,  more  wounding  are  thy  flings.     Ah  Gentlemen,  that  line  to  24 
reade  my  broken  and  confufed  lines,  looke  not  I   fhould  (as  I  was 
woont)  delight  you  with  vaine  fantafies,  but  gather  my  follies  alto- 
gether, and,  as  you  would  deale  with  fo   many  parricides,  caft  them 
into  the  fire  :   call  them  Telegones,  for  now  they  kill  their  father,  and' 2  8 
euerie  lewd  line  in  them  written,  is  a  deep  piercing  wound  to  my 
heart ;    euery  idle  houre  fpent  by  any  in   reading  them,  brings  a 
million  of  forrowes  to  my  foule.     O  that  the  teares  of  a  miferable 
man  (for  neuer  any  man  was  yet  more  miferable)  might  wafh  their  32 
memorie  out  with  my  death  ;  and  that  thofe  works  with  me  together 
might  be  interd.     But  fith  they  cannot,  let  this  my  laft  worke  witnes 
againft  them  with  me,  how  I  deteil  them.     Blacke  is  the  remem- 


28  Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit. 

brance  of  my  blacke  works,  blacker  then  night,  blacker  then  death, 
blacker  then  hell. 

Learne  wit  by  my  repentance  (Gentlemen)  and  let  thefe  fewe  rules 
4  following  be  regarded  in  your  Hues. 

1  Firft,  in  all  your  actions  fet  God  before  your  eies ;  for  the  feare  of 
the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wifedome  :     Let  his  word  be  a  lanterne 
to  your  feete,  and  a  light  vnto  your  paths,  then  {hall  you  Hand  as 

8  firme  rocks,  and  not  be  mocked. 

2  Beware  of  looking  backe,  for  God  will  not  be  mocked ;  of  him 
that  hath  receiued  much,  much  mail  be  demanded. 

3  If  thou  be  fingle,  and  canft  abftaine,  turne  thy  eies  from  vanitie, 
T2  for  there  is  a  kinde  of  women  bearing  the  faces  of  Angels,  but  the 

hearts  of  Deuils,  able  to  intrap  the  elecl,  if  it  were  poffible. 

4  If  thou  be  m[a]rried,  forfake  not  the  wife  of  thy  youth  to  follow 
ftrange  flefh ;  for  whoremongers  and  adulterers  the  Lord  will  iudge. 

1 6  The  doore  of  a  Harlot  leadeth  downe  to  death,  and  in  her  lips  there 
dwels  deftru6liou ;  her  face  is  decked  with  odors,  but  Ihee  bringeth 
a  man  to  a  morfell  of  bread  and  uakednefle  :  of  which  my  felfe  am 
inftauce. 

20  5  If  thou  be  left  rich,  remember  thofe  that  want ;  and  fo  deale, 
that  by  thy  wilfulnes  thy  felf  want  not :  Let  not  Tauerners  and 
Vu6iuallers  be  thy  Executors ;  for  they  will  bring  thee  to  a  dimon- 
orable  graue. 

24  6  Opprefle  no  man,  for  the  crie  of  the  wronged  afcendeth  to  the 
eares  of  the  Lord :  neither  delight  to  encreafe  by  Vlurie,  leaft  thou 
loofe  thy  habitation  in  the  euerlafting  Tabernacle. 

7  Beware  of  building  thy  houfe  to  thy  neighbours  hurt ;  for  the 
28  ftones  will  crie  to  the  timber ;  We  were  laide  together  in  bloud  :  and 

thofe  that  fo  ereft  houfes,  calling  them  by  their  names,  fhall  lie  in 
the  graue  like  fheepe,  and  death  ihall  gnaw  vpon  their  foules. 

8  If  thou  be  poore,  be   alfo  patient,  and  flriue  not  to  grow  rich 
32  by  indirect   meanes ;    for   goods    fo  gotten    fhall   vanifh  away  like 

fmoke. 

9  If  thou  be  a   father,  maifter,  or  teacher,  ioyne  good  examples 
with  good  counfaile  j    elie  little  auaile  precepts,  where  life  is  dif- 

36  ferent. 


Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit.  2,9 

10  If  thou  be  a  fonne  or  feruant,  defpife  not  reproofej  for  though 
correction  be  bitter  at  the  firft,  it  bringeth  pleafure  in  the  end. 

Had  I  regarded  the  firft  of  thefe  rules,  or  beene  obedient  at  the 
laft ;  I  had  not  now  at  my  laft  ende,  beene  left  thus  defolate.     But  4 
now,  though  to  my  felfe  I  giue  Con/ilium  pqfl  facia ;  yet  to  others 
they  may  ferue  for  timely  precepts.     And  therefore  (while  life  giues 
leaue)  will  fend  warning  to  my  olda  conforts,  which  haue  liued  as 
loofely  as  myfelfe ;  albeit  weakenefle  will  fcarce  futFer  me  to-write,  8 
yet  to  my  fellowe  Schollers  about  this  Cittie,  will  I  dire£t  thefe  few 
infuing  lines. 

To  thqfe  Gentlemen,  his   Quondam  acquaintance, 

that  fpend  their  wits  in  making  Plaies,  R.  G.  12 

wiflieth  a  letter  exercife,  and  wifdome 
to  preuent  his  extremities. 

|F   wofull   experience    may   mooue   you   (Gentlemen)    to 
beware,  or  vnheard  of  wretchednes  intreate  you  to  take  I^ 
heed :  I  doubt  not  but  you  will  looke  backe  with  forrow 
on  your  time  paft,  and  endeuourwith  repentance  to  fpend 
that  which  is  to  come.     Wonder  not,  (for  with  thee  wil  I  firft  begin) 
thou  famous  gracer  of  Tragedians,  that  Greene,  who  hath  faid  with  20 
thee,  like  the  foole  in  his  heart,  There  is  no  God,  mould  now  giue 
glorie  vnto  his  greatnefle  :  for,  penitrating  is  his  power,  his  hand  lies 
heauie  vpon   me,  he  hath  fpoken  vnto  me  with  a  voice  of  thunder, 
and  I  haue  left,  he  is  a  God  that  can  puniih  enimies.     Why  fliould  24 
thy  excellent  wit,  his  gift,  be  fo  blinded,  that  thou  fhouldft  giue  no 
glory  to  the  giuer  ?     Is  it  peftilent  Machiuilian  pollicie  that  thou  haft 
ftudied  ?     O  puniih  follie  !     What  are  his  rules  but  meere  confufed 
mockeries,  able  to  extirpate  in  fmall  time,  the  generation  of  mankinde.  28 
For  if  Sic  volo,Jic  iubeo,  hold  in  thofe  that  are  able  to  command :  and 
if  it  be  lawfull  Fas  &  nefas  to  doe  any  thing  that  is  beneficiall ;  onely 
Tyrants  ihould  poffeffe  the  earth;  and  they,  ftriuing  to  exceede  in 
tyianny,  ihould  each  to  other  bee  a  flaughter  man  j  till  the  mightieft  32 
outliuing  all,  one  ftroke  were  left  for  Death,  that  in  one  age  mans 
life  ihould  ende.     The  brother  of  this  Diabolicall  Atheifme  is  dead, 
and  in  his  life  had  neuer  the  felicitie  he  aimed  at :  but  as  he  began 


30  Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit. 

in  craft,  liued  in  feare,  and  ended  in  defpaire.     Quum  infcrutabilia 

funt  Dei  iudicia  ?     This   murderer  of  many  brethren,  had  his  con- 

fcience  feared  like  Came :  this  betrayer  of  him  that  gaue  his  life  for 

4  him,  inherited  the  portion  of  ludas :  this  Apoftata  perifhed  as  ill  as 

Julian  :  and  wilt  thou,  my  friend,  be  his  Difciple  ?     Looke  vnto  me, 

by  him  perfwaded  to  that  libertie,  and  thou  {halt  finde  it  an  infernall 

bondage.     I   knowe  the  leaft  of  my  demerits  merit  this   miferable 

8  death ;  but  wilfull  ftriuing  againft  knowne   truth,  exceedeth  al  the 

terrors  of  my  foule.     Defer  not  (with  me)  till  this  laft  point  of  ex- 

tremitie  j  for  little  knoweft  thou  how  in  the  end  thou  ihalt  be  vilited. 

With  thee  I  ioyne  young  luuenall,  that  byting  Satyrift,  that  laftlie 

12  with  mee  together  writ  a  Comedie.  Sweete  boy,  might  I  aduife 
thee,  be  aduifed,  and  get  not  many  enemies  by  bitter  words :  inueigh 
againft  vaine  men,  for  thou  canft  do  it,  no  man  better,  no  man  fo 
wel :  thou  haft  a  libertie  to  reprooue  all,  and  name  none ;  for  one 

16  being  fpoken  to,  al  are  offended;  none  being  blamed,  no  man  is 
iniured.  Stop  {hallow  water  ftiil  running,  it  will  rage ;  tread  on  a 
worme,  and  it  will  turne  :  then  blame  not  fchollers  vexed  with  {harpe 
lines,  if  they  reproue  thy  too  much  libertie  of  reproofe. 

20  And  thou  no  lefle  deferuing  then  the  other  two,  in  fome  things 
rarer,  in  nothing  inferiour ;  driuen  (as  my  felfe)  to  extreame  {hifts ;  a 
little  haue  I  to  fay  to  thee  :  and  were  it  not  an  idolatrous  oth,  I  would 
fweare  by  fweet  S.  George,  thou  art  vnworthie  better  hap,  fith  thou 

24  dependeft  on  fo  meane  a  ftay.  Bafe  minded  men  al  three  of  you,  if 
by  my  miferie  ye  be  not  warned :  for  vnto  none  of  you  (like  me) 
fought  thofe  burres  to  cleaue :  thofe  Puppits  (I  meane)  that  fpeake 
from  our  mouths,  thofe  Anticks  garniftit  in  our  colours.  Is  it  not 

28  ftrange  that  I,  to  whom  they  al  haue  beene  beholding :  is  it  not  like 
that  you,  to  whome  they  all  haue  beene  beholding,  {hall  (were  ye  in 
that  cafe  that  I  am  now)  be  both  at  once  of  them  forfaken  ?  Yes, 
truft  them  not :  for  there  is  an  vpftart  Crow,  beautified  with  our 

32  feathers,  that  with  his  Tygers  heart  wrapt  in  a  Players  hide,  fuppofes 
he  is  as  well  able  to  bumbaft  out  a  blanke  verfe  as  the  beft  of  you  : 
and  being  an  abfolute  Johannes  fac  totum,  is  in  his  owne  conceit  the 
onely  Shake-fcene  in  a  countrie.  O  that  I  might  intreate  your  rare 

36  wits  to  be  imployed  in  more  profitable  courfes :  &  let  thefe  Apes 
imitate  your  paft  excellence,  and  neuer  more  acquaint  them  with  your 


Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit.  3 1 

admired  inuentions.     I  know  the  beft  huiband  of  you  all  will  neuer 
proue  an  Vfurer,  and  the  kindeft  of  them  all  wil  neuer  prooue  a  kinde 
nurfe  :  yet,  whilft  you  may,  feeke  you  better  Maifters  ;  for  it  is  pittie 
men  of  fuch  rare  wits,  mould  be  fubiecl:  to  the  pleafures  of  fuch  rude  4 
groomes. 

In  this  I  might  infert  two  more,  that  both  haue  writ  againft  thefe 
buckram  Gentlemen  :  but  let  their  owne  works  ferue  to  witnefle 
againft  their  owne  wickednefle,  if  they  perfeuer  to  maintaine  any  8 
more  fuch  peafants.  For  other  new  commers,  I  leaue  them  to  the 
mercie  of  thefe  painted  monfters,  who  (I  doubt  not)  will  driue  the 
beft  minded  to  defpife  them  :  for  the  reft,  if  fkils  not  though  they 
make  a  ieaft  at  them.  12 

But  now  returne  I  againe  to  you  three,1  knowing  my  miferie  is  to 
you  no  news :  and  let  me  heartily  intreate  you  to  bee  warned  by  my 
harmes.     Delight  not  (as  I  haue  done)  in  irreligious  oaths  ;  for,  from 
the  blafphemers  houfe,  a  curfe  fliall  not  depart.     Defpife  drunkennes,  16 
which  wafteth  the  wit,  and  maketh  2  men  all  equal  vnto  beafts.     Flie 
luft,  as  the  deathfman  of  the  foule,  and  defile  not  the  Temple  of  the 
holy  ghoft.     Abhorre  thofe  Epicures,  whofe   loofe  life  hath  made 
religion  lothfome  to  your  eares :    and  when  they  footh  you  with  20 
tearmes  of  Maifterfhip,  remember  Robert  Greene,  whome  they  haue 
often  fo   nattered,  perifhes   now  for  want  of  comfort.     Remember, 
gentlemen,  your  Hues  are  like  fo  many  lighted  Tapers,  that  are  with 
care  deliuered  to  all  of  you  to  maintaine  :  thefe  with  wind-puft  wrath  24 
may  be  extinguifht,  which  drunkennes  put  out,  which  negligence  let 
fall :  for  mans  time  of  it  felfe  is  not  fo  fhort,  but  it  is  more  ihortened 
by  fin.     The  fire  of  my  light  is  now  at  the  laft  fnuffe,  and  the  want 
of  wherwith  to  fuftaine  it  5  there  is  no  fubftance  left  for  life  to  feede  28 
on.     Truft  not  then  (I  befeech  yee)  to  fuch  weake  ftaies  :  for  they 
are  as  changeable  in  minde,  as  in  many  attires.     Well,  my  hand  is 
tired,  and   I   am  forft  to  leaue  where   I  would  begin :  for  a  whole 
booke  cannot  containe  their  wrongs,  which  I  am  forft  to  knit  vp  in  32 
fome  few  lines  of  words. 

Defirous  that  youjhould  Hue,  though  3 
himfelfe  be  dying. 

Robert  Greene.  *fi 

1  Otig.  rhree.  2  Orig .  making.  3  Orig.  thongh. 


32,  Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit. 

Now  to  all  men  I  bid  farewell  in  this  fort,  with  this  conceited 
Fable  of  the  olde  Comedian  Atfnpe. 

|N  Ant  and  a  Grafhopper  walking  together  on  a  greene, 
the  one  careleflely  {kipping,  the  other  carefully  prying 
what  winters   prouifion  was   fcattered    in   the  way :  the 
Grafhopper  fcorning  (as  wantons  wil)  this  needelefle  thrift 
(as  he  tearmed  it),  reprooued  him  thus : 

The  greedie.mifer  tliirfteth  ftill  for  game  ; 
His  thrift  is  theft,  his  weale  works  others  woe  : 
Thatfoole  is  fond,  which  will  in  caues  remains, 
IVJien  mongfi  faire  fiveetes  he  may  at  pleafure  goe. 

12  To  this  the  Ant,  perceiuing  the  Grafhoppers  meaning,  quickly 
replied : 

The  thriftie  husband  fpares  what  vnthrifts  fpends  ; 
His  thrift  no  theft,  for  dangers  to  provide  : 
1 6  Truji  to  thy  felfe,fmall  hope  in  want  yeeldfriendes; 

A  caue  is  letter  then  the  defarts  wide. 

In  fhort  time  thefe  two  parted,  the  one  to  his  pleafure,  the  other 
to  his  labour.  Anon  Harueft  grewe  on,  and  reft  from  the  Grafhopper 

20  his  woonted  moyfture.  Then  weakely  fkips  he  to  the  medows  brinks  : 
where  till  fell  winter  he  abode.  But  ftormes  continually  powring, 
hee  went  for  fuccour  to  the  Ant  his  olde  acquaintance,  to  whome 
he  had  fcarce  difcouered  his  eftate,  but  the  little  worme  made  this 

24  replie. 

Pack  hence  (quoth  he)  thou  idle  lazie  worme  ; 
My  houfe  doth  harbour  no  vnthriftie  mates  : 
Thou  fcornedji  to  toile,  and  now  thoufeeljl  thejlorme, 
28          And  Jtarujl  for  foode  while  I  am  fed  with  cafes. 
Vfe  no  intreats,  I  will  relentleffe  rejl, 
For  toy  ling  labour  hates  an  idle  gueji. 

The   Grafhopper  foodleffe,  helpeleffe,  and  ftrengthleffe,  got  into 
32  the  next  brooke,  and  in  the  yeelding  fand  digde  himfelfe  a  pit :  by 
which  likewife  he  ingraued  this  Epitaph. 


Greenes  groaisworth  of  wit.  33 

When  Springs  greene  prime  arrayd  me  ivith  delight, 

And  euery  power,  with  youthfull  vigor  Jild, 

Gauejlrength  to  works  what  euer fancie  wild: 

I  neuer  feard  the  force  of  winters  fpight.  4 

IVhen  firjl  I  faw  thefunne  the  day  begin, 
And  drie  the  mornings  tearesfrom  hearts  and  grajft  ; 
I  little  thought  his  chearefull  light  would  paffe, 
Till  vgly  night  with  darknes  enterd  in  : 

And  then  day  lojl  I  mournd,  f firing  pajl  1  u-aild, 

But  neither  tear es  for  this  or  that  auaild. 

Then  too  too  late  I  praifd  the  Emmets  paine, 

That  fought  infpring  a  harbour  gainjl  the  heate  :  12 

And  in  the  haruejl  gathered  winters  meate, 

Perceiuing  famine,  frojls,  andftormie  raine. 

My  ivr  etched  end  may  warne  Greene  fpringing  youth 

To  vfe  delights,  as  toyes  that  will  deceiue,  16 

And  f  corns  the  world  before  the  world  them  leaue  : 

For  all  worlds  trujl,  is  ruine  without  ruth. 

Then  bleji  are  they,  that,  like  the  toyling  Ant, 

Prouide  in  time  gainjl  winters  wofull  want.  20 

With  this  the  grafliopper,  yeelding  to  the  weathers  extremit[ie],  died 
comfortlefTe  without  reinedie.     Like  him,  my  felfe  :   like  me,  ihall  al 
that  truft  to  friends  or  times  inconftancie.     Now  faint  I  of  my  laft 
infirmitie,  befeeching  them  that  Ihal  burie  my  bodie,  to  publifh  this  24 
laft  farewell,  written  with  my  wretched  hand. 

F oelicem fuiffe  infaujlum. 

A  letter  written  to  his  wife,  found  with  this 

looke  after  his  death.  28 

He  remembrance  of  many  wrongs  offered  thee,  and  thy 
vnreprooued  vertues,  adde  greater  forrow  to  my  miferable 
ftate,  then  I  can  vtter,  or  thou  conceiue.  Neither  is  it 
leffened  by  confideration  of  thy  abfence  (though  mame  <?2 

ALLUSION-BOOKS.  3 


34  Greenes  groatsworth  of  wit. 

would  let  me  hardly  beholde  thy  face)  but  exceedingly  aggrauated, 
for  that  I  cannot  (as  I  ought)  to  thy  owne  felfe  reconcile  my  felfe, 
that  thou  mightefl  witnefie  my  inward  woe  at  this  inftant,  that  haue 
4  made  thee  a  wofull  wife  for  fo  long  a  time.  But  equal  heauen  hath 
denied  that  comfort,  giuing  at  my  laft  neede,  like  fuccour  as  I  haue 
fought  all  my  life :  being  in  this  extremitie  as  voide  of  helpe,  as  thou 
haft  beene  of  hope.  Reafon  would,  that  after  fo  long  wafte,  I  mould 
8  not  fend  thee  a  childe  to  bring  thee  greater  charge  :  but  confider,  he 
is  the  fruit  of  thy  wombe,  in  whofe  face  regard  not  the  fathers  faults 
fo  much  as  thy  owne  perfe6tions.  He  is  yet  Greene,  and  may  grow 
ftraight,  if  he  be  carefully  tended :  otherwife,  apt  enough  (I  feare 

*2  me)  to  follow  his  fathers  folly.  That  I  haue  offended  thee  highly,  I 
knowe  j  that  thou  canft  forget  my  injuries,  I  hardly  beleeue :  yet  per- 
fwade  I  my  felfe,  if  thou  faw  my  wretched  eftate,  thou  couldeft  not 
but  lament  it  :  nay  certainely  I  knowe  thou  wouldeft.  Al  my  wrongs 

1 6  mufter  themfelues  about  me,  euery  euill  at  once  plagues  me.  For 
my  contempt  of  God,  I  am  contemned  of  men  :  for  my  fwearing 
and  forfwearing,  no  man  will  beleeue  me :  for  my  gluttony,  I  fufter 
hunger :  for  my  drunkenneffe,  thirft :  for  my  adulterie,  vlcerous 

20  fores.     Thus  God  hath  caft  me  downe,  that  I  might  be  humbled : 
and  punifhed  me,  for  example  of  others  mine  :  and  although  he  fuffers 
me  in  this  world  to  perifh  without  fucccr,  yet  truft   I  in  the 
world  to  come  to  finde  mercie,  by  the  merits  of  my 

24  Sauiour,  to  whome  I  commend  thee, 

and  commit  my  foule. 

Thy  repentant  husband  for  his  dif- 
loyaltie,  Robert  Greene. 

2g  Ftelicem  fuiffe  infaujlum. 


FINIS. 


KIND-HARTS 

D  REAM  E. 

Containing  fiue  Apparitions,  with  their 

Inuectiues  against  abufes  raigning. 

Deliuered  by  seuerall  Ghosts  vnto  him  to 

be  publisht,  after  Piers  Penilesse  Post 

had  refused  the  carriage. 

Inuita  Inuidice. 
by  H.  C. 


Imprinted  at  London  for  William  Wright. 


To  the  Gentlemen  Readers. 


\T  hatk  beene  a  cujlome,  Gentle  men,  (in  my  mind  com- 
mendable) among  former  Authors  (whofe  workes  are 
no  lejffe  beautified  with  eloquente  phrafe,  than  gar-  4 
ni/hed  with  excellent  example]  to  begin  an  exordium    to   the 
Readers  of  their  time  :  much  more  conuerdent  I  take  it,  fliould 
the  writers  in  thefe  dales  (wherein  that  grauitie  of  enditing  by 
the  elder  excercifed,  is  not  obferu'd,  nor  that  mode/I  decorum  8 
kept,  which  they  continued}  fubm.it  their  labours  to  the  fauour- 
fible  cenfures  of  their  learned  ouerfeers.     For  feeing  nothing  can 
be  f aid,  that  hath  not  been  before  f aid,  the  Jingularitie  of  fome 
metis  conceits,  (other way es  excellent  well  deferuing]  are  no  more  12 
to  be  foothed,  than  the  peremptorie  pojies  of  two  very  f/tfficient 
Tranflators  commended.     To  come  in  print  is  not  to  feeke  praife, 
lut  to  crane  pardon  :  I  am  vrgd  to  the  one ;  and  bold  to  begge 
the  other:  he  that  qffcndcs,  being  for  ft,  is  more  excufable  than  the  J6 
wilfidl  faultie ;  though  both  be  guilty,  there  is  difference  in  the 
guilt.     To  obferue  cujlome,  and  auold  as  I  may,  cauill,  oppojlng 
your  fauors  againjl  my  fear e,  lie  fliew  reason  for  my  present 
writing,   and   after  proceed  to  fae  for  pardon.     About  three  20 
moneths  fince  died  M.  Robert  Greene,  leaning  many  papers  in 
fiindry  Booke  fellers  hands,  among  other  his  Groat sworth  of  wit, 
in  which  a  letter  written  to  diners  play-makers,  is  offenfiuely  by 


38  To  the  Gentlemen  Readers. 

one  or  two  of  them  taken ;  and  becaufe  on  the  dead  they  cannot  be 
aucnged,  they  ivilf idly  forge  in  their  conceitcs  a  lining  Author : 
and  after  tojfing  it  two  and  fro,  no  remedy,  lut  it  mujl  light  on 
4  me.  How  I  haue  all  the  time  of  my  connerfing  in  printing 
kindred  the  litter  inueying  again/I  fc/iollers,  it  hath  been  very 
well  knowne;  and  how  in  that  I  dealt,  I  can  Sufficiently  prooue. 
With  neither  of  them  that  take  offence  was  I  acquainted,  and 
8  with  one  of  them  I  care  not  if  I  neuer  be :  The  other,  whome.  at 
that  time  I  did  not  fo  much  f pare,  asjince  I  wish  I  had,  for  that 
as  I  haue  moderated  the  heate  of  lining  writers,  and  might  haue 
vfde  my  owne  discretion  (efpecially  in  fuch  a  cafe]  the  Author 

1 2  beeing  dead,  that  I  did  not,  I  am  as  fory  as  if  the  origin  all 
fault  had  beene  my  fault,  becaufe  my  felfe  hane  feene  his  de- 
meanor no  leffe  ciuill,  than  he  exelent  in  the  qualitie  he  profeffes : 
Be/ides,  diners  of  luorjhip  haue  reported  his  vprightnes  of 

1 6  dealing,  which  argues  his  honejhj,  and  his  facetious  grace  in. 
writting,  that  aproones  his  Art.  For  thejirjl,  ivhofe  learning  I 
renerence,  and  at  the  perufing  of  Greenes  Booke,Jlroke  out  what 
then  in  conscience  I  thought  he  in  forne  difpleafure  writ :  or  had 

20  //  beene  true,  yet  to  publiJJi  it,  was  intolerable :  him  I  ivould 
ii'i/Ji  to  vfe  me  no  worfe  than  I  defence.  I  had  onely  in  the  copy 
thisfoare :  it  was  il  written,  as  fometime  Greenes  hand  ivas  none 
of  the  bejl;  licenfd  it  mujl  be,  ere  it  could  bee  printed,  which  could 

24  7?£M£7-  be  if  it  might  not  be  read.  To  be  breife,  I  writ  it  otter;  and 
as  neare  as  I  could,  followed  the  copy;  onely  in  that  letter  1  put 
Something  out,  but  in  the  whole  booke  not  a  worde  in;  for  I prote/l 
it  was  all  Greenes,  not  mine  nor  Maijler  Nashes,  as  fome 

28  vniujlly  haue  affirmed.     Neither  was  he  the  writer  of  an  Epiftle 


To  the  Gentlemen  Readers.  39 

to  the  fecond  part  of  Gerileon,  though  lij  the  workemans  error 
T.  N.  werefet  to  the  end:  that  I  confejje  to  be  mine,  and  repent 
it  not. 

Thus  Gentlemen,  hauing  noted  the  priuale  cavfes  that  made  4 
me  nominate  my  felfe  in  print ;  being  afwell  to  purge  Majler 
Nashe  of  that  he  did  not,  as  to  iiijlifie  what  I  did,  and  wit  hall 
to  conjirme  what  M.  Greene  did :  I  befeech  yee  accept  the  pub- 
like  canfe,  which  is  loth  the  dcjire  of  your  delight,  and  common  8 
lenefite :  for  though  the  toye  lee  Jhadowed  vnder  the  Title  of 
Kind-hearts  Drcame,  it  difcouers  the  falfe  hearts  of  diners  that 
wake  to  commit  mif chief  e.     Had  not  the  former  reafons  been,  it 
had  come  forth  without  a  father  :  and  then  Jhuld  I  haue  had  no  12 
canfe  to  fear  e  offending,  or  reafon  to  fue  for  fauour.     Now  am 
I  in  doubt  of  the  one,  though  I  hope  of  the  other ;  which  if  I 
oblaine,  youJJiall  bind  me  hereafter  to  leejilent,  till  I  can  prefent 
yee  with  fome  thing  more  acceptable.  16 

Henrie  Chettle. 


[Note.  The  head-  and  tail-pieces,  and  big  initials,  in  these  reprints,  are  not 
like  those  of  the  originals.     The  stops  are  partly  modernised. — F.] 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  41 


Kind-hartes  Dedication  of  his  dreame,  to  all 
the  pleasant  conceited  vvhersoeuer. 

|Entlemen  and  good-fellowes,  (whole  kindnes  bailing  chrif- 
tened  mee  witb  the  name  of  Kind-heart,  bindes  me  in  4 
all    kind    courfe  I  can  to  deferue   the  continuance  of 
your  loue)  let    it    not  feeme  ftrange    (I   befeecb   ye)  that  he   that 
all    daies   of  his  life   hath   beene  famous  for  drawing  teeth,  fhould 
now  in  drooping  age  hazard  contemptible  infamie  by  drawing  him-  8 
felfe  into  print.     For  fuch   is  the  folly  of  this  age,  fo  witlefle,  fo 
audacious,  that  there  are  fcarce  fo  manye  pedlers  brag  themfelues  to 
be  printers  becaufe  they  haue  a  bundel  of  ballads  in  their  packe,  as 
there  be  idiots  that  thinke  themfelues  Artifts,  becaufe  they  can  Englilh  12 
an  obligation,  or  write  a  true  ftaffe  to  the  tune  of  fortune.    This  folly 
raging  vniuerfally,   hath   infired   me,  to   write  the  remembrance  of 
fundry  of  my  deceafed  frends,  perfonages  not  alltogether  obfcure,  for 
then  were  my  fubiect  bafe,  nor  yet  of  any  honourable  carriage,  for  my  16 
ftile  is  rude  and  bad :  and  to  fuch  as  I  it  belongs  not  to  iest  with 
Gods.     Kind-hart  would  haue  his  companions  efteeme  of  Eltates  as 
ftarres,  on  whome  meane  men  maye  looke,  but  not  ouer-looke.     I 
haue  heard  of  an  eloquent  Orator,  that  trimly  furniihed  with  warres  20 
abiliments,  had  on  his  fhield  this  Motto,  Bonafortuna  :  yet  at  the  firft 
meeting  of  the  enimy  fled  with   out  fight.     For  which   being  re- 
piooued,  he  replied  :   If  I  haue  faued  my  felfe  in  this  battell  by  flight, 


42  Kind-hartes  Dreame. 

I  flial  liue  to  chafe  the  enimy  in  the  next.  So  Gentlemen  fares  it 
with  mee:  If  enuious  mifconfterers  arme  themfelues  againfl  my  fimple 
meaning,  and  wreft  euery  ieft  to  a  wrong  fenfe,  I  thinke  it  policy  to 

4  fly  at  the  firft  fight,  till  I  gather  frefh  forces  to  reprefle  their  folly. 
Neither  can  they,  what  euer  they  be,  deale  hardly  with  Kind-hart,  for 
he  onely  deliuers  his  dreame,  with  euery  Apparition,  limply  as  it  was 
vttered.  Its  fond  for  them  to  fight  againft  ghofts :  its  fearefull  for 

8  me  to  hide  an  Apparition  :  by  concealing  it  I  might  doe  my  felfe 
harme,  and  them  no  good;  by  reuealing  it,  eafe  my  hart,  and  doe  no 
honeft  men  hurt :  for  the  reft  (although  I  would  not  willing[l]y  moue 
the  meaneft)  they  muft  beare  as  I  doe,  or  mend  it  as  they  may.  Well, 
12  leaft  ye  deeme  all  my  dreame  but  an  Epistle,  I  will  proceed  to  that 
without  any  further  circumftance. 


The  Dreame. 


fitting  alone  not  long  fince,  not  far  from  Finjlurie,  in  a 
Taphoufe  of  Antiquity,  attending  the  comming  of  fuch 
companions  as  might  wafli  care  away  with  carowling :  4 
Sleepe,  the  attendant  vpon  a  diftempred  bodies,  bereft 
the  funnes  light  by  couering  mine  eies  with  her  fable  mantle,  and  left 
me  in  nights  lhade,  though  the  dales  eie  fhinde  j  fo  powerfull  was  my 
receiued  potion,  fo  heauie  my  paflion :  whence  (by  my  hoftifle  care)  8 
being  remoued  to  a  pleafant  parlor,  the  windowes  opening  to  the  Eaft, 
I  was  laid  foftly  on  a  downe  bed,  and  couered  with  equall  furniture ; 
where,  how  long  I  flept  quietly,  I  am  not  well  affured,  but  in  the  time 
I  intended  to  reft,  I  was  thus  by  vilible  apparitions  difturbd.  i? 

Firft,  after  a  harm  and  confufed  found,  it  feemed  there  entered  l  at 
once  flue  perfonages,  feuerally  attired,  and  diuerfly  qualified,  three 
bearing  inftruments,  their  fauours  pleafant ;  two  appearing  to  be 
Artifts,  their  countenances  reuerend.  16 

The  firft  of  the  firft  three  was  an  od  old  fellow,  low  of  ftature,  his 
head  was  couered  with  a  round  cap,  his  body  with  a  fide  skirted 
tawney  coate,  his  legs  and  feete  truft  vppe  in  leather  buskins,  his  gray 
haires  and  furrowed  face  witnefled  his  age,  his  treble  violl  in  his  hande,  '2O 
allured  me  of  his  profefiion.  On  which  (by  his  continuall  fawing, 
hauing  left  but  one  firing)  after  his  beft  manner,  hee  gaue  me  a  hunts- 
vp  :  whome,  after  a  little  muting,  I  alluredly  remembred  to  be  no  other 
but  old  Anthony  Now  now.  24 

The  next,  by  his  fute  of  ruflet,  his  buttond  cap,  his  taber,  his  ftand- 
ing  on  the  toe,  and  other  tricks,  I  knew  to  be  either  the  body  or  re- 
femblaunce  of  Tarlton,  who  liuing,  for  his  pleafant  conceits  was  of  all 
men  liked,  and  dying,  for  mirth  left  not  his  like.  28 

1  Orig.  enrered. 


44  Kind-hartes  Dreame. 

The  third  (as  the  firft)  was  an  okle  fellowe,  his  beard  milkewhite, 

his  head  couered  with  a  round  lowe  crownd  rent  filke  hat,  on  which 

was  a  band  knit  in  many  knotes,  wherein  llucke  two  round  ftickes 

4  after  the  luglers  manner.     His  ierkin  was  of  leather  cut,  his  cloake  of 

three  coulers,  his  hole  paind  with  yellow  drawn  out  with  blew,  his 

inftrument  was  a  bagpipe :  &  him  I  knew  to  be  William  Cuckoe, 

better  knowne  than  lou'd,  and  yet  fome  thinke  as  well  lou'd  as  he  was 

8  worthy. 

The  other  two  had  in  their  countenances  a  reuerent  grace:  the  one 
which  was  the  elder,  feeming  more  feuere,  was  in  habite  like  a 
Doctor;  in  his  right  hand  hee  held  a  Compendium  of  all  the  famous 

isPhifitions  and  Surgions  workes  beelonging  to  Theorike,  in  his  lefte 
hand  a  table  of  all  inftruments  for  mans  health,  appertaining  to 
practile. 

At  the  fight  of  this  Doctor,  you  maye  thinke,  Gentlemen,  Kind- 

16  hart  was  in  a  pitious  cafe:  for  I  verily  beleeued  he  had  beene  fome 
rare  Artift,  that,  taking  me  for  a  dead  man,  had  come  to  anatomize 
me;  but  taking  comfort  that  my  thrumde  hat,  had  hanging  at  it  the 
enfignes  of  my  occupation,  like  a  tall  fellow  (as  to  me  it  feemed)  I 

20  lookte  him  in  the  face,  and  beheld  him  to  bee  maifter  Doctor  Burcot 
(though  a  ftranger,  yet  in  England  for  phificke  famous.) 

With  him  was  the  fifth,  a  man  of  indifferent  yeares,  of  face  amible, 
of  body  well  proportioned,  his  attire  after  the  habite  of  a  fchollerlike 

24  Gentleman,  onely  his  haire  was  fomewhat  long,  whome  I  fuppofed  to 
be  Robert  Greene,  maifter  of  Artes :  of  whome  (howe  euer  fome 
fuppofe  themfelues  iniured)  I  haue  learned  to  fpeake,  confidering  he 
is  dead,  nlll  nijl  neccflarium. 

28  He  was  of  finguler  pleafaunce  the  verye  fupporter,  and,  to  no  mans 
difgrace  bee  this  intended,  the  only  Comedian  of  a  vulgar  writer  in 
this  country. 

Well,  thus  thefe  flue  appeared,  and  by  them  in  poft  paft  a  knight  of 

32  the  poft,  whome  in  times  paft  I  haue  feen  as  highly  promoted  as  the 
pillory  :  but  I  haue  heard  fince  he  was  a  diuell,  that  plaide  the  Cariar 
of  Pierce  penilefle  packet  to  Lucifer,  and  was  now  returning  to  con- 
taminate the  ayre,  with  his  pestilent  periuries,  and  abhominable  fa  lie 

36  witnefle  bearing. 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  45 

How  Pierce  his  {application  pleafed  his  Patron,  I  know  not,  but  fure 
I  take  it  this  Friend  had  a  foule  check  for  medling  in  the  matter :  for 
when  all  thete  fiue  before  named  had  made  prefer  of  feuerall  bills 
inue&iue  againft  abufes  raigning,  this  diuelifh  Meflenger  repulfed  4 
them  wrathfully,  and  bad  them  get  feme  other  to  bee  their  packet 
bearer  if  they  lift,  for  he  had  almoft  hazarded  his  credit  in  hell,  by 
beeing  a  Broker  betweene  Pierce  PenilefTe  and  his  Lord :  and  fo,  with- 
out hearing  their  reply,  flew  from  them  like  a  whirle  wind.  With  8 
that,  (after  a  fmall  paufe)  in  a  round  ring  they  compaffed  my  bed,  and 
thrufting  into  my  hand  all  their  papers,  they  at  once  charged  mee  to 
awake,  and  publiih  them  to  the  world. 

This  charge  feemed  to  mee  moft  dreadfull  of  all  the  dreame,  be-  12 
caufe   in  that  the  diftinguiihing  of  their  feuerall   voices  was  heard, 
farre  from  the  frequent  manner  of  mens  fpeach.     In  fine,  Cuckoe  with 
his  pipes,  and  Antony  with  his  Crowd,  keeping  equall  equipage  firft 
left  my  fight ;  Tar  I  ton  with  his  Taber  fetchi[n]g  two  or  three  leaden  16 
friskes,  ihortly  followed,  and  the  Doftor  and  maifter  Greene  imme- 
diatly  vanilhed. 

With  this  (not  a  little  amazed,  as  one  from  a  trance  reviued)   I 
rouzd  vp  my  felfe :    when  fodainly  out  of  my  hand  fell  the  fiue  20 
papers,  which  confirmed  my  dreame  to  bee  no  fantifie.     Yet  (for 

that  I  knew  the  times  are  daungerous)  I  thought  good  aduifedly 
to  read  them,  before  1  prefumed  to  make  them  publick. 

So  by  chance  lighting  firft  on  Antony  nownowe  I  24 

found  on  the  outfide,  as  follows 
on   the  other  side. 

(4-tl) 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  47 


The  friendly   Admonition   of  Antho- 
nie    Now   now,   to   Mopo   and 

Pickering,  Arch-oner -seers  of  the 
Ballad  singers,  in  London,  or  4 

else-where. 

jjNthony  now  now,  a  Gods  bleffing,  to  his  louing  and  lining 
Bretheren  Mopo  and  Pickering,  greeting :  whereas  by  the 
daily  recourfe  of  infinit  numbers  to  the  infernall  regions,  8 
whofe  plaintes  to  be  heard  are  no  lefle  lamentable,  then 
their  paines  to  be  felt  intolerable,  I  am  giuen  to  vnderftand,  that  there 
be  a  company  of  idle  youths,  loathing  honeft  labour  and  difpifing 
lawfull  trades,  betake  them  to  a  vagrant  and  vicious  life,  in  euery  12 
corner  of  Cities  &  market  Townes  of  the  Realme  tinging  and  felling 
of  ballads  and  pamphletes  full  of  ribaudrie,  and  all  fcurrilous  vanity,  to 
the  prophanation  of  Gods  name,  and  with-drawing  people  from  chrif- 
tian  exercifes,  efpecially  at  faires,  markets,  and  fuch  publike  meetings,  16 
I  humbly  defire  ye  that  ye  ioyne  with  another  of  your  bretheren,  free 
of  one  Citie  and  profeflion,  that  alwaies  delighting  in  godly  fonges,  is 
now  in  his  age  betaken  to  his  beads,  and  liueth  by  the  dolefull  tolling 
of  Deaths  bell  warning.  Deere  frendes,  I  befeech  you  ioyntly  to  agree  20 
to  the  supprefling  of  the  aforenamed  idle  vagabonds.     And  that  I 
right  incite  (as  I  hope)  your  forward  effectes,  I  will  particularize  the 
difference  betweene  the  abufed  times  among  you  reputed,  and  the 
fimplicity  of  the  daies  wherein  I  liued.     Withall,  I  wilh  ye  to  expect  24 
no  greater  matter  then  Anthony  es  capacity  can  comprehend.     When 
I  was  liked,  there  was  no  thought  of  that  idle  vpftart  generation  of 
ballad-fingers,  neither  was  there  a  printer  ib  lewd  that  would  fet 


48  Kind-hartes  Dreame. 

finger  to  a  lafduious  line.  But  I  perceiue  the  times  are  changed,  and 
men  are  changed  in  the  times.  For  not  long  fince  a  number  of 
children  were  bolftered  by  fome  vnwoorthy  Citizens  and  other  free 
4  men  in  Townes  Corporate  to  exercife  a  bafe  libertine  life  in  finging 
anye  thing  that  came  to  hand  from  fome  of  the  Diuels  inftruments, 
intruders  into  printings  miiferie,  by  whome  that  excelent  Art  is  not 
fmally  flandered,  the  gouernment  of  the  eftate  not  a  little  blemiflitd, 
8  uor  Religion  in  the  leaft  meafure  hindred.  And  to  Ihut  vp  al  in  the 
laft,  is  it  not  lamentable  that  after  fo  many  callings,  fo  many  bleilings, 
fo  many  warnings,  through  the  couetous  defire  of  gaine  of  fome  two 
or  three,  fuch  a  flocke  of  Run-agates  Ihoulde  ouerfpred  the  face  of 

12  this  land,  as  at  this  time  it  doth.  They  that  intend  to  infeft  a  riuer, 
poifon  the  fountaine;  the  Bafiliske  woundeth  a  man  by  the  eie,  whofe 
light  firft  failing,  the  body  of  force  defcends  to  darknes. 

Thele   Bafilisks,  thefe  bad   minded  monfters,  brought   forth    like 

1 6  vipers  by  their  mothers  bane,  with  fuch  lafciuious  lewdnes  haue  firft 
infe£ted  London,  the  eie  of  England,  the  head  of  other  Cities,  as  what 
is  fo  lewd  that  hath  not  there,  contrary  to  order,  beene  printed,  and  in 
euery  ftreete  abuliuely  chanted.  This  error  (ouer  fpreding  the  realme) 

20  hath  in  no  fmall  meafure  increafed  in  ElTex,  and  the  mires  thereto 
adioyning,  by  the  blumlefle  faces  of  certaine  Babies,  fonnes  to  one 
Barnes,  moft  frequenting  Bishops  Stafford.  The  olde  fellow  their 
father,  foothing  his  fonnes  folly,  refting  his  crabbed  limes  on  a  crab- 

24  tree  ftaffe,  was  wont  (and  I  thinke  yet  he  vfes)  to  feuer  himfelfe  from 
the  Booth,  or  rather  Brothell  of  his  two  fons  Ballad  ihambels  :  where, 
the  one  in  a  fweaking  treble,  the  other  in  an  ale-blowen  bafe,  carrowle 
out  fuch  adultrous  ribaudry,  as  chad  eares  abhorre  to  heare,  and  mo- 

28  deftie  hath  no  tongue  to  vtter. 

While  they  are  in  the  ruffe  of  ribaudrie,  (as  I  was  about  to  fay)  the 
olde  ale-knight,  their  dad,  breakes  out  into  admiration,  and  fends 
ftragling  cuftomers  to  admire  the  roaring  of  his  fonnes :  where,  that  I 

32  may  Ihowe  fome  abufes,  and  yet  for  fhame  let  flip  the  moft  odious, 
they  heare  no  better  matter,  but  the  lafciuious  vnder  fongs  of  Wat- 
kins  ale,  the  Carmans  whiftle,  Chopingkniues,  and  frier  foxtaile,  and 
that  with  fuch  odious  and  detefted  boldnes,  as  if  there  be  any  one  line 

36  in  thofe  lewd  fongs  than  other  more  abhominable,  that  with  a  double 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  49 


repetition  is  lowdly   belowed,  as  for  example  of  the  frier  and  the 
nunne. 

He  whipt  her  with  a  foxes  taile,  Barnes  minor, 

And  he  whipt  her  with  a  foxes  tai/e,  Barnes  rnaior.  4 

O  braue  boies,  faith  Barnes  maximus.  The  father  leapes,  the 
lubers  roare,  the  people  runne,  the  Diuell  laughs,  God  lowers,  and 
good  men  weepe.  Nay,  no  fooner  haue  the  godly  preachers  deliuered 
wholefome  doftrine,  but  thefe  impes  of  iniquitie,  and  fuch  as  imitate  8 
their  order,  draw  whole  heapes  to  hearken  to  their  inquinated  cries,  as 
if  they  were  heardes  of  the  Gergifhites  fwine,  ready  to  receiue  whole 
legions  of  foule-drowning  fpirites. 

Stephen,  Mopo,  and  Pickering,  I  mufe  you  make  no  complaint  to  12 
thofe  worfhipfull  that  haue  authority  to  reftraine  fuch  ftraglers;  for  this 
is  to  be  proued,  of  whome  foeuer  they  buy  them,  that  thefe  two 
Barnes  vtter  more  licentious  fongs,   then  all  that  part  of  England 
befide.  16 

Shamefull  it  is  (had  they  any  fhame)  that  men  brought  vppe  to  an 
honefl  handicraft,  of  which  the  realme  more  need  then  iygging 
vanities,  mould  betake  them  to  fo  impudent  a  courfe  of  life.  The 
Rogue  that  liueth  idly  is  reftrained,  the  fidler  and  plaier  that  is  20 
maifterl[e]fle  is  in  the  fame  predicament:  both  thefe  by  the  law  are 
burned  in  the  eare  :  and  mall  men  more  odious  fcape  vnpunimed  ? 

It  wpre  to  be  wilht,  if  they  will  not  be  warnd,  that  aswell  the 
fingers,  as  their  fupporters,  were  burned  in  the  tongue  that  they  might  24 
rather  be  euer  vtterly  mute,  then  the  triurnphers  of  fo  many  mif- 
chiefes.      Neither  are  thefe  two  alone  in  fault,   though  they  Hand 
worthely  formoft  as  Malorum  Duces ;  but  befides  them,  others  more 
then  a  good  many,  fome  (as  I  haue  heard  fay)  taken  to  be  apprentices  28 
by  a  worthlefle  companion  (if  it  proue  true  that  is  of  him  reported) 
being  of  a  wormipfull  trade,  and  yet  no  Stationer,  who,  after  a  little 
bringing  them  vppe  to  finging  brokerie,  takes  into  his  fhop  fome  frefh 
men,  and  trufts  his  olde  fearuantes  of  a  two  months  (landing  with  332 
doflen  groates  worth  of  ballads.     In  which  if  they  prooue  thrifty,  hee 
makes  them  prety  chapmen,  able  to  fpred  more  pamphlets  by  the 
flate  forbidden,  then  all  the  Bookefellers  in  London ;  for  only  in  this 
Citie  is  ftraight  fearch,  abroad  finale  fufpition,  efpecially  of  fuch  petty  36 

ALLUSION-BOOKS.  4 


50  Kind-hartes  Dreame. 

pedlers.  Neither  is  he  for  thei'e  flies  only  in  fault,  but  the  Gouerners 
of  cutpurfe  hall,  rinding  that  their  company  wounderfully  increaft, 
howeuer  manye  of  their  befte  workemew  monthly  mifcande  at  the  three 
4  foot  croffe,  they  tooke  counfaile  how  they  might  find  fome  new  exer- 
cife  to  imploy  their  number. 

One  of  the  ancienteft  that  had  beene  a  traueller,  and  at  Brainetree 
faire  feene  the  refort  to  the  ftandinges  of  the  forenamed  brethren,  the 
8  fonnes  of  olde  Barnes  the  Plummer,  chofe  out  roaringe  Dicke,  Wat 
Wimbars,  cum  mullis  aliis  of  tune-able  trebles,  that  gathered  fundry 
affemblies  in  diuers  places,  where,  yer  a  leaud  fonge  was  fully  ended, 
fome  mift  their  kniues,  fome  their  purfes,  foome  one  thinge,  foome 

1 2  another.  And  alafie,  who  woulde  fufpe&e  my  innocente  youthes,  that 
all  the  while  were  pleafinge  rude  peoples  eyes  and  eares,  with  no  les 
dele&able  noife,  then  their  ditties  were  delightfome :  the  orie  beeing 
too  odious  to  bee  read,  the  other  too  infectious  to  be  heard.  "Well* 

1 6  how  euer  they  fung,  it  is  like  they  fhared  :  for  it  hath  beene  faide,  they 
themfelues  bragge,  they  gayned  their  twenty  fhillinges  in  a  day.  Ah 
brother  Mopo,  many  a  hard  meale  haue  you  made,  and  as  many  a 
time  hath  Curtell,  your  foure-footed  traueiler,  beene  pincht  for  want  of 

20  prouander,  and  yet  at  the  weekes  ende  haue  you  hardly  taken  tenne 
fhillinges.  But  I  perfuade  my  felfe  you  gaine  by  your  honeft  labour, 
and  they  by  legerdemaine.  To  tell  you  your  owne  iniuries,  by  them 
euery  where  offered,  neede  not :  to  wifh  you  to  fpeake  to  them,  it 

24  bootes  not.  Therefore  this  is  my  counfaile,  and  let  it  be  your  courfe  : 
Make  humble  fuite  to  her  Maiefties  Officers,  that  they  may  bee 
hencefoorth  prohibited :  intreate  the  Preachers  that  they  inuaye 
againfte  this  vice,  whiche,  thoughe  it  feeme  fmall  to  other  abufes,  yet 

28  as  a  graine  of  muftard  feede  it  encreafes,  and  bringeth  foorth  more 
mifchiefes,  then  few  wordes  can  exprefle,  or  much  diligence  make 
voide.  Firft,  if  there  be  any  fonges  fuffered  in  fuch  pubJike  forte  to 
be  foong,  befeech  that  they  may  either  be  fuch  as  your  felues,  that 

32  after  feauen  yeares  or  more  feruice,  haue  no  other  liuinge  lefte  you 
out  of  Pattent,  but  that  poore  bafe  life,  of  it  felfe  too  badde,  yet  made 
more  beggerly,  by  increafe  of  nomber  :  or  at  leaft  if  any1  befides  you 
be  therto  admitted,  thaw  it  may  be  none  other  but  aged  and  impotent 

1  Orig.  if  any  if. 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  51 

perfons  :  who,  liuinge  vpon  charity,  may  the  rather  draw  thofe  that 
delight  in  good  fongs,  to  haue  mercy  on  their  neede.     For  to  ling 
publikely,  is  by  a  kinde  of  tolleration,  permitted  only  to  beggars,  of 
which  nomber,  it  is  not  neceffary  to  make  them  that  haue  feene  no  4 
number  of  yeares,  nor  are  in  the  members  of  their  bodies  imperfect. 
Is  it  not  abfurde  to  fee  a  long  legd  lubber  pinned  in  a  chayre,  fedde 
with  a  dugge,  drefte  with  a  bibbe,  and  rockte  in  a  cradle  ?  As  vile  it 
is,  that  boyes  of  able  llrength,  and   agreeable  capacity,  mould  bee  8 
fullered  to  wreft  from  the  miferable  Aged,  the  laft  refuge  in  their  life 
(beggery  excepted)  the  poore  helpe  of  Ballad-finging.     Many  a  cruft 
hath  old  Anthony  gotte  by  it,  Mopo,  betide  other  comfortes  :  but  now 
I  heare  my  blinde  brother  that  exercifde  the  bale,  is  forced  to  lay  his  12 
fiddle  to  pawne,  and  truft  onely  to  the  two  and  thirtieth  Pfalme,  and 
lob  patience,  for  his  poore  belly-pinchinge  pittaunce.    Once  againe  I 
tourue  mee  in  your  names  to  the  Maieftrates,  and  Preachers  of  London, 
and  as  to  them,  fo  to  others  elfe-where  in  the  Realme.    Right  honor-  16 
able,  reuerend,  or  worfhipfull,  Anthony  humbly  defires  you,  to  looke 
into  the  leaud  caufe,  that  thefe  wicked  effecls  may  fall.     The  people 
delighte  to  heare  fome  new  thinge  :  if  thefe  prophane  ribauldries  were 
not :  fomewhat  fauering  of  godlinefle,  of  policy,  or  at  the  vtmoft  of  20 
morrall  witte,  fliould  be  receiued.     It  is  common,  that  they  which 
haue  capacitye,  when  they  heare  either  Diuinitye,  Lawe,  or  other 
Artes,  apply  their  memories  to  receiue  them ;  and  as  they  haue  con- 
ceiued,  they  bringe  foorth  fruites :  fo  fares  it  by  the  contrary,  when  .24 
they  heare   lafciuious   furquedry,  leudnefle,  impiety,  they  yeeld  no 
other  harueft,  than  they  receiued  feede  :  for  who  canne  gather  grapes 
of  thornes,  or  figges  of  thiilles  ?     It  would  bee  thought  the  Carman 
that  was  woonte  to  whittle  to  his  beaftes  a  comfortable  note,  might  28 
afwell  continue  his  olde  courfe,  wherby  his  found  ferued  for  a  muficall 
harmony  in  Gods  eare,  as  now  profanely  to  follow  a  ligging  vanity, 
which  can  bee  no  better  than  odious  before  God,  fith  it  is  abhomin- 
able  in  the  eares  of  good  men.    But  all  is  one,  they  are  fuffred,  which  32 
makes  them  fecure ;  and  there  is  no  impietye  but  the  bafer  flatter 
themfelnes  in,  becaufe  they  are  not  more  ftricktly  reprehended  by  their 
betters.     If  euery  idle  word  {hall  be  aunfweared  for,  how  mail  they 
efcape  that  fuffer  whole  dayes  to  bee  confumde  in  abhominable  bro-  36 


52  Kind-hartes  Dreame. 

thelry.  Well,  at  the  handes  of  the  fheapheard  mall  the  flocke  be 
challenged:  there  is  a  mercy  that  killeth  lufticej  euery  other  tolleration 
is  finnefull  and  iliamefull.  Heere  Anthony  now  now  ceafes  :  knowing 

4  the  fuperiours  haue  difcretion,  vppon  true  information,  to  deale  as 
befeemes  them.  I  onely  vrge  my  brother  Mopo,  S.  P.  and  Pickeringe, 
to  befeech  that  lafciuious  fingers  may  bee  vtterJye  fuppreft,  as  they 
will  fhew  themfelues  to  bee  the  men  they  ftiould  be  j  wherein  if  they 

8  faile,  let  them  liue  euer  in  perpetuall  pouertye,  and  fare  at  all  tymes 
as  harde  as  poor  Mopos  Cut  did  with  his  maifters  countreyman  in  Shor- 
ditch,  till,  by  the  force  of  his  hinder  heeles,  he  vtterly  vndid  two  milch 
maydens,  that  had  fet  vp  a  (hoppe  of  Ale-drapery.  Subfcribed 

12  Anthony  now  now  a  Gods  lleffing. 

When  I  had  read  this  rabble,  wherein  I  found  little  reafon,  I  laide 
it  by,  intendinge  at  more  time  to  feeke  out  Mopo,  and  his  mentioned 
companions.     The  nexte  paper  I  chaunced  on,  was  that  of  Maifter 
1 6  Do6tor  Burcot: 

The  fuperfcription  thus. 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  53 

To  the  impudent  discreditors  of  Phisickes  Art, 

either  speedy  amendement  or 

punishment. 

|Niurious  enemies  to  Arts,  that  haue  fought  to  make  Phifick,  4 
among  common  people,  efteemed   common,  and   Chi- 
rurgery  contemptible:  to  you  is  this  my  Breefe  addrefledj 
for  fince  I  lefte  the  earth,  com  maun  ded  by  him  that 
difpofes  of  euery  creature,  I  vnderftande  foome  greene-headed  fcoffers  8 
at  my  greene  receipt,  haue  intermedled  in  matters  more  then  they 
conceiue,  and  by  that  folly  effected  much  lefle  then  they  promifed. 
It  was  helde  of  olde  for  a  principle,  and  not  long  fince  obferued  as  a 
cuftome,  that  as  the  nightes  Battes,  fore-runners  of  darkenefle,  neuer  12 
flickered  in  the  streetes  till  the  Sunne  was  declinde,  and  then  euery 
where  blindly  flapped  in  mennes  faces  :  fo  the  Owles  of  Artes,  blinde- 
flinder-mife  (as  I  may  tearme  them)  confirmning  the  old  Oracle, 
neuer  fhewe  themfelues  but  in  corners,  giuing  their  rules  for  that  they  *6 
vnderftand  not,  to  the  lofle  of  life,  or  mans  dismembringe.     Euery 
iimple  hath  his  vertue,  euery  difeafe  his  beginning :  but  the  remedy 
rifeth  from  the  knowledge  of  the  cause  :  If  any  can  (in  natural  1  fence) 
giue  eafe,  they  muft  be  Artiftes,  that  are  able  to  fearch  the  caufe,  2O 
refift  the  difeafe,  by  prouiding  remedies.     How  fares  it  then,  blinde 
abufers  of  the  blind,  your  blumles  faces  are  fo  feafoned,  that  you  can 
in  print  or  publike  writinges,  open  the  skirtes  of  your  mame,  by  pro- 
mifing  fight  to  the  blinde,  found  ioyntes  to  the  gowty,  fteady  members  24 
to  the  Paraletike,  ftrong  limmes  to  the  lame,  quicke  hearing  to  the 
deafe,  fence  to  the  franticke.     To  begin  with  I.  D.  one  of  your  fight 
healers :  was  it  not  wel  handled  by  him,  when  a  gentleman  of  good 
account  hauing  onely  a  heate  in  one  of  his  eies,  hee,  like  a  kinde  28 
chriftian,  perfwaded  the  patient  to  receiue  a  water  preferuatiue  to  the 
found  eie,  that  it  might  draw  the  humor  from  the  firft,  when  in  very 
truth  by  his  cunning  hee  fo  dealt,  that  not  an  eie  was  left  in  his  head 
whereby  hee  might  wel  fee,  failing  that  by  the  ey  that  was  firft  fore  32 
he  can  with  much  adoo  looke  through  a  chriflall.     Thus  this  cogging 


54  Kind-hartes  Dreame. 

fight-giuer  dranke  a  hundred  marke,  and  vtterly  impaired  the  paiers 
fight. 

O  obfcure  knaue,  worthy  to  bee  fo  well  knowne,  that  thine  eies 

4  being  thruft  out  of  thy  head  in  a  publike  allembly,  thou  mighteft1  no 

more  attempt  to  make  blinde  thy  betters.     There  was  a  Gentleman 

in  the  world,  troubled  not  long  fince  with  a  paine  in  the  foote :  Phifi- 

tions  found  it  to  be  the  gout;  againft  which  malady  promifing  no 

8  precife  remedy,  but  onely  to  giue  eaie  for  the  time,  did  their  dail)e 

indeuour,  by  defenfiues  preuenting  paine  that  would  haue  prooued 

ofFenfiue.     He,  impatient  of  delay,  forfooke  all  hopes  of  art,  and  cle- 

liuered  ouer  hys  lite  into  the  hands  of  fome  of  thefe  trauelers  that  by 

12  incifion  are  able  to  eafe  all  atches.  If  a  fenfible  man  (concerning  their 
tiranny  on  him  vfed)  Ihuld  note  their  cuttings,  drawings,  corrofiuings, 
boxings,  butcherings,  they  wold  conclude,  Nun  erat  inter  Siculos  tor- 
mentum  maius.  Yet  forfooth,  who  but  thefe  are  welcome  to  difeafed 

1 6  or  endaungered  people.  The  reafon,  they  will  vndertake  to  warrant 
what  no  wife  man  can ;  &  if  it  happen  by  ftrong  conceipt  fome  haue 
comfort,  then  to  the  worlds  wonder  in  old  wiues  monuments  are  they 
remembered.  Short  tale  to  make :  after  many  tortures,  God  gaue  the 

20  gentleman  eafe  by  death. 

For  the  dead  Palfie,  there  is  a  woman  hath  a  defperate  drinke,  that 
either  helpes  in  a  yeare,  or  killes  in  an  hour.  Betide,  fhee  hath  a 
charme  that,  mumbled  thrice  ouer  the  eare,  together  with  oyle  of 

24  Suamone  (as  fhe  tearmes  it)  will  make  them  that  can  heare  but  a 
little,  heare  in  fhort  time  neuer  a  whit.  But  aboue  all  her  Medcine 
for  the  quartine  Ague,  is  admirable,  viz.  A  pinte  of  exceeding  ftrong 
march  beere,  wherein  is  infufed  one  drope  of  Aqua  miralilis,  this 

28  taken  at  a  draught  before  the  fit  is  intolerable  good  :  and  for  a  pre- 
fident,  let  this  ferue. 

A  Gentlewoman  about  London  whole  husband  is  heire  of  a  right 
woorfhipfull  houie,  was  induced  to  take  this  drench,  from  this  wife 

3 2  woman:  for  euery  drop  of  that  ftrong  water  ihe  muft  haue  twelue 

pence.     A  fponefull  at  the  leaft  was  prizde  at  fortie  (hillings.     Thus 

daily  for  almoft  a  moneth  fhe  miniftred  :  the  Gentlewoman  hauing  ftill 

good  hope,  at  laft  was  put  by  her  husband  quite  out  of  comfort  for 

1  Orig.  mighsttest. 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  55 

any  good  at  this  womans  handes,  for  he  by  chance  getting  the  de- 
ceiuers  glaffe,  would  needes  poure  out  a  fpunefull,  what  euer  he  paid; 
{he  cried  out  me  could  not  fpare  it ;  all  helpt  not,  he  tooke  it  and 
tafted,  and  found  it  to  be  no  other  then  fountaine  water.  4 

There  was  one  Bond-man  or  free-man  (it  skiles  not  much  whether) 
that  by  wondrous  ready  meanes  would  heale  madmen  :  what  expect- 
ation was  of  him  by  his  great  promifes,  all  London  knowes ;  howe 
lewdly  hee  delt,  it  can  as  well  witnefle:  of  him  I  will  fay  little,  becaufe  8 
there  is  more  knowne  then  I  am  able  to  let  downe. 

Befides  thefe  run-agates,  there  are  fome  of  good  experience,  that 
giuing  themfelues  to  inordinate  excefle,  when  they  are  writ  vnto  by 
learned  phifitions  to  minifter  for  the  patients  health  according  to  their  I2 
aduifed  prefcription,  negligently  miftake.     As  for  example,  a  Dodlor 
direcls  to  his  Poticary  a  bill  to  minifter  to  a  man  hauing  an  vlcerous 
fore,  certaine  pills  for  the  preparing  of  his  body;  withall,  a  receipt  for 
the  making  a  corrofiue,  to  apply  to  the  fore;  hee  (either  witles,  which  Z6 
is  too  bad,  or  wilfull,  which  is  worfe)  prepares  the  corrofiue  in  pilles, 
and  formes  the  Receipt  for  the  pilles  in  manner  of  a  playfter. 

The  partie  receiues  the  corrofiue  inward,  his  mawe  is  fretted,  death 
followes.     If  there  be  fuch  an  Apothecary  that  hath  fo  done,  let  him  20 
repent  his  dealings,  leaft  the  bloud  of  that  man  light  on  his  head. 

It  is  faid  there  was  another  fkilfull,  no  lefle  ouerfeene,  that  hauinge 
a  poore  manne  of  a  legge  to  difmember,  who  had  long  time  beene 
his   patient,  &  at  the  inftant,  more  extreamely  painde  then   before,  24 
which  was   caufe  of  requiringe   his    Chirurgians  immediate  helpe. 
This  woorkeman,  the  poore  patientes  deathes-maifter,  in  that  pointe 
not  to  bee  tearmed  his   ovvne  Artes  maifter,  difmembred  him,  the 
figne  beeinge  in  the  foote.     Whereof  beeing  tolde,  immediately  after  28 
the  deede,  hee  onely  merrited  this  praife,  by  giuing  councel  to  the 
murthered  man  to  haue  patience  at  his  fuddaine  ende. 

But  thefe  accidentes  amonge  Artifles  happen  as  feldome  as  the 
proofe  of  a  good  cure  amonge  you  that  are  vtterly  ignoraunt  in  Arte :  32 
for  their  faultes  are  committed  by  them  rarely  or  neuer ;  your  tref- 
paffes,  like  a  quotidian  difeafe.  So  of  the  one  it  may  bee  faide,  Wine 
is  a  mocker,  and  ftrong  drincke  is  raginge,  and  thofe  that  bee  thereby 
deceiued  are  not  wise.  Yet  of  the  other  may  dire6tly  bee  conclude 


56  Kind-hartes  Dreame. 

to  their  tingle  commendation,  that  as  no  ferpent  is  without  his  hidcU-n 
ftinge,  or  anie  thing  in  earth  without  fonie  blemilh  :  fo  no  purity  of 
their  impure  profeilion,  can  be  equalled  in  imperfection,  fo  impure  is 
4  all,  fo  vile,  fo  daungerous. 

Therefore  now  returne  I  where  I  began,  to  you  the  excrementes  of 
nature,  and  monfters  of  menne,  whofe  murders  are  no  leffe  common 
then  your  crafles,  whiche  are  not  fo  well  knowne  to  the  world,  as  felt 
8  by  them  that  leaue  it:  with  two  of  you  will  I  ende.  The  one  a  brag- 
gart of  great  antiquity,  whofe  liuely  image  is  yet  to  bee  feene  in  King 
Luds  Pallace,  and  his  liuing  Ghoil  at  this  time  miniftringe  to  the 
poore  Pensioners  of  that  place.  Sirra,  nay  it  Ihall  be,  fir,  in  reueremc 

12  of  your  old  occupation,  I  mufe  not  a  little  what  wonderfull  Mettaline 
preparatiue  it  is  ye  boaft  on  :  by  which,  were  men  fo  mad  to  beleeue 
you,  you  are  able  to  make  anye  mauue  not  onely  boldely  to  walke  in 
ill  ayres,  and  conuerfe  daye  and  nighte  with  infected  companye,  but 

i6alfo  to  receiue  the  ftrongeft  poifon  (like  king  Mitkridates)  into  his 
body  ?  Tenne  to  one,  it  is  fo  ftrange,  as  no  man  but  your  felfe  is  able 
to  name  it.  Yet  giue  mee  leaue  to  gelfe  at  it  without  offence  to  your 
falfehoode.  I  remember  I  haue  heard  great  talke,  you  haue  bene  both 

20 a  cafter  of  mettall,  and  a  forger;  and  it  feemes  you  haue  gotten  the 
receipte  which  the  Tinne-melters  wife  miniftred,  to  breake  her  huf- 
bandes  colde,  •when  he  fate  fleeping  in  his  chaire,  videlicet,  two  ounces 
of  pure  Tinne  put  in  an  iron  ladle,  melted  in  the  fire,  and  poured  at 

2<  an  inftant  downe  the  throat.  If  it  be  thus,  I  dare  take  your  woord  for 
any  poyfon  hurting  that  partie  that  fo  receiues  it,  for  as  a  fimple  fel- 
lowe  (feeing  foure  or  fiue  hangd  for  their  offences,  and  hearing  fome 
fpeake  bitterly  of  them  beeing  deade)  faide,  Well,  God  make  them 

2<°  good  men,  they  haue  a  faire  warning :  fo  I  may  fay,  they  that  deale 
with  your  mettaline  medicine  haue  a  faire  warrante  againft  poifon  : 
Likewife  may  it  be  faide  of  your  admirable  eie  water,  through  the 
vertue  of  whiche  you  haue  attained  the  wo'orfliipfull  name  of  Doclor 

3~  put  out:  hauinge  put  out  foome  of  their  eies  that  deale  with  it.  But 
if  I  haue  varied  from  your  mettaline  receipt  before,  I  conclude  it  but 
a  forgerie,  and  fo  blame  you  not  greatly  for  followinge  a  parcell  ot 
your  olde  and  (to  fome  a)  hurtfull  trade. 

36      Another  of  your  bretheren,  as  wel  ouer  feene  in  mineralls  as  your 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  57 

felfe,  lying  in  a  good  fellowes  houfe  not  long  fin.ce,  being  monilefie, 
(as  ye  are  all  but  thred  bare  make-fhiftes,)  perfwaded  his  hoaft  to  take 
phificke  for  feare  of  infection ;  his  labour  he  was  content  to  giue,  and 
nothing  for  their  kindneffe  would  hee  require  but  euen  fiue  marke,  4. 
which  he  muft  pay  for  the  very  fimples.     His  fimple  hoaft  beleeuing 
him  to  bee  honeft,  gaue  him  the  money.     If  hee  had  lefre  heere, 
though  this  had  beene  to  lewd,  it  had  beene  farre  better  than  to  go 
forward  as  he  did  ;  for  fome  what  hee  beftowed  on  purging  fimples,  8 
which  vnprepared  he  miniftred,  and  with  the  fame  miniftred  the  poore 
mans  death. 

The  lewd  wretch  cried  out  that  hee  had  taken  a  great  quantity  of 
the  purgation,  more  than  he  appointed,  which  was  in  a  window  in  his  12 
chamber;  .much  adoe  was  made,  and  he  would  iuftifie  before  any 
learned  man  his  deed;  but  trufting  better  to  his  heeles,  than  to  hazard 
a  hanging,  hee  gaue  them  that  night  the  flip,  and  is  not  yet  taken. 

To  be  fhort,  how  euer  ye  differ  in  feuerall  fhiftes,  yet  agree  you  all  16 
in  one  manner  of  fliiftting :  cunning  is  the  cloake  to  hide  your  cog- 
ging :  money  the  marke  for  which  ye  play  the  makefhiftes,  nay  the 
murtherers,   not  of  the  common  enimie,  but  your  owne  country-men, 
than  which  what  can  be  more  barbarous  ?     Common  reafon  mould  20 
perfwade,  that  much  reading  and  long  praclife  in  euery  Art  makes 
men  expert.     Per  Contrarium  I  conclude,  you  that  haue  neither  read 
nor  praftifed,  muft  needs  be  egregiouily  ignorant. 

Allure  your  felues,  if  you  rerraine  not,  iuftice  will  ftand  vppe,  and  24 
fo  reftraine  yee,  as  there  lhall   be  nothing  more   noted   than  your 
ignorant  praclifes  and  impudent  courfes.      In  my  life  I    was  your 
aduerfary :   in  death  I   am  your  enimie.     Befeeching  the  reuerend 
Colledge  of  learned  Doctors  and  worihipfull  company  of  experienft  28 
Chirurgions  to  looke  more  ftraightly  to  your  falle  deceites,  and  clofe 
haunts,  that  there  may  be  fooner  heard  talke  of  fuch  a  rare  obfcure 
affurancer  to  worke  what  not  wonders  in  Phificke,  or  Chirurgirie,  but 
he  be  rather  lookt  into  or  euer  he  begin,  than  fuftred  to  begin,  whereby  32 
any  poore  patient  mould  fuffer  lolle  in  triall  of  their  blind  skill :  fo 
lhall  your  coufenages  be  as  open  as  your  A6tes  be  odious. 

Subfcribed 

Bur  cot.  36 


58  Kind-hartes  Dreame. 

This  is  fomewhat  like  (thought  I)  if  he  had  faid  any  thing  againft 

coufoning  toothe  drawers,   tliat   from   place    to   place  wander  with 

banners  full  of  horfe  teeth,  to  the  imparing  of  Kindharts  occupation ; 

4  but  I  perceiue  maifter  Do6tor  was  neuer  a  tooth  drawer ;  if  he  had,  I 

know  he  would  haue  toutcht  their  deceiuings.    Since  he  hath  let  them 

pafle,  I  greatly  pafle  not :  and  yet  in  regard  of  the  credit  of  my  trade, 

I  care  not  to  haue  a  blow  or  two  with  them  my  felfe,  before  I  looke 

8  any  further. 

Sundry  of  them  that  fo  wander,  haue  not  to  do  with  the  means 
Kindhart  vfeth,  but  forfooth  by  charmes  they  can  at  their  pleafure 
fray  away  the  payne ;  which  Kindhart  counts  little  better  than  witch 

12  craft,  if  it  could  doe  good,  and  fo  to  fome  of  them  haue  I  affirmed  it : 
But  a  proper  flip-firing,  fometime  a  petty  fchole-maifter,  now  a  pelt- 
ing tooth  charmer,  hauing  no  reafon  to  defend  his  obfcure  rules,  quite 
put  me  to  filence  before  a  well  learned  audience,  the  one  a  cobler,  the 

J6  other  a  carman,  the  laft  a  collyer.  Thefe  beeing  poore  men,  had  I 
for  pittie  often  eafed  of  their  payne,  yet  was  the  remedy  I  vfde  fome- 
what painefull;  but  not  long  lince  they  are  come  acquainted  with  the 
charmer  I  told  ye  of;  he,  in  charitable  consideration  of  their  greefe, 

20  promifed  to  eafe  them  onely  with  writing,  and  after  burning,  a  word 
or  two.  Trauelling  to  a  Gentlemans  not  farre  from  London,  I  by  the 
way  chaunft  to  be  cald  to  conferre  wilh  him  at  the  fame  verye  inftant, 
where,  reproouing  his  opinion,  hee  put  me  downe  with  •  fuch  a 

24  galliemafrey  of  latine  ends,  that  I  was  glad  to  make  an  end :  Yet  got 
I  a  copy  of  his  charme,  which  I  will  let  downe  that  I  may  make  it 
common. 

A  Charme. 

28  F[i]rft,  he  muft  know  your  name,  then  your  age,  which  in  a  little 
paper  he  fets  downe  :  on  the  top  are  thefe  words  In  verbis,  et  in  herbis, 
et  in  laftididus 1  funt  virtutes ;  vnderneath  he  writes  in  capitall  letters 
A  AB  ILLA,  H7RS  GIBELLA,  which  he  fweres  is  pure  Chalde 

32  and  the  names  of  three  fpirites  that  enter  into  the  bloud  and  caufe 
rewmes,  &  fo  confequently  the  toolheach.  This  paper  muft  be  like- 
wife  three  times  bleft,  and  at  laft  with  a  little  frankincenfe  burned, 

1   '  lapididus  '  is  in  Orig.,  not  lapidibits. 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  59 

which  being  thrice  vfed,  is  of  power  to  expell  the  fpirites,  purifie  the 
bloud,  and  eafe  the  paine,  or  elfe  he  lyes,  for  he  hath  pra6tifed  it  long, 
but  fhall  approue  it  neuer. 

Another  fort,  get  hot  wiers,  and  with  them  they  burne  out  the  4 
worme  that  fo  torments  the  greeued :  thefe  fellowes  are  fit  to  vifit 
curfl  wiues,  and  might  by  their  pra£tife  doe  a  number  of  honeft  men 
eafe,  if  they  would  mifle  the  tooth,  and  worme  the  tongue. 

Others  there  are,  that  perlwade  the  pained,  to  hold  their  mouths  8 
open  ouer  a  bafen  of  water  by  the  fire  fide,  and  to  caft  into  the  fire  a 
handfull  of  henbane  feede,  the  which  naturally  hath  in  euery  feede  a 
little  worme ;  the  feedes  breaking  in  the  fire,  vfe  a  kind  of  cracking, 
and  out  of  them,  it  is  hard  among  fo  many,  if  no  worme  fly  into  the  I2 
water :  which  wormes  the  deceiaers  affirme  to  haue  fallen  from  the 
teeth  of  the  difeafed.     This  rare  fecret  is  much  vfed,  and  not  fmally 
lyked.     Sundry  other  could  I  fet  downe,  praftifed  by  our  banner- 
bearers,  but  all  is  foppery;  for  this  I  find  to  be  the  only  remedy  for  J6 
the  tooth  paine,  either  to  haue  patience,  or  to  pull  them  out. 

Well,  no  more  for  mee,  leaft  I  bee  thought  to  fpeake  too  largly  for 
my  felfe.  I  had  thought  to  haue  had  a  fling  at  the  rat-catchers,  who 
with  their  banners  difplayed,  beare  no  fmall  fway :  what  I  haue  to  2O 
faye  to  them  they  ihall  not  yet  heare,  becaufe  I  hope  they  will  take 
warning  by  other  mens  harmes.  Onely  this  I  affirme,  that  as  fome 
banner-bearers  haue  in  their  occupations  much  craft,  the  rat-catchers 
is  nothing  elfe  but  craft.  24 

But  flay  Kind-hart,  if  thou  make  fo  long  a  Chorus  betweene  euery 
a£t,  thy  iefts  will  be  as  ftale  as  thy  wit  is  weake.  Therefore  leauing 
thole  vagabonds  to  repent  their  villanyes,  He  bid  adieu  to  maifter 
Doftor,  and  fee  who  is  our  next  fpeaker. 


Robert  Greene  to 

Pierce  Pennilesse. 

fierce,  if  thy  Carrier  had  beene  as  kinde  to  me  as  I  ex- 
pe6ted,  I  could  haue  difpatched  long  fince  my  letters  to 
thee :   but  it  is  here  as  in  the  world,   Donum  a  dando 
deriuatur :  where  there  is  nothing  to  giue,  there  is  no- 
thing to  be  got.     But  hauing  now  found  meaues  to  fend  to  thee,  I 
8  will  certifie  thee  a  little  of  my  difquiet  after  death,  of  which  I  thinke 
thou  either  haft  not  heard  or  wilt  not  conceiue. 

Hauing  with  humble  penitence  befought  pardon  for  my  infinite 

finnes,  and  paid  the  due  to  death ;  euen  in  my  graue  was  I  fcarfe 

12  layde,  when  Enuie  (no  fit  companion  for  Art)  fpit  out  her  poyfon,  to 

difturbe  my  reft.     Aduerfus  mortuos  lellum  fufcipere,  inhumanum  eft. 

There  is  no  glory  gained  by  breaking  a  deade  mans  fkull.     Pafcitur 

in  viuis  liuor,  pojl  fata  (juiefcit.     Yet  it  appeares  contrary  in  fome, 

1 6  that  inueighing  againft  my  workes,  my  pouertie,  my  life,  my  death, 

my  burial,  haue  omitted  nothing  that  may  feeme  malitious.     For  my 

Bookes,  of  what  kind  foeuer,  I  refer  their  commendation  or  difpraife 

to  thofe  that  haue  read  them.     Onely  for  my  laft  labours  affirming, 

20  my  intent  was  to  reproue  vice,  and  lay  open  fuch  villanies,  as  had 

beene  very  necefTary  to  be  made  knowne,  wherof  my  Blacke  Booke, 

if  euer  it  fee  light,  can  fufficiently  witueffe. 

But  for  my  pouertie,  mee  thinkes  wifedome  would  haue  brideled 

24  that  inue&iue;  for  Cuiuis  poteft  accidere  quod  cuiquam  potejt.     The 

beginning  of  my  difprailers  is  knowne ;  of  their  end  they  are  not  lure. 

For  my  life,  it  was  to  none  of  them  at  any  time  hurtful :  for  my  death, 

it  was  repentant :  my  buriall  like  a  Chriftians. 

28  Alas  that  men  fo  haftily  fliould  run, 

To  write  their  own  difpraife  as  they  haue  done. 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  61 

For  my  reuenge,  it  fuffices,  that  euery  halfe-eyd  humanitian  may 
account  it,  Injlar  lelluarum  immaniffimarum  fceuire  in  cadauer.  For 
the  iniurie  offred  thee,  I  know  I  need  not  bring  oyle  to  thy  fire.  And 
albeit  I  would  diflwade  thee  from  more  inuectiues  againft  fuch  thy  4 
aduerfaries  (for  peace  is  nowe  all  my  plea)  yet  I  know  thou  wilt 
returne  anfwere,  that  fince  thou  receiuedfl  the  firft  wrong,  thou  wilt 
not  endure  the  laft. 

My  quiet  Ghoft   (vnquietly  difturbed)  had  once  intended  thus  to  8 
haue  exclaimd. 

Pierce,  more  witleffe,  than  pennilefle ;  more  idle,  than  thine  aduer- 
faries ill  imployde ;  what  foolifh  innocence  hath  made  thee  (infant 
like)  refiftlefle  to  beare  what  euer  iniurie  Enuie  can  impofe  ?  \~z 

Once  thou  commendedft  immediate  conceit,  and  gaueft  no  great 
praife  to  excellent  works  of  twelue  yeres  labour :  now,  in  the  bloom- 
ing of  thy  hopes,  thou  fuffereft  flaunder  to  nippe  them  ere  they  can 
bud  :  thereby  approuing  thy  felfe  to  be  of  all  other  moft  flacke,  beeing  16 
in  thine  owne  caufe  fo  remifle. 

Colour  can  there  be  none  found  to  fhadowe  thy  fainting ;  but  the 
longer  thou  deferft,  the  more  greefe  thou  bringft  to  thy  frends,  and 
giuefl  the  greater  head  to  thy  enemies.  20 

What  canft  thou  tell,  if  (as  my  felfe)  thou  {halt  bee  with  death 
preuented  :  and  then  how  can  it  be  but  thou  dieft  difgrac'd,  feeing 
thou  haft  made  no  reply  to  their  twofold  Edition  of  Inuectiues  ? 

It  may  bee  thou  thinkft  they  will  deale  well  with  thee  in  death,  24 
and  fo  thy  fhame  in  tollerating  them  will  be  fliort :  forge  not  to  thy 
felf  one  fuch  conceit,  but  make  me  thy  prefident,  and  remember  this 
olde  adage  :    Leonem,  mortuum  mordent  Catuli. 

Awake  (fecure  boy)   reuenge  thy  wrongs,  remember  mine  :  thy  28 
aduerfaries  began  the  abufe,  they  continue  it :  if  thou  fuffer  it,  let  thy 
life  be  fhort  in  faience  and  obfcuritie,  and  thy  death  haftie,  hated,  and 
miferable. 

All  this  had  I  intended  to  write,  but  now  I  wil  not  giue  way  to  32 
wrath,  but  returne  it  vnto  the  earth  from  whence   I  tooke  it :  for 
with  happie  foules  it  hath  no  harbour. 

Robert  Greene. 


62  Kind-hartes  Dreame. 

Had  not  my  name  beene  Kind-hart,  I  would  haue  fworne  this 
had  beene  fent  to  my  felfe;  for  in  my  life  I  was  not  more  pen- 

nilefle  than  at  that  inftant.      But  remembring  the  Author 

4  of  the  Supplication,  I   laid   it  afide  till   I   had 

leyfure  to  feeke  him  :   and  taking 

vp  the  next,  I  found 

written, 


To  all  maligners  of  honest  mirth, 

Tarleton  wisheth  continual]  melancholy. 

j]Ow  Maifters,  what  fay  you  to  a  merrie  knaue,  that  for  this 
two  years  day  hath  not  beene  talkt  of?  Wil  you  giue  4 
him  leaue,  if  he  can,  to  make  ye  laugh  ?    What,  all   a 
mort  ?  No  merry  countenance  ?  Nay,  then  I  fee  hypo- 
crifie  hath  the  vpper  hand,  and  her  fpirit   raignes   in  this  profitable 
generation.     Sith  it  is  thus,  He  be  a  time-pleafer.     Fie  vppon  follow-  8 
ing  plaies,  the  expence  is  wondrous ;    vpon  players  fpeeches,   their 
wordes  are  full  of  wyles ;  vppon  their  geftures,  that  are  altogether 
wanton.     Is  it  not   lamentable,  that  a  man  mould  fpende  his  two 
pence  on  them  in  an  after-noone,  heare  couetoufnes  amongft  them  12 
daily  quipt  at,  being  one  of  the  commoneft  occupations  in  the  coun- 
trey ;  and  in  liuely  gefture  fee  trecherie  fet  out,  with  which  euery 
man  now  adaies  vfeth  to  intrap  his  brother.     Byr  lady,  this  would  be 
lookt  into:  if  thefe  be  the  fruites  of  playing,  tis  time  the  pra6tifers  16 
were  expeld. 

Expeld  (quoth  you)  ;  that  hath  been  pretily  performd,  to  the  no  fmal 
profit  of  the  Bouling-allyes  in  Bedlam  and  other  places,  that  were 
wont  in  the  after-noones  to  be  left  empty,  by  the  recourfe  of  good  20 
fellows  vnto  that  vnprofitable  recreation  of  Stage-playing. 

And  it  were  not  much  amifle,  would  they  ioine  with  the  Dicing 
houfes  to  make  fute  againe  for  their  longer  reftraint,  though  the  fick- 
nefle  ceafe.      Is  not  this  well  faide  (my  maifters)  of  an  olde  buttond  24 
cappe,  that  hath  moft  part  of  his  life  liu'd  vppon  that  againft  which 
hee  inueighs  :  Yes,  and  worthily. 

But  I  haue  more  to  fay  than  this ;  Is  it  not  greate  fliame,  that  the 


64  Kind-hartes  Dreame. 

houfcs  of  retaylers  neare  the  Townes  end,  fhould  be  by  their  con- 
tinuance impouerilhed  :  Alas  good  hearts,  they  pay  great  rentes ;  and 
pittie  it  is  but  they  be  prouided  for.  While  Playes  are  vfde,  halfe  the 
.  <by  is  by  mod  youthes  that  haue  libertie  fpent  vppon  them,  or  at 
lea  11  the  greateft  company  drawne  to  the  places  where  they  frequent. 
If  they  were  fuppreft,  the  flocke  of  yoong  people  would  bee  equally 
parted.  But  now  the  greateft  trade  is  brought  into  one  ftreet.  Is  it 
g  not  as  faire  a  way  to  Myle-end  by  Whiie-chappell,  as  by  Shorditch  to 
Hackney  ?  the  Sunne  fhineth  as  clearly  in  the  one  place,  as  in  the 
other j  the  {hades  are  of  a  like  pleafure  :  onely  this  is  the  fault,  that 
by  ouermuch  heat  fometime  they  are  in  both  places  infectious. 

I2  As  well  in  this  as  other  things  there  is  great  abufe :  for  in  euery 
boufe  where  the  venerian  virgins  are  refident,  hofpitalitie  is  quite 
exiled,  fuch  fines,  fuch  taxes,  fuch  tribute,  fuch  cuftoms,  as  (poore 
foules)  after  feuen  yeares  feruice  in  that  vnhallowed  order,  they  are 

xg  faine  to  leaue  their  futes  for  offerings  to  the  olde  Lenos  that  are 
Ihrine-keepers,  and  themfelues  (when  they  begin  to  break)  are  faine 
to  feeke  harbour  in  an  Hofpitall :  which  chaunceth  not  (as  fometime 
is  thought)  to  one  amongft  twentie,  but  hardly  one  amongft  a  hundred 

^0  haue  better  ending.  And  therefore  feeing  they  Hue  fo  hardly,  its  pitie 
Players  ihould  hinder  their  takings  a  peny. 

I    marry   (faies  Baudeamus  my  quondam    Hoft)   well,  faire   olde 
Dicke,  that  worde  was  well  plac'd :  for  thou  knowft  our  rentes  are  fo 

2 .  vnreafonable,  that  except  wee  cut  and  fhaue,  and  poule,  and  prig,  we 
niuft  return  Non  eft  inuentus  at  the  quarter  day. 

For  is  not  this  pittifull  ?  I  am  a  man  now  as  other  men  be,  and 
haue  liu'd  in  fome  fhire  of  England,  till  all  the  Country  was  wearie 

28  of  oiee.  I  come  vp  to  London,  and  fall  to  be  fome  Tapfter,  Hoftler, 
or  Chamberlaine  in  an  Inne  :  Well,  I  get  mee  a  wife,  with  her  a  little 
money  :  when  we  are  married,  feeke  a  houfe  we  muft ;  no  other  oc- 
cupation haue  I  but  to  be  an  Ale-draper :  the  Landlord  wil  haue  fortie 

.  2  pound  fine,  and  twenty  marke  a  yeare ;  I  and  mine  muft  not  lie  in  the 
o 

ftreet :  he  knows  by  honeft  courfes  I  can  neuer  paye  the  Rent.    What 

fhould  I  fay  ?  fomwhat  muft  be  done,  rent  muft  be  paid,  duties  dif- 

chargd,  or  we  vndone.     To  bee  fhort,  what  muft  be  fhall  be  :  indeede 

-.5  fometimes  I  haue  my  Landlordes  countenance  before  a  luftice,  to  caft 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  65 

a  cloake  ouer  ill-rule,  or  els  hee  might  feeke  fuch  another  tenant  to 
pay  his  rent  fo  truly. 

Quaintly  concluded  (Peter  Pandar)  fomewhat  yee  muft  bee,  and  a 
bawd  ye  will  bee.    I,  by  my  .troth  fir,  why  not  I  as  well  as  my  neigh-  4 
bors,  fince  theres  no  remedy.     And  you  fir,  find  fault  with  plaies. 
Out  vpon  them,  they  fpoile  our  trade,  as  you  your  felfe  haue  proued. 
Befide,  they  open  our  croffe-biting,  our  conny-catching,  our  traines, 
our  traps,  our  gins,  our  fiiares,  our  fubtilties :  for  no  fooner  haue  we  ° 
a  tricke  of  deceipt,   but   they  make  it  common,   finging  ligs,  and 
making  ieafts  of  vs,  that  euerie  boy  can  point  out  our  houfes  as  they 
paffe  by. 

Whither  now  Tarlton?  this  is  extempore,  out  of  time,  tune,  and  I2 
temper.     It  may  be  well  faid  to  me  : 

Stulte,  quid  hcec  faris,  &c. 

Rujlicus  ipfe,  tuis  mains  es,  till  pejjimus  ipjl. 

Thy  felfe  once  a  Player,  and  againft  Players:  nay,  turne  out  the  16 
right  fide  of  thy  ruffet  coate,  and  lette  the  world  know  thy  meaning. 
Why  thus  I  meane,  for  now  I  fpeake  in  fobernes. 

Euery  thing  hath  in  it  felfe  his  vertue  and  his  vice :  from  one  felfe 
flower  the  Bee  and  Spider  fucke  honny  and  poyfon.    In  plaies  it  fares  2O 
as   in    bookes,   vice  cannot  be   reproued,   except    it   be  difcouered : 
neither  is  it  in  any  play  difcouered,  but  there  followes  in  the  fame  an 
example  of  the  punifhment :  now  he  that  at  a  play  will  be  delighted 
in  the  one,  and  not  warned  by  the  other,  is  like  him  that  reads  in  a  24 
booke  the  defcription  of  finne,  and  will  not  looke  ouer  the  leafe  for 
the  reward. 

Mirth  in  feafonable  time  taken,  is  not  forbidden  by  the  auftereft 
Sapients.  2^ 

But  indeede  there  is  a  time  of  mirth,  and  a  time  of  mourning. 
Which  time  hauing  been  by  the  Magiftrats  wifely  obferued,  as  well 
for  the  fuppreffing  of  Playes,  as  other  pleafures :  fo  likewife  a  time 
may  come,  when  honeft  recreation  mail  haue  his  former  libertie.  32 

And  lette  Tarleton  intreate  theyoong  people  of  the  Cittie,  either  to 
abftaine  altogether  from  playes,  or  at  their  cormning  thither  to  vfe 
themfelues  after  a  more  quiet  order. 

ALLUSIOX-BOOKS.  5 


66  Kind-hartes  Dreame. 

In  a  place  fo  ciuill  as  this  Cittie  is  efteemed,  it  is  more  than  bar- 
baroufly  rude,  to  fee  the  fhamefull  diforder  and  routes  that  fometime 
in  fuch  publike  meetings  are  vied. 

4  The  beginners  are  neither  gentlemen,  nor  citizens,  nor  any  of  both 
their  feruants,  but  fome  lewd  mates  that  long  for  innouation  j  & 
when  they  fee  aduantage,  that  either  Seruingmen  or  Apprentifes  are 
moft  in  number,  they  will  be  of  either  fide,  though  indeed  they  are  of 
8  no  fide,  but  men  befide  all  honeftie,  willing  to  make  boote  of  cloakes, 
hats,  purfes,  or  what  euer  they  can  lay  holde  on  in  a  hurley  burley. 
Thefe  are  the  common  caufers  of  difcord  in  publike  places.  If  other- 
wife  it  happen  (as  it  feldome  doth)  that  any  quarrell  be  betweene  man 

12  and  man,  it  is  far  from  manhood  to  make  fo  publike  a  place  their 
field  to  fight  in  :  no  men  will  doe  it,  but  cowardes  that  would  faine 
be  parted,  or  haue  hope  to  haue  manie  partakers. 

Nowe  to  you  that  maligne  our  moderate  merriments,  and  thinke 

*6  there  is  no  felicitie  but  in  excefliue  poflefiion  of  wealth  :  with  you  I 
would  ende  in  a  fong,  yea  an  Extempore  fong  on  this  Theame,  Ne  quid 
nimis  neceffarium  :  but  I  am  now  hoarfe,  and  troubled  with  my  Taber 
and  Pipe :  befide,  what  pleafure  brings  muficke  to  the  miferable. 

20  Therefore  letting  fonges  pafie,  I  tell  them  in  fadnes,  how  euer  Playes 
are  not  altogether  to  be  commended  :  yet  fome  of  them  do  more  hurt 
in  a  day,  than  all  the  Players  (by  exercizing  theyr  profeffion)  in  an 
age.  Faults  there  are  in  the  profeflbrs  as  other  men,  this  the  greateft, 

24  that  diuers  of  them  beeing  publike  in  euerie  ones  eye,  and  talkt  of  in 
euery  vulgar  mans  mouth,  fee  not  how  they  are  feene  into,  efpecially 
for  their  contempt,  which  makes  them  among  moft  men  moft  con- 
temptible. 

28  Of  them  I  will  fay  no  more  :  of  the  profefiion,  fo  much  hath  Pierce 
Pennilefle  (as  I  heare  fay)  fpoken,  that  for  mee  there  is  not  any 
thing  to  fpeake.  So  wifhing  the  chearefull,  pleafaunce  endlefle  ,  and 
the  wilfull  fullen,  forrow  till  they  furfet ;  with  a  turne  on  the  toe  I 

32  take  my  leaue. 

Richard  Tarlcton. 

When  I  had  done  with  this,  one  thing  I  miflikte,  that  Tarleton 
ftoode  no  longer  on  that  point  of  Landlords :  For  lamentable  it  is  (in 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  67 

Kind-harts  opinion)  to  note  their  vnrealbnable  exaction.     I  my  felfe 
knewe  a  Landlord,  that  beginning  to  inlarge  a  little  Tenement,  was 
according  to   flatute   prohibited :   hee  made  humble  fuite  that   the 
worke  might  go  forward ;   for,  good  man,  he  meant   not  to   make  4 
thereby  any  benefite,  but  euen  in  charitie  he  would  turne  it  into  an 
Ahnef-houfe.     This  godly  motion  was  liked,  and  he  allowed  to  goe 
forward  with  his  building.     The  worke  ended,  in  all  the  Country 
there  could  not  poore  bee  found  worthy,  or  at  leaft  able,  to  enter  into  8 
the  fame. 

To  be  fhort,  it  was  turned  into  a  Tauerne,  and  with  rent  and  fine 
in  few  monthes  turnd  the  Tenant  out  of  doores.  Yet  it  hath  beene 
faide,  the  poore  man  did  what  hee  might,  Cum  vino  &  venere,  to  12 
continue  his  ftate :  but  the  Landlord  had  made  fuch  a  Dent  in  his 
ftocke,  that  with  all  the  wit  in  his  head  it  would  not  bee  ftopt.  I 
befhrew  the  Card-makers,  that  clapt  not  a  gowne  about  the  Knaue 
of  Hartes,  &  put  him  on  a  hat  for  a  bonnet  ouer  his  night-cappe,  then  J6 
had  not  after  Age  taken  care  for  the  Image  of  this  excellent  Almef- 
houfe  builder,  but  in  euerie  Ale-houfe  mould  haue  beene  referued  his 
monument,  till  Macke,  Maw,  Ruffe,  Noddy,  and  Trumpe,  had  beene 
no  more  vfde,  than  his  charitie  is  felt.  2O 

Pitie  it  is  fuch  Wolues  are  not  makte  out  of  flieeps  cloathing. 
Elder  times  detefted  fuch  extremitie  :  the  Gofpels  liberty  (howfoeuer 
fome  Libertines  abufe  it)  giues  no  fuch  licenfe :  by  their  auarice  Re- 
ligion is  ilandered,  lewdnes  is  bolftered,  the  fuburbs  of  the  Citie  are  24 
in  many  places  no  other  but  darke  dennes  for  adulterers,  theeues, 
murderers,  and  euery  mifchiefe  worker  :  daily  experience  before  the 
Magiftrates  confirmes  this  for  truth. 

I  would  the  hart  of  the  Cittie  were  whole,  for  both  within  and  28 
without,  extreame  crueltie  caufeth  much  beggerie.    Victa  iacet  pietas, 
and  with  pietie  pittie.    Selfe  loue  hath  exiled  charitie  :  and  as  among 
beaftes  the  Lyon  hunteth  the  Wolfe,  the  Wolfe  deuoureth  the  Goate, 
and  the  Goate  feedeth  on  mountaine  hearbs :    fo  among  men,  the  32 
great  opprefle  the  meaner,  they  againe  the  meanefl :  for  whom  hard 
fare,  colde  lodging,  thinne  cloathes,  and  fore  labour  is  onely  allotted. 

To  fee  how  foone  the  world  is  changd :  In  my  time  I  remember 
two  men,  the  one  a  Diuine,  the  other  a  Cittizen  :  it  was  their  vfe,  at  3^ 


68  Kind-hartes  Dreame. 

the  time  they  fliould  quarterly  receiue  their  duties  (for  the  firft  was 
well  beneficed,  the  later  a  great  Landlord)  when  they  came  to  anie 
poore  creature,  whome  ficknefle  had  hindered,  or  mifchaunce  im- 
4  paired,  or  many  children  kept  lowe  :  they  would  not  onely  forgiue 
what  they  fliould  receiue,  but  giue  bountifully  for  the  releefe  of  their 
prefent  neceffitie. 

The  olde  Prouerbe  is  verefied,  Seldome  comes  the  letter :  and  they 
8  are  pofleft  :  the  poore  of  that  comfort  difpofleft. 

Some  Landlords  hauing  turnd  an  old  Brue-houfe,  Bake-houfe,  or 
Dye-houfe,  into  an  Alley  of  tenements,  will  either  themfelues,  or 
fome  at  their  appointment,  keepetipling  in  the  fore-houfe  (as  they  call 

12  it)  and  their  poore  tenantes  mutt  bee  inioinde  to  fetch  bread,  drinke, 
wood,  cole,  and  fuch  other  neceflaries,  in  no  other  place :  and  there 
till  the  weekes  ende  they  may  haue  any  thing  of  truft,  prouided  they 
lay  to  pawne  their  holiday  apparell :  nay,  my  Land-lady  will  not 

1 6  onely  doe  them  that  good  turne,  but  if  they  want  money,  fhe  will  on 
munday  lend  them  likewife  vppon  a  pawne  eleuen  pence,  and  in 
meere  pittie  afkes  at  the  weekes  end  not  a  penny  more  than  twelue 
pence. 

20  O  charitable  loue,  happy  tenants  of  ib  kinde  a  Landlady :  I  war- 
rant ye  this  Ufurie  is  within  the  Statute,  it  is  not  aboue  fiue  hundred 
for  the  loane  of  a  hundred  by  the  yeare. 

Neyther  will  they  doe  this  good  to  their  tenantes  alone,  but  they 

24  will  deale  with  their  hulbandes,  that  for  a  little  roome  with  a  fmoakie 
chimney  (or  perchaunce  none,  becaufe  fmoake  is  noyfome)  they  fliall 
pay  at  the  leaft  but  fortie  {hillings  yeerly. 

Fie  vpon  fines,  thats  the  vndooing  of  poore  people:  weele  take 

28  none  (fay  thefe  good  creatures)  marry  for  the  key  wee  muft  haue 
confideration,  that  is,  fome  Angell  in  hand  :  for  verely  the  laft  tenant 
made  vs  change  the  locke :  neither  thinke  we  deale  hardly,  for  it 
ftands  in  a  good  place,  quite  out  of  company,  where  handicraft  men 

32  may  haue  leyfure  to  get  their  lining,  if  they  knew  on  what  to  fet 
themfelues  a  worke. 

Now  for  all  this  kindnefie,  the  Land-lord  fcarce  afketh  of  the 
tenant  thankes  (though  hee  deferue  it  well),  for  (as  I  faide)  his  Wife 

36  is  all  the  dealer :  fo  plaies  the  Parfon  (the  perfon  I  fliould  fay,  I 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  69 

would  bee  loath  to  be  miflaken)  that  I  tolde  yee  before  builded  the 
Almef-houfe.  The  care  of  rentes  is  committed  to  his  Wife,  he  is  no 
man  of  this  world,  but  as  one  metamorphizd  from  a  Saint  to  a 
Deuill.  4 

How  now  Kindhart?  fhall  we  neuer  haue  done  with  thefe  Land- 
lordes  ?  It  feemes  well  thou  haft  as  little  land  as  witte :  for  while 
thou  liueft  they  wil  not  mend,  and  therefore  its  as  good  to 

make  an  ende,  as  wafte  winde.      Well,  all  this  8 

was  of  good  will  to  helpe  Tarleton  out 
with  his  tale.    Now  let  me  fee  what 
note  Cuckoe  lings,  for  tis  his 

lucke  to  be  laft.  12 


^William  Cuckoe  to  all  close 

luglers  wisheth  the  disconery  of  their  crafts, 
and  punishment  for  their  knaneries. 


Oome  for  a  craftie  knaue,  cries  William  Cuckoe.     Knaue, 
nay,  it  will  neare  hande  beare  an  a6tion  :  Bones  a  mee, 
my  trickes  are  ftale,  and  all  my  old  companions  turnd 
into  Ciuill  futes.     I  perceiue  the  worlde  is  all  honeftie, 
8  if  it  be  no  other  than  it  lookes.  Let  me  fee,  if  I  can  fee  :  beleeue  mee 
theres   nothing  but  iugling  in   euery  corner;    for  euery  man    hath 
learnd  the  myfterie  of  cafting  myfts;  &  though  they  vie  not  our  olde 
tearms  of  hey-pafle,  re-pafle,  and  come  aloft :  yet  they  can  by-pafle 
12  compaffe,  and  bring  vnder  one  another  as  cunningly  and  commonly, 
as  euer  poore  Cuckoe  coulde  command  his  lacke  in  a  Boxe. 

Yet  my  maiflers,  though  you  robde  me  of  my  trade,  to  giue  recom- 
pence,  after  death  I  haue  borrowed  a  tongue  a  little  to  touch  their 
1 6  tricks. 

And  now  fir,  to  you  that  was  wont  like  a  Subfifter  in  a  gown  of 

rugge  rent  on  the  left  moulder,  to  fit  finging  the  Counter-tenor  by 

the  Cage  in  Southwarke :  me  thinks  ye  mould  not  looke  fo  coyly  on 

20  olde  Cuckoe.     What  man,  it  is  not  your  figne  of  the  Ape  and  the 

Urinall  can  carry  away  our  olde  acquaintance  ? 

I  truft  yee  remember  your  ingling  at  Newington  with  a  Chriftall 

ftone,  your  knaueries  in  the  wood  by  Wanftecd,  the  wondrous  treafure 

24  you  would  difcouer  in  the  He  of  Wight,  al  your  villanies  about  that 

peece  of  feruice,   as  perfe6t[l]y  known  to  fome  of  my  friends  yet 

lining  as  their  Pater  nofter,  who  curfe  the  time  you  euer  came  in 

their  Creed. 

28      But  I  perceiue  you  fare  as  the  Fox,  the  more  band,  the  better  hap. 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  71 

I  wonder  what  became  of  your  familiar,  I  meane  no  Deuill,  man; 
but  a  man  Deuil :  and  yet  I  need  not  wonder,  for  fince  my  defcend- 
ing  to  vnder  earth,  I  heard  fay  he  was  hangd  for  his  knauerie,  as  you 
in  good  time  may  be,  Amen.  Amend  I  mould  fay,  but  I  thinke  yee  4 
meane  it  not :  the  matter  is  not  great,  for  (thanks  be  to  God)  how 
euer  you  mend  in  manners,  the  world  is  wel  amended  with  your  man 
and  you. 

I  pray  ye  was  that  hee  which  was  your  inftrument  in  Notingam-  8 
JJdre,  to  make  your  name  fo  famous  for  finding  things  loft  ?  It  may 
be,  you  forgot  that  one  fetch  among  many:  and  leaft  it  mould  bee 
out  of  your  heade,  He  helpe  to  beate  it  into  your  braines. 

YOur  Mafhip  vpon  a  horfe  whofe  hire  is  not  paid  for,  with -your  12 
Page  at  your  ftirrop,  like  a  Cqjtilian  Caualier,  lighted  pennilefle 
at  a  pretie  Inne,  where  that  day  fate  certain  luftices  in  Coramiffion. 
Your  high  hart,  carelefle  of  your  prefent  neede,  would  needes  for 
your  felfe  mare  out  one  of  the  faireft  chambers.     Your  Page  muft  16 
be  purueyer  for  your  diet,   who  in  the  kitchin  found  nothing  for 
your    liking.       Beefe   was    grofle,    veale   flamy,    mutton    fulfome, 
rabbets,  hens,  &  capons,  common.     Wild  foule  for  Will  foole,  or  he 
will  faft.  20 

Well,  at  your  will  ye  mall  be  furnimt.     But  now  a  lugling  tricke 
to  pay  the  fhot. 

My  Impe  your  man,  while  miftrifle,  men,  and  maids  were  bufied 
about  prouifion  for  the  luftices  that  fate,  flips  into  a  priuate  parlour,  24 
wherein  flood  good  ftore  of  plate,  and  conueying  a  mafly  fault  vnder 
his  Capouch,  little  lefle  woorth  than  twentie  marke,  got  fecretely  to 
the  back-fide,  and  caft  it  into  a  filthie  pond  :  which  done,  he  acquaints 
your  knauefhip  with  the  deed. 

By  then  your  diet  was  dreft,  the  fault  was  mift,  the  good  Wife 
cryde  out,  the  maydes  were  ready  to  runne  madde. 

Your  man,  (making  the  matter  ftrange)  inquird  the  cause :  which 
when  they  tolde.  O  (quoth  hee)  that  my  maifter  would  deale  in  the  32 
matter,  I  am  fure  he  can  do  as  much  as  any  in  the  world. 

Well,  to  you  they  come  pitifully  complaining ;  when  very  wrath- 
fully  (your  choler  rifing)  you  demaund  reafon  why  they  mould  thinke 


72  Kind-hartes  Dreame. 

yee  bee  able  to  deale  in  fuch  cafes.     Your  kind  nature  (bent  alwayes 
to  lenitie)  yeelded  at  the  laft  to  their  importuning :  onely  wifht  them 
to  ftay  till  the  nexte  day,  for  that  you  would  not  deale  while  the 
4  lattices  were  in  the  houfe. 

They  mufl  do  as  your  difcretion  appoints:  next  day,  calling  the 

good-man  and  wife  to  your  bed-fide,  ye  tell  them  the  falte  was  flolne 

by  one  of  their  familiars,  whom  he  had  forced  by  Art  to  bring  it 

8  backe  againe  to  the  houfe,  and  in  fuch  a  pond  to  caft  it,  becaufe  he 

would  not  haue  the  partie  knowne,  for  feare  of  trouble. 

As  you  dire6l  the"m,  they  fearch  and  find :  then  comes  your  name 
in  rare  admiration ;  the  Hoft  giues  you  foure  Angels  for  a  reward,  the 

12  Hoftelle  two  French  crowns:  the  maydes  are  double  diligent  to  doe 
you  feruice,  that  they  may  learne  their  fortunes  j  the  whole  towne 
talks  of  the  cunning  man,  that  indeed  had  onely  connycatcht  his 
Hoft. 

*6  If  that  flip-firing  bee  flill  in  your  feruice,  I  aduife  you  make  much 
of  him,  for  by  that  tricke  he  prou'd  himfelfe  a  toward  youth,  necef- 
fary  for  fuch  a  maifter.  This  iugling  pafles  Cuckoes  play.  Well,  I 
aduife  you  play  leaft  in  fight  in  London,  for  I  haue  fette  fome  to 

20  watch  for  your  comming,  that  will  iuftifie  all  this  and  more  of  your 
fhifting  life. 

Retnrne  to  your  olde  craft  and  play  the  Pinner :  although  it  be  a 
poore  life,  it  is  an  honefl  life :  your  fallacies  will  one  day  faile  ye. 

24  There  is  another  lugler,  that  beeing  well  fluid  in  the  lewes  Trumpe, 
takes  vpon  him  to  bee  a  dealer  in  Muficke  :  efpeciall  good  at  mend- 
ing Inftruments :  he  iugled  away  more  inftrumentes  of  late,  than  his 
bodie  (being  taken)  will  euer  be  able  to  make  good. 

o 

Tut,  thats  but  a  plaine  tricke  :  How  fay  ye  by  fome  luglers  that 
can  ferue  writs  without  any  original,  and  make  poore  men  dwelling 
farre  off,  compound  with  them  for  they  knowe  not  what  ?  I  tell  you 
there  bee  fuch,  that  by  that  trick  can  make  a  vacation  time  quicker 
32  to  them  than  a  Terme  :  who  troubling  threefcore  or  fourefcore  men 
without  caufe,  get  of  fome  a  crowne,  of  others  a  noble,  of  diuers  a 
pound,  befide  the  ordinarie  coftes  of  the  writ,  to  put  off  their  appear- 
ance, when  no  fuch  thing  was  toward. 

Fie  vpon  thefe  luglers,  they  make  the  lawes  of  the  Realme  be  ill 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  73 

fpoken  of,  and  are  caufe  that  plaine  people  thinke  all  Lawyers  like 
them :  as  appeares  by  a  poore  old  man  by  chance  comming  into  one 
of  the  worfhipful  Innes  of  the  Court,  where  fundry  Ancients  and 
Students  both  honorable  and  wormipfull  fate  at  fupper :  the  poore  4 
man  admiring  their  comely  order  and  reuerent  demeanor,  demaunded 
of  a  ftander  by,  what  they  were.     Gentlemen  (faid  hee)  of  the  Innes 
of  Court.     Lord  blefie  hem   (quoth  plaine  Coridon)  beene  they  of 
Queens  Court  ?     No,  faid  the  other,  but   of  the   Innes  of  Court.  8 
What  doon  they,  quoth  the  Countrey  man ;  wotten  yee  ?     The  other 
anfwered,  that  they  were  all   Lawyers,  and  Students  of  the  Lawe. 
Now,  well  a  neere  cries  plaine  Simplicitie :  wee  han  but  one  Lawyer 
with  vs,  and  hee  fpoyles  all  the  Parilh  :  but  heere  been  now  to  marre  12 
the  whole  ftiire.     His  fimplenes  was  by  the  hearers  well  taken,  and 
the  Lawiers  name  inquird,  who  prou'd  no  other  but  one  of  thefe 
pettifogging  luglers,  that,  hauing  fcraped  vp  a  few  common  places, 
and  by  long  Solliciterfhip  got  in  to  be  an  odd  Atturney,  was  not  long  16 
fince  difgraded  of  his  place  by  pitching  ouer  the  Barre,  yet  promoted 
to  looke  out  of  a  wodden  window,  cut  after  the  Doue  hole  fafhion, 
with  a  paper  on  his  futtle  pate,  containing  the  iugling  before  Ihewed. 
So  fortune  it  to  his  fellowes,  and  let  their  mifery  come  cito  pede.  20 
Law   is  in  it   felfe  good,  the  true  Profeflbrs  to  be  highly  efteemd. 
But  as  in  Diuinity  it  fometime  fares  that  Schifmatikes,  Heretikes,  and 
fuch  like,  make  Scripture  a  cloake  for  their  detefted  errors,  and  by 
their  pra&ifes  feeke  to  make  the  reuerend  Diuines  contemptible  j  fo  24 
a  fort  of  Connycatchers  (as  I  may  call  them)  that  haue  gathered  vp 
the  gleanings  of  the  Law,  onely  expert  to  begin  controuerfies,  and 
vtterly  ignorant  of  their  end,  perfwade  the  fimple  that  if  they  will 
follow  their  rules,  thus  and  thus,  it  ihall  chance  to  their  fpeedy  quiet-  2.8 
ing,  and  that  Attorneys,  Counfellers  and  Serieants,  are  too.  coftly  to 
bee  dealt  with  limply,  but  by  their  mediation,  who  are  able  to  fpeak 
when  Counfell  failes,  and  giue  more  eafe  in  an  houre,  than  the  befl 
Benchers  in  a  yeare;  when,  God  wot,  they  doo  no  more  good  than  a  32 
Drone  in  a  Hiue.     Thefe  luglers  are  too  cunning  for  Cuckoe,  and  in 
the  end  will  proue  too  crafty  for  themselues.     Other  luglers  there 
bee,  that  hauing  fauour  from  Authority  to  feeke  fome  thing  to  them- 
felues  beneficiall,  and  to  the  Common-wealth  not  preiudiciall.  vnder  3^ 


74 


Kind-hartes  Dreame. 


colour  of  orderly  dealing,  haue  hookt  into  their  hands  the  whole  lining 
to  a  number  poore  men  belonging.  Thefe,  when  they  were  com- 
plaind  on,  immediately  tooke  an  honeft  courfe,  and  promifl  large 
4  reliefe  yeerely  to  them  they  wrong :  But  euery  promife  is  either 
broke;/,  or  kept,  &  fo  it  fares  with  them  :  I  proteft  if  their  lugling 
were  fet  downe,  it  would  make  a  prety  volume :  but  I  wil  let  them 
pafie,  becaufe  there  is  hope  they  will  remember  themfelues.  To  fet 
8  downe  the  lugling  in  Trades,  the  crafty  tricks  of  buyers  and  fellers, 
the  fwearing  of  the  one,  the  lying  of  the  other,  were  but  to  tell  the 
worlde  that  which  they  well  knowe,  and  therefore  I  will  likewife 
ouerilip  that.  There  is  an  occupation  of  no  long  {landing  about 

12  London  called  Broking  or  brogging,  whether  ye  will  j  in  which  there 
is  pretty  lugling,  efpecially  to  blind  Law,  an*  bolder  Ufury :  if  any 
man  be  forft  to  bring  them  a  pawne,  they  will  take  no  intereft,  not 
paft  twelue  pence  a  pound  for  the  month ;  marry,  they  muft  haue  a 

1 6  groat  for  a  monthly  bill:  which  is  a  bill  of  fale  from  month  to 
month ;  so  that  no  aduantage  can  be  taken  for  the  Ufurie.  I  heare 
fay  its  well  multiplied  mice  I  died  j  but  I  befhrewe  them,  for  in  my 
life  many  a  time  haue  I  borrowed  a  {hilling  on  my  Pipes,  and  paid  a 

20  groat  for  the  bill,  when  I  haue  fetcht  out  my  pawne  in  a  day. 

This  lugling  exceeds  Cuckoes  gettings,  and  fundry  times  turnd 
poore  William  to  his  ihifts.  Indeede  I  deny  not,  but  in  their  kind 
fome  of  them  deale  well,  and  wil  prelerue  a  mans  goods  lafe,  if  he 

24  keep  any  reaibnable  time :  thefe  are  not  fo  blameable,  as  they  that 
make  immediate  fale.  If  euer  I  haue  oportunity  to  write  into  the 
world  agaiue,  I  will  learne  who  abufe  it  moft,  and  who  vfe  it  beft, 
and  fet  ye  downe  their  dwelling  places. 

28  Now  I  will  draw  to  an  end,  concluding  with  a  Mafter  lugler,  that 
he  may  be  well  knowne  if  he  be  got  into  any  obfcure  corner  of  the 
Countrey.  This  Shifter  forfooth  carried  no  leffe  countenance  than  a 
Gentlemans  abilitie,  with  his  two  men  in  blue  coates,  that  ferued  for 

32  {hares,  not  wages.  Hee  being  properly  feated  in  a  Shire  of  this 
Realme,  and  by  the  report  of  his  men  bruted  for  a  cunning  man, 
grew  into  credit  by  this  praclife. 

His  houfe  beeing  in  a  Village  through  which  was  no  thorough 

3"  Fare,  his  men,  and  fometime  his  Mafterfhippe  in  their  company,  at 


Kind-hartes  Dreame.  73 

midnight  woulde  goe  into  their  neighbours  feuerall  grounds,  being 
farre  diftant  from  their  dwelling  houfes,  and  oftentimes  driue  from 
thence  Horfes,  Mares,  Oxen,  Kine,  Calues,  or  Sheepe,  what  euer 
came  next  to  hande,  a  mile  perchaunce  or  more  out  of  the  place  4 
wherein  they  were  left. 

Home  would  they  return,  and  leaue  the  cattel  ftraying :  In  the 
morning,  fometime  the  milke-maids  mifle  their  Kine,  another  day 
the  Plough-hinds  their  Oxen,  their  Horfes  another  time,  fomewhat  of  8 
fome  woorth  once  a  weeke  lightly.     Whither  can  thefe  poore  people 
go  but  to  the  wife  mans  worlhip  ?     Perchaunce  in  a  morning  two  or 
three  come  to  complaine  and  feeke  remedie,  who,  welcommed  by  one 
of  his  men,  are  feuerally  demaunded  of  their  loffes.     If  one  come  for  1 2 
fheepe,  another  for  other  cattell,  they  are  all  at  firft  tolde,  that  his 
Maifterfhip  is   a   fleepe,  and,  till  hee   himfelfe  call,  they  dare  not 
trouble  him. 

But  very  kindly  he  takes  them  into  the  hall,  and  when  his  worfhip  16 
ftirs,  promifes  them  they  (hall  fpeake  with  him  at  liberty.     Now  fir 
behind  a  curtaine  in  the  hall  ftands  a  Ihelfe  garniflit  with  bookes,  to 
which  my  mate  goes  vnder  to  take  one  downe.     And  as  he  takes  it 
down,  pulleth  certaine  firings  which  are  fattened   to  feuerall  fmall  20 
bels  in  his  Maifters  chamber ;   and  as   the  bels  strike,  hee  knowes 
what  cattell  his  neighbors  come  to  feeke,  one  bell  being  for  Oxen, 
another  for  kine,  another  for  fwine,  &c.  A  while  after  he  flamps,  and 
makes  a  noyfe  aboue  j  the  feruingman  intreats  the  Suters  to  go  vp,  and  24 
hee  hearing  them  comming,  himfelfe  kindly  opens  them  the  dore,  and 
ere  euer  they  fpeake,  falutes  them,  protecting  for  their  lofle  great 
forrowe,  as  if  hee  knew  their  griefes  by  reuelation,  comforts  them 
with  hope  of  recouery,  and  fuch  like  wordes.     They  cry  out,  lefu  2^ 
blefle  your  Mafterihip,  what  a  gift  haue  you  to  tel  our  mindes,  and 
neuer  heares  vs  fpeake.  I,  neighbors,  faith  he,  ye  may  thanke  God :  I 
truft  I  am  come  among  ye  to  doe  ye  all  good.    Then  knowing  which 
way  they  were  driuen,  hee  bids  them  goe  either  Eaft-ward,  or  South-  32 
warde  to  feeke  neere  fuch  an  Oake  or  rowe  of  Elmes,  or  water,  or 
fuch  like  marke  neere  the  place  where  the  Cattell  were  left ;  and  hee 
afTures  them  that  by  his  (kill  the  theeues  had  no  power  to  carry  them 
farther  than  that  place.     They  runne  and  feek  their  cattle,  which  3^ 


76  Kind-hartes  Dreame. 

when  they  finde,  O  admirable  wife  man,  the  price  of  a  Cow  we  will 
not  fticke  with  him  for ;  happy  is  the  fhire  where  fuch  a  one  dwels. 
Thus  doe  the  pore  coufoned  people  proclaime,  and  fo  our  fhifter  is 

4  fought  too  far  and  neere.  I  thinke  this  be  iugling  in  the  higheft 
degree  :  if  it  be  not,  Cuckoe  is  out  of  his  compafie.  Well,  the  world 
is  full  of  holes,  and  more  fhiftes  were  neuer  pra&ifde.  But  this  is 
Cuckoes  counfell,  that  yee  leaue  in  time,  left  being  conuided  like  my 

8  Hoaft  of  the  Anchor,  ye  pine  your  felues  in  prifon  to  faue  your  eares 
from  the  Pillory  :  an  end  too  good  for  Iugling  fhifters,  and  cofening 
periurers. 

William  Cuckoe. 


1 2  Ha  firra,  I  am  glad  we  are  at  an  end  :  Kindhart  was  neuer  in  his 
life  fo  weary  of  reading.  Befhrew  them  for  me,  they  haue  wakened 
me  from  a  good  lleepe,  and  weried  me  almoft  out  of  my  wits.  Here 
hath  beene  a  coile  indeede,  with  lewd  fong  fingers,  drench  giuers, 

1 6  detra&ers,  players,  oppreflbrs,  rentraifers,  bawdes,  brothel-houfcs, 
fliifters,  and  luglers.  But  fith  they  haue  all  done,  turne  ouer  the 
leafe  and  heare  how  merrily  Kindhart  will  conclude. 


Englandes    Mourning 
Garment  : 

Worne  here  by  plaine  Shepheardes; 

in  memorie  of  their  sacred  Mistresse, 

ELIZABETH,  Queene  of  Vertue  while  shee 

liued,  and  Theame  of  Sorrow, 

being  dead. 


To  which  is  added  the  true  manner  of  her 
Emperiall  Funerall. 

After  which  foloweth  the  Shepheards  Spring-Song, 

for  entertainement  of  King  I  A  M  E  s  our 

most  potent  Soueraigne. 

Dedicated  to  all  that  loued  the  deceased  Queene, 
and  honor  the  lining  King. 


No?i  Verbis  sed  Virtute. 


^Printed  at  London  by  V.S.  for  Thomas  Millington,  and  are 
to  be  sold  at  his  shop  vnder  saint  Peters  Church  in  Cornhil. 


To  all  true  Louers  of  the  right  grati- 

ous  Queene  Elizabeth,  in  her  life;  being 

vndoubtedly  those  faithful  Subiects  that  now  ho- 
nor and  affect  our  most  potent  Lord,  King  4 
lames,  after  her  death. 

Y  Epiftle  to  you,  is  like  the  little  Tovvne  that  the 
Cynicke  would  haue   perfwaded    the  Citizens  was 
ready    to    runne    out    at   the    great    gates,    being  8 
fcarce  fo    long  as   the  Title.     In    a  word,  the  negligence   of 
many  better    able,  hath    made   mee  bolde    to   write   a    fmall 
Epitomie,  touching  the  aboundant  Vertues  of  Elizabeth  our 
late  facred  Miftris.     Intreating   of  her   Princely  birth,   chafte  12 
life,   royall   gouernement,   and  happie  death;    being  a  Lady 
borne,  lining,  raigning,  dying,  all   for  Englandes  good.     The 
manner  is  handled  betweene  Shepheardes,  the  forme  of  fpeach 
like  the  perfons,  rude:  AfTeftion  exceedeth  Eloquence,  and  I  16 
haue  not  fhewne  much  Arte ;  but  expreft  the  dutie  of  a  louing 
heart :  Shead  fome  teares  in  reading  our  Shepheards  forrow ; 
and  in  that  true  pafsion,  let  your  loue  to  our  royall  Lord  be 


8o  The  Epistle. 

fliewne  :  who  hateth  hypocrites,  as  iuft  men  Hell.     Farewell 
all  of  you  that  giue  the  dead  Queene  a  fad  Farewell,  and  the 
lining  King  a  glad  Welcome;  the  reft  are  1  ime-pleafers,  and 
4  I  write  not  to  them. 

Fcelicem  fu  (fTe  infaujlu  m . 


Englands  Mourning 
Garment. 

Wrought    by  plaine   Shepheardej,  for   the 

death  of  that  most  excellent  Empresse  Elizabeth,    4 
Queene  of  Vertue,  while  she  liued  ;  and  Theame 
of  Sorrow,  being  dead. 

THENOT.         COLLIN. 

Thenot.  8 

J10///W,  thou  look'ft  as  lagging  as  the  day 
When  the  Sun  fetting  toward  his  wefterne  bed, 
Shews,  that  like  him,  all  glory  muft  decay, 
And  frolicke  life  with  murkie  clowds  o're-fpred,  12 

Shall  leaue  all  earthly  beautie  mongft  the  dead; 
Such  is  the  habite  of  thy  new  aray : 
Why  art  thou  not  preparde  to  welcome  Maie, 

In  whofe  cleere  Moone  thy  yonglings  mall  be  fed,  16 

With  nights  fweetes  dewes,  and  open  flowers-  of  day  ? 

Collin. 

I  anfwere  thee  with  woe  and  welaway, 

I  am  in  fable  clad,  fith  fhe  cannot  be  had  20 

That  me  and  mine  did  glad ; 

there's  all  I'le  fay. 

Thenot. 

Well  fpoken  Swaine,  let  me  thy  forrowe  ken,  24 

Rich  foule,  though  wrong'd  by  idle  Antike  men, 
And  driuen  by  falfhood  to  a  clowdy  den, 

Tell  me  thy  griefe. 

ALLUSION-BOOKS.  6 


8 2  ILnglands  Mourning  Garment. 

Col  I  in. 

O  it  is  paft  reliefe  j  and  which  is  worlt  of  worft, 
Bayards  and  beafts  accurft,  with  grofeft  flattery  nurft  : 
4  Haue  lung  her  facred  name,  and  prais'd  her  to  their  lhame, 
Who  was  our  laft  and  firft. 

T/ienot. 

Deere  Col/in,  doe  not  checke  the  humbleft  fong, 
8  The  will  is  euer  maifter  of  the  worke, 
Thofe  that  can  fing,  haue  done  all  Shepheards  wrong, 
Like  lozels  in  their  cotages  to  lurke : 
The  aire's  the  aire,  though  it  be  thicke  and  murke : 
1 2  If  they  to  whom  true  Paftoralls  belong, 
In  needefull  layes,  vie  neither  pipe  nor  tong, 

Shall  none  the  vertuous  raife  ? 

Col  I  in. 
J6  Yes,  thofe  that  merit  Bayes, 

Though  teares  reftraine  their  layes, 
Some  weeping  houres  or  dayes 

will  finde  a  time 

20  To  honor  Honor  ftil :  not  with  a  rural  quil, 
But  with  the  foule  of  ikil, 

to  blefle  their  rime. 
Aye  me  !  why  mould  I  dote 

24  on  rimes,  on  longs,  or  note, 

Confufion  can  beft  quote, 

facred  Elizaes  lofle, 
Whofe  praife  doth  grace  al  verfe, 
28  that  fhal  the  fame  reherfe, 

No  gold  neede  decke  her  herfe  j 

to  her  al  gold  is  drofle. 

With  that,  Collin  in  difcontent,  brake  his  pipe,  and  in  that  paflion, 

32  as  if  his  heart  had  beene  like  his  Pipe,  parted  each  piece  from  the 

other,  hee  fel  without  fenfe  on  the  earth,  not  then  infenfible  of  his 

forrowj  for  it  yielded,  wept  and  groaned  at  once  with  his  fal,  his 

weepings  and  his  fighs.     Poore  77*.  fliowted  for  help  j  at  whofe  cal 


Englands  Mourning  Garment.  83 

came  Ibme  Nymphs  ful  of  forrow  for  their  Soueraigne ;  and  no  whit 
amazed  to  lee  him  lie  as  dead,  their  hearts  were  fo  dead,  with  think- 
ing of  that  which  had  aftouied  his.    But  yet,  as  gathering  of  companies 
draw  more  &  more  to  wonder,  fo  prooued  it  among  the  fhepheards,  4 
that  left  none  but  their  curres  to  attend  their  flockes,  themfelues  nock- 
ing about  Thenot  &  Collin,  who  now  recouered  from  his  trance,  and 
al  asking  the  reafon  of  this  griefe,  with  teares  abounding  in  his  eyes, 
that  likewife   drew    more   abundantly    from    theirs,    he    diftradedly  8 
a&fwered, 

Ilium  nee  enim  reprehendere  fas  eft, 
Quifleat  hanc,  cuius fregerunt Jlamina  parcce, 
Solus  honor  fequitur  mortales  ille  mifellos.  I2 

A.nd  therewithall  making  a  figne  for  the  Shepheardes  and  Nymphes 
to  fit  downe,  hee  tolde  them,  they  had  loft  that  facred  Nymph,  that 
careful  Shepheardeffe  ELIZA  5  but  if  it  pleafed  them  to  lend  attention, 
he  would  repeate  fomething  of  her,  worth  memorie,  that  mould  line  l^ 
in  defpite  of  death :  whereupon  a  ftil  filence  feizd  them  al,  fauing 
onely  now  and  then,  by  figlfing  they  expreft  their  hearts  forrow  :  and 
Collin  thus  beganne. 

Seeing    Honor   onely   foloweth   mortals,    and    the   works   of  the  2O 
vertuous  die  not  with  their  deaths,  and  yet  thofe  workes  neuerthelefle 
with  the  honors   and  rites    due    to   the    departed,   might  be   much 
blemillied,  if  there  were  no  gratitude  in  their  fucceflbrs  :  let  vs  poore 
Rurals  (though  no  other  wayes  able  to  erect  Statues  for  our  late  24 
dread  Soueraigne,  worthy  al  memory,)  among  our  felues  repeate  part 
of  her  excellent  Graces,  and  our  benerite  obtained  by  her  Gouern- 
ment :  for,  to  reckon  all,  were  Opus  infinitum,  a  labour  without  end. 

She  was  the  vndoubted  iffue  of  two  royall  princes,  Henry  of  Lan    2" 
cafter  and  Elizabeth  of  Yorke.     In  whofe  vnion  the  quiet  of  vs  poore 
Swaines  began  :  for  till  that  bleffed  mariage,  England  was  a  fhambles 
of  flaughtred  men :  fo  violent  was  the  blood  of  ambition,  fo  potent 
the  factions,  and  fo  implacable  their  heads ;  whofe  eyes  were  neuer  32 
cleard  till  they  were  walht  in  blood,  euen  in  the  deare  blood  of  their 
Obiefts  hearts.     This  King,  Grandfather  to  our  late  Queene,  was  the 


84  England*  Mourning  Garment. 

firft  Brittifli  King,  that  many  a  hundred  yeares  before  wore  the  Em- 
periall  Diademe  of  England,  France  and  Ireland:  in  him  began  the 
name  of  Tewther,  defcended  from  the  ancient  Brittiih  Kings,  to  florifh  j 
4  the  ilfue  male  of  royal  Plantagenel  ending  in  his  beginning :  his 
wife,  Grandmother  to  our  late  Elizabeth,  being  the  laft  Plantagenet, 
whole  Temples  were  here  circled  with  a  fphere  of  golde.  Which 
King  and  Queene  liued  and  loved,  and  now  lie  intoombed  in  that 
8  moll  famous  Chappell,  built  at  his  Kingly  charge  in  the  Abbey  of 
IVeftminfter :  King  Henry,  dying  in  a  good  age,  left  England  rich, 
beautifull,  and  full  of  peace ;  and  ib  blelft  with  his  iflue,  after  royally 
matcht  to  Scotland  &  France,  befides  his  vndoubted  heire  King  Henry 

12  of  famous  memory  the  eight ;  that  no  Kingdome  in  the  earth  more 
florilhed. 

His  fonne,  the  Father  of  our  Elizabeth,  was  to  his  Enemies  dread- 
full,  to  his  friends  gracious,  vnderwhofeEnfigne  the  Emperour  himfelfe 

1 6  feru'd  :  fo  potent  a  Prince  He  was:  befides,  fo  liberal  and  bounteous, 
that  he  feemed  like  the  Suune  in  his  Meridian,  to  fhowre  downe  gold 
round  about  the  Horizon :  But  hee  dide  too,  and  left  vs  three 
Princely  hopes ;  all  which  haue  feueraliy  fucceeded  other,  royally 

20  maintaining  the  right  of  England,  and  refilled  all  forraine  wrong. 

For  King  Edward  our  late  Soueraignes  Brother,  though  he  died 
youg  in  yeares,  left  inftance  hee  was  no  Infant  in  vertuesj  his  learn- 
ing, towardnes  and  zeale,  was  thought  fitter  for  the  focietie  of  Angels 

24  than  men,  with  whome  no  doubt  his  fpirit  Hues  eternally. 

Such  aflurance  haue  we  of  the  happineile  of  that  royall  gracious 
and  worthy  Ladie  Mary  his  eldeft  filler :  who  in  her  death  expreflt 
the  care  of  her  Kingdomes,  fo  much  lamenting  one  Townes  lofTe, 

2^  that  fb.ee  told  her  attendant  Ladies,  if  they  would  rippe  her  heart 
when  me  was  dead,  they  mould  finde  Callice  written  in  it.  O  Thenot, 
with  all  you  other  Nymphs  and  Swaines,  learne  by  this  worthie 
Queene,  the  care  of  Soueraignes,  how  heart-ficke  they  are  for  their 

32  fubiecls  lofle  ;  and  thinke  what  felicitie  we  poore  wormes  liue  in,  that 
haue  fuch  royall  Patrons,  who  carke  for  our  peace,  that  we  may 
quietly  eate  the  bread  of  our  owne  labor,  tend  our  flockes  in  fafety, 
asking  of  vs  nothing  but  feare  and  duety,  which  humanity  allowes, 

36  and  heauen  commands. 


Englands  Mourning  Garment.  85 

With  this,  Thenot  interrupted  Collin,  telling  him,  there  were  a 
number  of  true  Ihepheards  mifliked  that  Princes  life,  and  ioyed 
greatly  at  her  death  :  withall,  beginning  to  ihew  fome  reafons,  but 
Collin  quickely  interrupted  him  in  theie  words :  4 

Peace,  Thenot,  peace,  Princes  are  J "acred  things ; 
It  Jits  not  Swaines  to  thinks  ami/ft  of  Kings. 

For,  faith  he,  the   faults  of  Rulers  (if  any  be  faultie)  are  to  be 
reprehended  by  them   that  can    amend  them ;   and  feeing  none  is  8 
fuperiour  to  a  King  but   God,  to  him   alone  referre  their  actions. 
And  where  thou  termeft  them  true  ihepheards  that  fo  envied  that 
Ladies  gouernement,  thou  art  deceiued,  they  are  ftill  as   they  then 
were,  prowd  phanatike  fpirited  counterfaites,  expert  in  nothing  but  12 
ignorance,  fuch  as  hate  all  rule  :  for  who  refifteth  correction  more  than 
fooles,  though  they  deferue  it  moll  ?  Beleeue  me,  Thenol,  and  all  you  well 
affected  Swaines,  there  is  no  greater  marke  for  a  true  fliepheard  to  be 
knowne  by,  than  Humilitie,  which,  God  he  knowes,  thofe  mad  men  16 
moft   want ;    too    much   experience   haue  we   of    their   threed-bare 
pride,  who  bite  the  dead,  as  lining  curres  may  lions :   not  contented 
with  their  fcaudals  of  that  Royall  Lady,  our  late  Soueraignes  Sifters, 
but  they  haue  troubled  the  cleare  fprings  of  our  Miftrelle  Elizabeths  20 
blefled  gouernement :  nay,  my  felfe  haue  feene  &  heard  with  glowing 
eares,  fome  of  them,  euen  in  the  fields  of  C alt/ don,  when  his  Excellence 
that  isnowouremperiallShepheard,wasonelyLordof  theirfoldes,fpeake 
of  his  Maieftie  more  audacioufly  and  malapertly,  than  any  of  vs  would  24 
doe  of  the  meaneft  officer.     For  as  I  faide  euen  now,  if  Rulers  chance 
to  flip,  it  is  moft  vnfufferable,  that  euery  impudent  rayler  mould  with 
the  breath  of  his  rnouth  ftirre  the  chaffie  multitude,  whole  eares  itch 
for  nouelties,  whofe  mindes  are  as  their  numbers,  diuerfe  :  not  able  to  28 
iudge  themfelues,  much  lefle  their  foueraignes.     But  they  ought,  if 
they  be  true  Paftors,  to  folow  the  great  Pan,  the  Father  of  al  good 
fhepheards,  Chrift,  who  teacheth  euery  of  his  Swaines  to  tell  his  brother 
priuately  of    his   fault,    and    againe,  and  againe, — by   that  glorious  32 
number,  three,  including  numbers   numberlefle, — before  it  be  told 
the  Church.     If  then  they  muft,  being  true  Ihepheards,  deale  fo  with 


86  Efig/auds  Mourning  Garment. 

their  brethren,  how  much  more  ought  their  folowers  do  to  their 
Soueraigns,  being  Kings  and  Queenes  ?  And  not  in  the  place  where 
facred  and  morall  manners  mould  be  taught,  contrarily  to  teach  the 
4  rude  to  be  more  vnmannerly,  inftru&ing  euery  Punie  to  compare  with 
the  moft  reuerend  Prelate,  and  by  that  example  to  haue  euery  Cobler 
account  himfelfe  a  King. 

Oh,  faide  T/tenot,  Collin,  there  are  fome  would   il  thinke  of  you, 
8  Ihould  they  heare  you  thus  talke,  for  they  reproue  all  out  of  zeale,  and 
mull  fpare  none. 

Peace  to  thy  thoughts,   Thenot,   anfwered   Col/in,   I    know  thou 
kuoweft  there  is  a  zeale  that  is  not  with  knowledge  acquainted ;  but 

12  let  them  and  their  madde  zeale  palfe;  let  vs  forget  their  railings 
againft  Princes :  And  beginne  with  her  beginning,  after  her  Royall 
Sifters  ending,  who  departing  from  this  earthly  kingdome  the  feauen- 
teeuth  of  Nouember  in  theyeare  of  our  Lord  1558.  immediately  there- 

16  upon,  Elizabeth,  the  handmaide  to  the  Lord  of  Heauen,  and  Empreire 
of  all  Maides,  Mothers,  youth  and  men  then  liuing  in  this  Englilh 
Earth,  was  proclaimed  Queene  with  generall  applaule  j  being  much 
pittied,  for  that  bufie  flander  and  refpedlefle  enuy  had  not  long  before 

20  brought  her  into  the  disfauour  of  her  royall  Sifter  Mary,  whom  we 
laft  remembred  :  In  the  continuance  of  whole  difpleafure,  ftil  ftil  made 
greater  by  fome  great  Enemies,  how  me  fcap't,  needs  no  repeating, 
being  fo  wel  knowne.  Preferued  fliee  was  from  the  violence  of  death ; 

24  her  blood  was  precious  in  the  fight  of  G  O  D,  as  is  the  blood  of  al  his 
Saints  j  it  was  too  deare  to  be  powred  out  like  water  on  the  greedy 
earth  ;  ihe  liued,  and  wee  haue  liued  vnder  her,  fortie  and  odde  yeres,  fo 
wonderfully  bleft,  that  all  Nations  haue  wondred  at  their  owne 

28  afflictions  and  our  prolperitiej  and  Ihe  dyed  as  me  liued  with  vs,  ftill 
careful  of  our  peace  ;  finiming  euen  then  the  greateft  wonder  of  all, 
our  deferts  confidered,  by  appointing  the  Kingdome  to  fo  iuft  and  law- 
full  a  Ruler  to  fucceede  her :  whom  all  true  Englilh  knew  for  their 

32  vndoubted  Lord,  immediately  after  her  death.  But  left  we  end  ere 
we  begin,  I  wil  returne  to  her :  who  being  feated  in  the  Throne  of 
Maieftie,  adorned  with  al  the  vertues  diuine  and  moral,  appeared 
to  vs  like  a  goodly  Pallace  where  the  Graces  kept  their  feuerall  man- 

36  fions. 


Englands  Mourning  Garment.  87 

Firft,  faith  aboundantly  ihone  in  her,  then  yong,  and  loft  not  her 
brightneire  in  her  age,  for  flie  beleeued  in  her  Redeemer,  her  truft  was 
in  the  King  of  Kings,  who  preferued  her,  as  the  Apple  of  his  eye, 
from  all  treacherous  attempts,  as  many  being  made  againft  her  life,  as  4 
againft  any  Princefie  that  euer  liued :  yet  me  was  ftil  confident  in  her 
Sauiour,  whofe  name  me  glorified  in  all  her  actions,  confeffing  her 
victories,  prefernings,  dignities,  to  be  all  his,  as  appeared  by  many 
luculent  examples,  this  one  feruing  for  the  reft,  that  after  the  diflipa-  8 
tion  of  the  Spanifh  Armatho  accounted  inuincible,  flie  came  in  perfon 
to  Paules  crofle,  and  there,  among  the  meaneft  of  her  people,  con- 
felled,  Non  nolis  Domine,  non  noils ;  fed  nomini  tuo  Gloria.     And  as 
flie  was  euer  conftant  in  cherifliing  that  faith  wherein  fliee  was  from  12 
her  infancie  nourifht,  fo  was  fliee  faithful  of  her  word,  with  her  people, 
and  with  forraine  nations.     And  albeit  I  know  fome  (too  humoroufly 
afte£ted  to  the  Roman  gouernement)  make  a  queftion  in  this  place, 
whether  her  highnefle  firft  brake  not  the  truce  with  the  King  of  16 
Spaine :  to  that  I   could  anfwere,  (were  it  pertinent  to  mee  in  this 
place,  or  for  a  poore  fhepheard  to  talke  of  ftate,)  with  vnreproouable 
truths,  that  her  highnes  fuffred  many  wrongs  before  ihe  left  off  the 
league.  20 

O,  faith  Thenot,  in  fome  of  thofe  wrongs  refolue  vs,  and  thinke  it 
no  vnfitting  thing,  for  thou  that  haft  heard  the  fongs  of  that  warlike 
Poet  Philesides,  good  Melcelee,  and  fmooth  tongued  Melicert,  tell  vs 
what  thou  haft  obferued  in  their  fawes,  feene  in  thy  owne  experience,  24 
and  heard  of  vndoubted  truths  touching  thofe  accidents  :  for  that  they 
adde;  I  doubt  not,  to  the  glory  of  our  Eliza. 

To  this  entreatie  Collin  condifcended,  and  thus  fpake.     It  is  not 
vnknowen  the  Spaniard,  a  mighty  nation,  abounding  with  treafure,  2^ 
being  warres  finewes,  torne  from  the  bowels  of  Mines,  fetcht  from  the 
fands  of  Indian   Riuers,  by  the  miferable  captiued  natiues,  haue  pur- 
pofed  to  be  Lordes  of  Europe.     France  they  haue  attempted  and  failed 
in,  Nauarre  they  haue  greatly  diftreft,  Lumlardy  the  garden  of  the  32 
world,   they  are  poflefled  of:   Naples  and  Sicilie,  Sardinia,   Corsica, 
are  forced  to  obey  their  lawes  :  and  that  they  reckoned  England  fliould 
be  theirs,  with  fuch   fmall  eafe,  euen  in  a  maner  with  threatning, 
their  Songs,  taught  little  infants  from  Andolozia  to  Galizia,  are  witnefle.  3" 


88  Englands  Mourning  Garment. 

The  dice  were  caft  :  her  Maiefties  Subie&s  craftily  put  into  the  In- 
qui/ition  vpon  euery  finall  colour  :  if  they  fcaped,  which  feldome  forted 
out  fo  wel,  aliue,  could  of  their  goods  haue  no  reftkution.  Their  King 
4  gaue  penfions  to  our  Queenes  Rebellious  fugitiue  fubie&es,  and  not 
onely  to  fuch,  that  in  regard  of  their  Religion  fled  the  land,  but  vnto 
fuch  as  had  attempted  to  refift  her  in  a6tiue  rebellion :  and  yet  not 
flaying  there,  out  of  his  treafury  propofed  rewards  for  fundry  to  attempt 
8  the  murder  of  her  facred  perfon :  of  which  perfidious  gilt  me  neuer 
was  tainted :  let  any  Spaniard,  or  Spanim  affected  Englim,  prone 
where  me  euer  hired,  abetted,  or  procured  any  fuch  againft  their  kings 
Maieffie,  and  I  wil  yeeld  to  be  efteemed  as  falfe  as  falfhood  it  felfe : 

12  nay,  they  cannot  deny,  but  that  euen  with  the  Rebels  of  her  Realme 

of  Ireland,  ftird  vp   to  barbarous   and    inhumane    outrages    by   the 

Spanim  policie,  fhee  hath  no  way  dealt  but  by  faire  and  laudable  warre. 

But  before  I  enter  into  her  Maiefties  lenitie  in  that  Irim  warre, 

1 6  againft  fundry  knowne  Rebels,  and  punifliing  fome  of  her  fubie&s, 
that  vpon  a  zeale  to  her,  or  perchance,  to  get  themfelues  a  glorie, 
aduentured  their  owne  liues  by  trecherie  to  cut  off  the  Hues  of  fome 
great  Leaders  of  the  Rebels,  I  wil  a  little  digrefle,  left  I  fhould  be 

20  thought,  after  her  death,  to  maintaine  the  fire  of  hate,  which  I  euer 
in  heart  defired  might  honourably  be  quencht,  betweene  thefe  potent 
Kingdomes  of  England  and  Spaine. 

I  wifh  all  that  reade  this,  to  bury  old  wrongs,  &  to   pray  that  it 

24  would  pleafe  G  o  D  of  his  ineftimable  mercie,  to  roote  out  ail  malice 
from  Chriftian  Nations  :  and,  as  our  Royall  Soueraigne  now  raiguing, 
hath  conferued  league  and  peace  with  al  Princes,  fo,  for  the  weale  of 
Chriftendome,  it  may  more  and  more  increafe,  that  the  open  enemies 

28  of  Chrift  may  the  better  be  repelled  from  thofe  wealthy  Kingdomes 
in  the  Eaft,  where  they  haue  many  hundred  yeares  moft  barbaroully 
tyrannized  :  for  no  man  doubts,  but  the  blood  fhed  within  thefe  thirtie 
yeares,  as  well  of  Englilh,  as  Scottilh,  Spanim,  Dutch,  and  Portugall, 

3 2  in  the  quarrell  of  Religion,  might,  if  G  o  D  had  fo  beene  pleafed,  bin 
able  to  haue  driuen  the  heathen  Monarch  from  his  neereft  holde  in 
Hungaria,  to  the  fal  of  Danulia  in  the  Euxine  fea,  efpecially  with  the 
afliftaunce  of  the  French  that  haue  cruelly  falne,  either  vpon  others 

3"  fwords. 


Englands  Mourning  Garment.  89 

But  I  trufi  God  hath  fuffered  this  offence,  to  adde  more  glory  to 
our  mighty  King,  that  hee  mould  be  the  moll  famous  of  al  his  pre- 
deceflbrs,  as  indeed  he  is  the  moft  mightie,  and  hath  beene  raifed  to 
this  Realme  as  a  Sauiour,  to  deliuer  England,  and  make  it  more  4 
abundant  in  bleffings,  when  many  lookt  it  mould  haue  had  al  her  glory 
fwallowed  vp  of  fpoile. 

The  highneffe  of  his  emperial  place,  greatneife  of  his  blood,  mighti- 
neffe  of  his  alliance,  but  moft,  his  conftancy  in  the  true  profeflion  of  8 
Religion,  euen  amid  my  forrowes,  Thenot,  fil  rne  with  ioyes  :  when  I 
conlider  how  a  number  that  gaped  for  our  deftruclion,  haue  their 
mouths  Ihut  clofe,  yet  emptie  where  they  thought  to  eate  the  fweetes 
of  our  paineful  fweate :  but  God  be  praifed,  as  I  faide  before,  her  12 
Highneffe  that  ruled  vs  many  yeeres  in  peace,  left  vs,  in  her  death, 
more  fecure,  by  committing  vs  to  our  lawful  Prince,  matcht  to  a  royal 
fruitful  Lady,  that  hath  borne  him  fuch  hopeful  iffue,  that  the  dayes 
we  lately  feared,  I  truft  are  as  farre  off,  as  this  inftant  is,  from  the  16 
end  of  al  earthly  times  :  who  flial  not  onely,  with  their  royall  father, 
maintaine  thefe  his  kingdomes   in  happy   peace,  but   fubiecl:  more 
vnder  him,  and  fpreade  the  banners  of  Chriil  in  the  face  of  misbe- 
leeuers.  20 

In  this  hope  I  here  breake  off,  and  returne  to  our  late  Soueraignes 
care  of  keeping  Faith,  euen  toward  her  Rebel  fubiecls,  which  I  wil 
manifeft  in  fome  two  or  three  examples  of  the  Irifh. 

When  the  Oneale,  in  the  time  of  that  memorable  Gentleman  Sir  24 
Henry  Sidney  his  Deputie-mip  of  Ireland,  was  mightily  ftrengthned 
in  his  Country,  and  fo  potent,  that  the  Deputie  had  many  dangerous 
and   vnadvantageable   skirmifhes    againft    him ;    A   feruant    of    her 
Maiefties,  one  Smith,  thinking  to  doe  a  worthy  peece  of  feruice,  by  28 
poyfoning  the  Oneale,  prepared  a  little  bottle,  parted  in  the  middeft; 
one  fide  containing  good  wine,  the  other  with  tempered  poyfon  of  the 
fame  colour,  and  that  he  carries  to  the  Oneale,  vnder  colour  of  grati- 
fication for  that  his  armie  lay  farre  from  the  Sea,  or  Marchantable  32 
Tovvnes,  and  hee  thought  Wine  was  vnto  him  very  daintie  :  which  the 
Oneale  accepted  kindely,  for  that  the  faide  Smith  was  borne  in  the 
Oneales   Countrey :    and  fuch   the   Irifh  doe    efpecially,  and  before 


go  Englands  Mourning  Garment. 

others,  truft  to  bring  meflages,  euen  from  their  greateft  ennemies, 
vnder  whome  they  ferae. 

But  the  deceit  being  quickly  fpide,  Smyth  was  by  the   Oneill  fent 

4  bound  to  the  Deputie,  to  whole  plot  hee  would  faine  haue  imputed 

the  fame  pra6life  :  but  contrdrily,  the  Deputie  publikely  puniihed  the 

faid  Smyth,  and  her  Maieftie  refuted  him  for  her  feruant ;  faying,  Ihe 

would  keepe  none  neare  her  that  would  deale  trecheroully,  no,  though 

8  it  were  againft  traitors. 

The   like   example  was    fliowne   on   an    other   that  would   haue 

attempted  the  poifoning  of  Rory  Og,  a  bloody  and  dangerous  Rebell. 

To  which  may  be  added,  that  her  Highneffe,  among  other  trefpalK-s, 

!2  obie6ted  by  her  Atturney  againft  a  conui6led  Deputie,  was,  that  he 
went  about  by  poyfon  to  haue  tooke  away  the  life  of  Feff  Mac  Hue, 
a  Rebell  more  immane  &  barbarous  than  any  of  the  other  two :  the 
Lord  chiefe  luftice  of  the  Common  Pleas  (yet  lining)  opening  at  the 

*6  fame  time,  how  iuft  a  fpirit  her  Maieftie  was  poflefled  with,  that  fh.ee 
hated  treafon,  euen  to  traitors ;  much  more,  then,  to  annointed  Kings, 
whofe  honors  and  reputations  me  fo  maintained,  that  fhee  not  long 
fince  punifhed  by  fine  and  imprifonment,  a  wealthy  railer,  for 

20  vnreuerent  words  fpoken  againft  the  perfon  of  king  Philip,  her  open 
and  profefled  enemie :  So  faithfull,  fo  iuft,  fo  gracious  was  me. 

And  to  make  it  more  plaine,  that  Spaine  intended  England  the  firft 
wrong,  fo  long  time  before  it  was  muttered  ;  but  after  that  memorable 

24  battell  of  Lepanto,  wherein  Don  lohn  of  Austria  obtained  the  trium- 
phant Chriftian  viclorie  againft  the  Turkes  ;  to  rewarde  him,  England 
was  the  kingdome  fet  downe,  being  then  in  her  Maiefties  poflenion  : 
but  hee  had  it,  when  they  could  giue  him  it  that  promifed  the  fame, 

28  which  was  at  latter  Lammas.  And  I  truft  his  Neece  fhall  haue  as 
good  fuccefle,  with  her  pretended  title.  For  if  God  ftrengtheued  her 
Maieftie  fo,  that  againft  her,  being  a  woman,  they  could  not  preuaile, 
we  truft  his  Almightinefle  will  be  as  carefull  of  our  King,  being 

32  alreadie  Lord  of  three  fuch  people  as  haue  feldome  bene  equalled  in 
battell,  exccept  they  haue  vnnaturally  contended  among  themfelues  : 
the  fight  of  which  day,  deare  fhepheards,  let  vs  pray  neuer  againe  to 
fee.  Befides,  to  exprefle  her  farther  intent :  to  preferue  faith  and 

36  league,    notwithftanding    infinite    of    open    wrongs,    and    certaine 


Englands  Mourning  Garment.  91 

knowledge  that  a  Nauie  for  inuafion  of  this  Realme  had  bene 
preparing  more  than  fifteene  yeare ;  yet  did  fhe  beare,  vntill  againfl  all 
lawe  of  Nations,  the  Ambaffador  liedger  of  Spaine,  honoured  with 
many  fauours,  did  notwithstanding  plot  and  confeder  with  natiue  4 
traitors  of  this  land ;  and  the  matter  being  apparantly  proued,  hee 
was  by  her  milde  fufferance  admitted  to  depart  the  Realme,  without 
any  violence :  to  his  perpetuall  reproach,  and  her  neuer  dying  glorie. 
Well,  I  will  here  conclude  touching  this  vertue  of  faith  both  towarde  8 
God  and  man :  fhe  was  as  firme  in  the  one  as  mortalitie  coulde  bee  j 
and  in  the  other,  approued  glorious  among  all  the  Princes  of  her 
time. 

For  Hope,  the  fecond  diuine  vertue,  fhe  rather  therin  abounded,  I2 
than  was  any  way  wanting  -}  for  her   Hope  was  no  way  wandring : 
fhe  beleeued,  and  it  came  to  paiTe  j  her  enemies  arife,  but  before  their 
arifing,  fhee  was  certaine  to  fee  them  fall ;  iliee  hauing,  by  example  of 
things  paft,  nothing  doubted  of  things  to  come.     And  fhe  was  not  J6 
deceiued  till  the  houre  of  her  death.     For  euer  her  expectation  was 
fulfilled  ;  fhe  kept  peace  within,  chafed  the  fpoyler  without ;  and  euen 
as  it  is  fung  of  Epaminondas,  that  valiant  Theban  Captaine,  in  his  laft 
vi&orious  battell,  wherein  yet  death  of  him   got  victorie,  he  thus  2O 
gloried  :  Herein  am  I  comforted,  that  I  dye  a  conquerour.      For  euen 
when  death  laid  his  laft  fiege  to  her  yet  vnvanquifhed  life,  Tyrone,  the 
long  difturber  of  her  State,  befought  mercie  at  her  feete.     O  Nymphs 
and  Shepheards,  doubt  not  fhe  was  full  of  diuine  Hope,  whofe  heart  24 
obtained  euer  the  thing  it  faithfully  defired  :  and  that  her  defires  were 
all  of  faith,  I  could  adde  infinite  examples  to  thefe  alreadie  alledged, 
but  that  it  is  needelefle  to  caft  water  in  the  Sea,  or  to  make  queftion 
of  that  all  men  knowe,  and  will  confeffe,  except  fome  whofe  heartes  2& 
are  flraungers  from  Truth,  and  the  profelfed   Receptacles  of  falfe- 
hood. 

Her  Charitie,  the  thirde  and  principall  diuine  Grace  to  the  eye  of 
mortalls  :  (for  that  Faith  and  Hope  bend  principally  their  feruice  to  32 
Heauen,  and  Charities  effectes  are  manifefted  on  earth)  hath  bene 
extended  ouer  all  her  Realmes,  and  ftretched  to  the  comfort  of  her 
oppreffed  neighbours.  The  multitudes  of  poore  daily  relieued  from 
her  purfe,  the  numbers  of  ficke  perfons  yearely  vifited,  and  by  her  3^ 


92  Englands  Mourning  Garment. 

owne  hand  their  corrupt  fores  toucht,  the  wafliing  of  poore  womens 
feete,  and  releeuing  their  wants,  was  a  figne  that  fhe  was  humble,  as 
well  as  charitable  :  for  Humilitie  is  Charities  fitter ;  they  are  two  twins 
4  borne  at  one  time ;  &  as  they  are  borne  together  in  any  foule  whateuer, 
fo  doe  they  Hue  and  die  together  :  the  humble  fpirit  being  euer 
charitable,  and  the  charitable  euer  humble :  for  it  is  as  impofiible  to 
haue  a  proud  man  charitable,  as  to  reconcile  fier  and  water;  or  to 
8  make  accord  betweene  any  contraries.  As  fhe  was  in  thefe  particu- 
lars, exceeding  all  Ladies  of  her  time,  giuen  to  this  helpfull  vertue,  fo 
had  fhe  general  impofitions  through  all  her  kingdome,  for  her  well 
able  fubiecls  to  follow  her  example :  and  fo  much  did  her  example 

12  preuaile,  that  befides  the  ordinary  and  weekely  almes  diftributed 
through  the  Real  me,  there  haue  beene  more  particular  Almef- 
houfes  builded  for  the  reliefe  of  the  aged,  than  in  any  fixe  Princes 
Raignes  before.  .And  as  all  parts  of  England  haue  in  this  im- 

16  itation  bene  very  forward  :  fo  hath  the  Citie  of  London  exceeded 
allj  wherein  diuers  priuate  men  haue  builded  fundry  houfes  for 
the  poore,  and  allowed  them  petitions :  but  the  Corporations  haue 
bene  moft  bountiful!,  as  moft  able  :  and  among  all,  the  Right  worfhip- 

20  full  the  Merchant  Taylors  haue  exceeded  the  reft ;  all  hauing  done  well, 
that  haue  done  any  thing,  but  they  beft  of  any  other,  as  I  will  one  day, 
in  a  fong  of  liberal  Shepheards,  thankfully  exprefTe  :  though  for  my 
felfe  I  know  him  not  in  the  leaft  gift  to  whom  I  am  in  that  fort 

24  bounden ;  but  I  ken  not,  Thenot,  how  I  may,  for  there  is  none  lining 
but  may  lacke.  As  the  Citie,  fo  many  knights,  Gentlemen,  honour- 
able and  deuout  perfons,  haue  followed  her  example  :  aboue  the  reft, 
an  honorable,  carefull,  reuerend  and  learned  watchman,  as  full  of 

2^  mildnefle  and  pietie,  as  he  is  of  yeares  and  greefes  for  his  good  and 
royall  Miftres  loffe  ;  within  few  miles  of  this  Citie,  hath  builded  a 
worthy  Receptacle  to  the  like  charitable  end. 

As  for  the  poore  and  decrepit  with  age,  her  Royall  Maieftie  had 

32  this  charitable  care ;  fo  for  foldiers,  and  futers,  fhe  was  very  proui- 
dent.  The  laft,  being  oppreft  in  any  part  of  her  Realmes  by  men  of 
much  wealth  and  little  confcience,  fhe  allowd  them  counfell  and 
proceedings  in  Forma  pauperls,  &  maintenance  weekely  in  the 

3"  Termes,  for  fome  part  of  their  fuccour.     For  fouldiers,  and    men 


Englands  Mourning  Garment.  93 

of  feruice,  her  decrees   of  prouifion   are  extant :  befides,  it  is  moft 
cleare,  no    Prince   in   the   world,  to   laud-    or  Sea-men,   was  more 
bountifull  or  willing,  than  her  Highiieffe:  out  of  her  Coffers  it  went  j 
but  there  is  an  olde  Prouerbe,  Thenot,  carriage  is  deare :  and  I  haue  4 
heard,  but  I  will  Hand  to  nothing  ;  bafe  Minifters,  and  vuder  officers, 
curtail  the  liberalities  of  great  and  potent  mailers.     Some  haue  in  her 
time  beene  taken  with  the  manner,  and,  befides  bodily  punifhment  andi 
fines,  difplaced  :  as   I  well  remember,   and  cannot  omit  amid  my  8 
greefe  to  tell,  though  fomewhat  from  this  fubiect  it  diflent,  being  of 
a  fellow  too  meane  :  how  her  highneife,  in  one  of  her  progreffes,  walk- 
ing in  the  garden  of  a  houfe  where  fhe  was  receiued,  being  fomewhat 
neere  the  high  waie,  heard  on  a  fodaine,  a  market  woman  cry  :  and  12 
from  an  Arbour  beheld  one  of  her  owne  feruants,  a  Taker  vp  of 
prouifion,  vfe  the  woman  vnciuilly :    whereupon    the   caufe   being 
examined,  and  the  poore  woman  found  by  the  fame  fellowe  to  be 
wrongd,  as  well  afore  as  then,  her  highnefle  caufd  him  prefently  to  be  J6 
difchargd  of  her  feruice  and  punifhed :  yet  the  fault  being  but  flight, 
the  Taker  was  countenanced  to  make  lute  to  be  reftord  :  and  fome 
halfe  yeare  after,  fell  downe  before  her  Maieflie,  defiring  mercie  and 
reftoring  :  her  highneffe,  pittying  his  diflreffe,  commaunded  him   to  20 
be  prouided  for  in  fome  place  where  he  could  not  wrong  her  poore 
fubie6ts,  but  in  any  cafe  not  to  make  him  a  Taker.     Many  fuch  falfe 
ones  the  hath  punifhed  with  death.     I  could  in  this,  as  all  the  reft, 
recken  multitudes  of  examples,  but  I  will  knit  all  vp  with  her  Excel-  24 
lence  in  this  Act  of  Charitie  extended  to  her  neighbours  :  whom  the 
hath   by  her  bountie  deliuered   from   the  tyrannic  of  oppreffion,  & 
aided  the  right  of  others  againft  rebellious  fubiects  :  others,  aflifted  to 
recouer  their  kingdoms,  not  fparing  millions  to  fuftaine  the  quarrell  of  2^ 
the  righteous.     The  reward  of  which  mercy  &  charitie  fhe  now  finds, 
receiuing  infinite  glories  for  her  abounding  Charitie,  being  done  for 
his  caufe  that  leaueth  no  deed  of  mercie  vnrecompenced. 

As  fhe  was   richly  ftored  with  diuine  graces,  fo,  in  morall  vertues,  32 
no  Princefle  euer  liuing  in  the  earth  can  be  remembred  to  exceede 
her.  Her  wifedome  was,  without  queftion,  in  her  life  by  any  vnequalled.- 
fhe  was  fententious,  yet  gratious  in  fpeech ;  So  expert  in  Languages 
that  me  aufwered  moft  Embafladors  in  their  natiue  tongues :    her  3& 


94  England*  Mourning  Garment. 

capacitie  was  therewith  fo  apprehenfiue,  and  inuention  fo  quicke,  that 

if  any  of  them  had  gone  beyop.de  their  bounds,  with  maieftie  vn- 

daunted  fhe  would  haue  limited  them  within  the  verge    of  their 

4  dueties,  as  ilia  did  royally,  wifely,  and  learnedly,  the  laft  ftruting 

Poland  meflenger,  that  thought  with  ftalking  lookes  and  f welling 

words  to  daunt  her  vndaunted  Excellence.     But  as  he  came  proud,  he 

returned  not  without  repentance  :  hauing  no  other  wrong  here,  but 

8  the  finne  of  his  own  faufinefie. 

Many  fuch  examples  I  could  fet  downe,  but  I  will  fatisfie  you  with 
one  more.  When  the  Spaniards  hauing  their  Armatho  ready,  tem- 
porifde  with  her  highnes  Commiflioners  in  the  low  Countries,  thinking 

1 2  to  finde  her  highnefle  vnprouided  ;  at  laft,  when  they  accounted  all  fure, 
they  fent  her  their  Kings  choyce,  either  of  peace  or  warre,  wittily 
included  in  foure  Latine  verfes :  portending,  that  if  fhe  would  ceafe 
to  defend  the  low  Countries,  reftore  the  goods  taken  by  reprifall  from 

1 6  the  Spaniards,  build  vp  the  Religious  houfes  diuerted  in  her  Fathers 
time,  and  let  the  Romane  Religion  be  receiued  through  her  Land  ; 
why  then  fhe  might  haue  peace  :  if  not,  it  was  too  late  to  expect  any. 
Which  proud  commaunding  Embafiie,  with  royall  magnanimitie, 

20  gratious  wifedome,  and  fluent  wit,  fhe  anfwered  inftantly  in  one  knowne 
prouerbiall  line,  which  fhe  fodenly  made  into  a  Verfe. 

Ad  Grcecas  hcecjiant  mandata  Kalendas. 
O  Thenot,  did  not  afTurance  of  our  kingly  Poets  loue  to  the  Mufes, 

24  fomewhat  comfort  me,  I  fhould  vtterly  difpaire  euer  to  heare  Paftori- 
call  fong  againe,  fild  with  any  conceit ;  feeing  her  Excellence,  whofe 
braine  being  the  Hellicon  of  all  our  beft  and  quaint  inuentions,  is 
dried  vp  by  the  ineui  table  heate  of  death. 

2°  Her  iuftice  was  fuch,  as  neuer  any  could  truly  complaine  of  her; 
neither  did  fhee  pardon  faults  vnpardonable,  as  murder,  rape,  Sodomy, 
that  fin  almoft  not  to  bee  namde  :  neither  was  there  in  her  time 
(with  her  knowledge)  extremitie  of  iuftice  fhowne  to  other  male- 

32  factors :  if  any  fuch  did  fall,  it  was  either  by  falfhood  or  malice  of  the 
euidence,  or  fome  other  fecret  wherewith  poore  Shepheards  are 
vnacquamted :  onely  this  we  are  taught :  that  God  fometime  pun- 
ifheth  the  finnes  of  parents  on  their  children,  to  many  generations. 

3"      But  for  her  felfe,  fhe  was  alwayes  fo  enclined  toe  quitie,  that  if  fhe 


Englands  Mourning  Garment.  95 

left  luflice  in  any  part,  it  was  in  fhewing  pittie :  as  in  one  generall 
punifhnient  for  murder  it  appeared :  whereas  before-time  there  was 
extraordinary  torture,  as  hanging  wilfull  murderers  aliue  in  chaines; 
fhee,  hauing  companion,   like  a  true  Shepheardeffe,  of  their  foules,  4 
though  they  were  of  her  erring  and  vtterly  infe&ed  flocke,  faid  their 
death  fatisfied  for  death  :  and  life  for  life,  was  all  could  be  demaunded  : 
and  affirming  more,  that  much  torture  diftra6ted  a  dying  man  :  in 
particular,  fhe  faued  manyj  among  fome  vnworthy  of  her  mercie,  that  8 
proud  fellow,  who  vniuftly  named  himfelfe  Doclor  Parry,  and  an 
other,  as  I  remember,  called  Patrick  an  Irilh  man :  the  firft  hauing 
offended  in  Burglar;/,  againft  a  Lawier  able  and  willing  to  take  away 
his  life,  thereto  vrged  by  many  mifdemeanours :  and  for  that  Parry  12 
doubted  his  attempt  to  kill,  &  a6t  of  fellony  was  without  compaiTe  of 
pardon,  confidering  the  place  where  it  was  done,  and  againft  whom, 
thought  a  leafe  of  life  fafeft,  which  of  her  benigne  mercie  he  obtained 
for  21.  yeares ;  but  ere  three  of  them  were  paft,  he  did  vnnaturally  16 
attempt  her  death  that  had  giue«  him  life ;  for  which  traiterous  in- 
gratitude he  worthily  was  cut  off:    the  Irifli  man   likewife   being 
pardoned  for  a  manflaughter,  proued  as  vnthankfull,  and  ended  as  he 
liued,  fhamefully.     Bolides,  {he  was  fo  inclinable  to  mercie,  that  her  20 
iuft  and   feuere  Judges   tolde  her,  how  fome  defperate  malefactors, 
building  on  friends,  and  hopes  of  pardon,  carde  not  for  offending,  but 
euen  fcoffed  at  authoritie ;  wherof  when  fhe  heard,  fhee  tooke  fpeciall 
care,  confidering  it  was  as  great  iniuftice  to  pittie  fome,  as  fpare  24 
others,  taking  order  to  figne  no  pardon,  except  the  Judges  hand  were 
at  it  firft,  which  truly  knew  the  caufe  why  the  partie  was  condemned  : 
by  which  meanes,  murderers  and  prefumptuous  offenders  were  cut  off 
from  all  hope.  28 

One  notable  example  of  her  iuftice  among  many  I  will  here 
remember :  Certaine  condemned  for  Piracie,  hauing  made  fome  endc 
with  them  they  wronged,  lay  for  their  Hues  at  her  mercie  j  and  the 
Judge  of  her  Admiraltie  hauing  fignified  fauourably  of  the  qualitie  of  32 
their  offence,  fhe  was  moued  to  pittie  them,  and  had  commanded 
their  pardon  to  be  drawne.  In  the  meane  time  two  of  them,  trained 
vp  in  the  fafhion  of  our  common  Cutters,  that  I  may  tell  thee,  Thenot, 
fwarme  rather  like  diuels  than  men  about  the  countrey,  that  fweare  as  36 


g6  England^  Mourning  Garment. 

if  they  had  licenfe  to  blafpheme,  and  ftabbe  men  as  if  they  had 
authorise  ;  nay,  fometime  themfelues  for  very  trifles  :  two  fuch,  I  fay, 
were  in  the  company  of  thefe  condemned  Pyrates,  hourely  hoping  for 
4  their  Hues :  and  brauing  either  other  of  their  manhood,  laying,  one 
durft  more  than  the  other :  the  eldeft,  being  Maifter  of  their  late  fhip 
wherein  they  had  failed  to  that  place  of  forrow,  flyces  his  owne  flefh 
with  a  knife,  afking  the  other  if  he  durft  doo  as  much :  the  yonker 
8  was  very  readie,  and  two  or  three  times  followed  the  olde  foole,  in  that 
defperate  wounding  of  himfelfe.  This  brutifh  a6te  being  committed 
in  the  prifon  belonging  to  her  Maiefties  owne  houfe,  came  quickly  to 
her  royall  eare,  and  fome  fewe  dayes  after,  their  pardon  to  be  figned  j 

12  who  gracioufly  gaue  life  to  all  the  reft ;  but  commaunded  them  by 
exprefle  name  to  execution,  faying,  they  were  vnworthy  mercie,  that 
of  themfelues  had  none  :  adding,  it  was  very  likely,  that  fuch  as  in  a 
prifon,  and  in  their  ftate,  would  be  fo  cruell  to  {head  their  owne 

1 6  bloud,  would  haue  fmall  compaffion  of  others  whom  they  ouercame 
at  Sea ;  and  fo  leauing  them  to  the  lawe,  they  were  worthily  exe- 
cuted. 

Of  her  mercie  nothing  can  be  faide  more,  but  that  it  equalled,  or 

20  rather  as  I  faid  before,  exceeded  her  iuftice.  Among  infinite  numbers 
whom  me  pardoned,  that  one  eipecially  being  a  cleare  witnefle,  who 
{hot  the  Gunne  off  againft  Greenwich,  euen  into  her  Maiefties  Barge, 
hurt  the  next  man  to  her,  at  broade  daylight ;  almoft  impoffible  to  be 

24  excufed  by  negligence  or  ignorance  j  for  that  any  man,  hauing  his 
peece  charged,  would  rather  vpon  retyring  home,  haue  difcharged  it 
among  the  Reedes,  than  toward  the  bredth  of  the  Riuer,  whofe  filuer 
breft  continually  bore  vp  a  number  of  vefiels,  wherein  men  pafled  on 

28  fundrie  affaires.  How  euer  wilfull  or  vmvilfull  the  a6te  was,  done  it 
was  5  and  by  a  lurie  he  was  found  guiltie,  and  adiudged  to  die  :  toward 
execution  hee  was  ledde  with  fuch  clamour  and  iniuries  of  the  multi- 
tude, as  fildome  any  the  like  hath  bene  feene  or  heard ;  fo  hainous 

32  and  odious  his  offence  appeared  vnto  them,  that,  being  vpon  the  ladder 
readie  to  be  caft  off,  the  common  people  had  no  pittie  of  him  :  when 
euen  iuft  in  that  moment  of  difpaire  and  death,  her  Maieftie  fent  a 
gracious  pardon,  which  deliuered  him,  to  all  mens  wonder.  I  want 

36  but  the  Arcadian  Shepheards  inchaunting  phrafe  of  fpeaking,  that  was 


Englands  Mourning  Garment.  97 

many  times  witnefle  to  her  iuft  mercies,  and  mercifull   iuftice :  yet 
rude  as  I  am,  I  haue  prefumed  to  handle  this  excellent  Theame,  in 
regaid  tha  Fuuerall  haftens  on,  of  that  fometime  moft  Serene  Lady, 
and  yet  I  fee  none,  or  at  leaft  paft  one  or  two,  that  haue  fung  any  4 
thing  fince  her  departure  worth  the  hearing ;  and  of  them,  they  that 
are  beft  able,  fcarce  remember  her  Maieftie.     I  cannot  now  forget  the 
excellent  and  cunning  Collin  indeed ;  (for  alas,  I  confefle  my  felfe  too 
too  rude,)  complaining  that  a  liberal  Meccenas  long  fince  dying,  was  S 
immediately  forgotten,  euen  by  thofe  that  liuing  moft  laboured  to 
aduance  his  fame  ;  and  thefe  as  I  thinke  clofe  part  of  his  fongs : 

Being  dead,  no  Poet  feekes  him  to  reuiue, 

Though  many  Poets  flattred  him  aliue.  12 

Somewhat  like  him,  or  at  leaft  to  that  purpofe,  of  a  perfon  more 
excellent,  though  in  ruder  verfe,  I  fpeake. 

Death  now  hath  ceaz'd  her  in  his  ycie  armes, 

That  fometime  was  the  Sun  of  our  delight :  16 

And  pittilefle  of  any  after-harmes, 

Hath  veyld  her  glory  in  the  cloude  of  night. 

Nor  doth  one  Poet  feeke  her  name  to  raife, 

That  liuing,  hourely  ftriu'd  to  fing  her  praife.  20 

He  that  fo  well  could  fing  the  fatall  ftrife 
Betweene  the  royall  Rofes  White  and  Red, 
That  praif'd  fo  oft  Eliza  in  her  life, 
His  Mufe  feemes  now  to  dye,  as  fhee  is  dead :  24 

Thou  fweeteft  long-man  of  all  Englim  fwaines, 

Awake  for  fhame,  honour  enfues  thy  paines. 
But  thou  alone  deferu'dft  not  to  be  blamde : 
He  that  fung  fortie  yeares,  her  life  and  birth, 
And  is  by  Englim  Albions  fo  much  famde, 
For  fweete  mixt  layes  of  maieftie  with  mirth, 

Doth  of  her  lofle  take  now  but  little  keepe ; 

Or  elfe  I  geffe  he  cannot  fing,  but  weepe.  32 

Neither  doth  Coryn  full  of  worth  and  wit, 
That  finifht  dead  Musceus  gracious  fong, 

ALLUSION-BOOKS.  7 


98  Englands  Mourning  Garment. 

With  grace  as  great,  and  words,  and  verfe  as  fit ; 

Chide  meager  death  for  dooing  vertue  wrong : 

He  doth  not  feeke  with  fongs  to  deck  her  herfe, 
4  Nor  make  her  name  Hue  in  his  liuely  verfe. 

Nor  does  our  Englifh  Horace,  whofe  fteele  pen 

Can  drawe  Characters  which  will  neuer  die, 

Tell  her  bright  glories  vnto  liftning  men  j 
8  Of  her  he  feemes  to  haue  no  memorie. 

His  Mufe  an  other  path  defires  to  tread, 

True  Satyres  fcourge  the  liuing,  leaue  the  dead. 

Nor  doth  the  filuer  tonged  Melicert, 
1 2  Drop  from  his  honied  mufe  one  fable  teare 

To  mourne  her  death  that  graced  his  defert, 

And  to  his  laies  opend  her  Royall  eare. 
Shepheard,  remember  our  Elizabeth, 
16  And  fing  her  Rape,  done  by  that  Tarquin,  Death. 

No  lefle  doe  thou  (fweete  finger  Coridon] ; 

The  Theame  exceedeth  Edwards  Isalell, 

Forget  her  not  in  Poly -Albion  ; 

20  Make  fome  amends,  I  know  thou  loudft  her  well. 

Thinke  twas  a  fault  to  haue  thy  Verfes  feene 
Praifing  the  King,  ere  they  had  mourn d  the  Queen. 

And  thou  delicious  fportiue  Musidore, 
24  Although  thou  haue  refignd  thy  wreath  of  Bay, 

With  Cypreffe  bind  thy  temples,  and  deplore 

Elizas  winter  in  a  mournfull  Lay  : 

I  know  thou  canft,  and  none  can  better  fing 
Herfe  fongs  for  her,  and  Paeans  to  our  King. 

Quicke  Antihorace,  though  I  place  thee  heere, 

Together  with  yong  Mcelibee  thy  frend  : 

And  Heroes  l  laft  Musceus,  all  three  deere,         C1   Orif-  Hewres. 

See  p.    112,   'To 
All  fuch  whofe  vertues  highly  I  commend :          the  Reader.'] 

Proue  not  ingrate  to  her  that  many  a  time 
Hath  ftoopt  her  Maieftie,  to  grace  your  rime. 
And  thou  that  fcarce  hafl  fligd  thy  infant  mufe 
(I  vfe  thine  owue  word),  and  commend  thee  bell, 


Englands  Mourning  Garment.  99 

In  thy  proclayming  lames :   the  reft  mifvfe 
The  name  of  Poetry,  with  lines  vnbleft ; 

Holding  the  Mufes  to  be  mafculine. 

I  quote  no  fuch  abfurditie  in  thine.  4 

Thee  doe  I  thanke  for  will ;  thy  worke  let  paile  : 
But  wifli  fome  of  the  former  had  firft  writ, 
That,  from  their  Poems,  like  reflecting  glafle 
Steeld  with  the  puritie  of  Art  and  wit, 

Eliza  might  haue  liude  in  euery  eye, 

Alwaies  beheld  till  Time  and  Poems  dye. 
But  ceafe  you  Goblins,  and  you  vnder  Elues, 
That  with  rude  rimes  and  meeters  reafonlefTe,  12 

Fit  to  be  fung  for  fuch  as  your  bafe  felues, 
Prefume  to  name  the  Mufes  Patroneffe : 

Keepe  your  low  Spheres ;  fhe  hath  an  Angell  fpirit : 

The  learnedft  Swaine  can  hardly  fing  her  merit.  16 

Onely  her  brother  King,  the  Mufes  truft 
(Blood  of  her  Grandfires  blood,  plac'd  in  her  Throne) 
Can  raife  her  glory  from  the  bed  of  duft  : 
To  praife  her  worth  belongs  to  Kings  alone.  20 

In  him  fiiall  we  behold  her  Maieftie, 

In  him  her  vertue  liues  and  cannot  die. 

At  this,  Thenot  and  the  reft  defirde  him  to  proceede  in  his  difcourfe  of  her 
vertues ;  remembring  where  he  left,  at  luftice ;  and  though  the  matter  24 
pleafd  them  fo  well  that  they  could  indure  the  hearing  many  daies, 
yet  feeing   the   Stmne  began  to  dye  the  Weft   Sea  with  vermilion 
tincture,  the  pallace  of  the  morning  being  hidden  in  fable  clouds,  & 
that  the  care  of  their  flockes  muft  be  refpected,  requefted  him  to  be  28 
as  breefe,  as  the  time  limited  him. 

To  which  Collin  anfwered  :  Thenot,  I  perceiue  thou  art  as  all  or 
the  moft  part  of  the  world  is,  carefull  onely  of  thine  own  :  and  how 
euer  frends  fall,  yet  profit  muft  be  refpected.  Well,  thou  doft  well;  32 
and  in  this  I  dubbly  praife  thee  :  to  carke  for  fheepe  and  lambs  that 
cannot  tend  themfelues,  &  not  to  mourne  as  without  hope  our  great 
Shepheardefle,  who,  after  long  life  and  glory  on  earth,  hath  obtained 


ioo  England*  Mourning  Garment. 

a  longer  and  more  glorious  life  in  heauen.  But  to  proceede.  As  llie 
was  conttant  in  faith,  ftedfaft  in  hope,  cheerefull  in  giuing,  prudent  iti 
fpeaking,  iuft  in  punilliing,  but  moll  mercifull  in  pardoning,  fo,  for 
4  the  third  morrall  vertue,  Temperance,  there  was  in  no  age  before,  a 
woman  fo  exalted  to  earthly  honour  euer  read  off;  that  fo  long,  fo 
gratioully,  in  outward  &  domeftick  affaires  gouerned  her  kingdom, 
familie,  &  perfon,  with  like  moderation. 

8  Firft,  for  her  kingdome :  what  can  be  deuifed  more  neere  the 
meane,  than  me  hath  in  all  things  followed  ?  For  in  religion  as  in 
other  things,  there  hath  beene  an  extreame  erring  from  the  truth, 
which  like  all  vertues,  (being  indeede  the  head  of  all)  keepeth  place 

12  in  the  midft;  fo  hath  Ihs  eftablilhed  the  true  Catholicke  and  Apoftol- 
icall  Religion  in  this  Land,  neither  mingled  with  multitudes  of  Idle 
fuperftitions ;  nor  yet  wanting  true  honour  and  reuerence  for  the 
Minifterie,  in  laudable  and  long  receiued  ceremonies. 

1 6  But  here  I  mall  be  carpped  at,  in  that  I  call  the  Religion  profeft  in 
her  time,  true  C.itholike  and  Apoftolicall :  confidering,  the  Sea  of 
Rome,  and  fuch  Englilh  onely  as  be  her  fworne  Sonnes,  thinke  that 
feate  all — one  to  hold  the  Apoftolicall  faith  :  excluding  her  Maieftie, 

20  and  all  other  Chriftian  Princes  with  their  fubie&s,  that  haue  not  falne 
before  that  Chaire,  as  people  woorthie  to  be  cutte  off  from  Chriftes 
congregation  :  giuing  them  names  of  Proteftants,  Lutherans,  and  I 
know  not  what.  And  on  another  fide,  a  felecled  company,  that  would 

24  needs  be  counted  Saints  &  holy  ones,  when  there  is  nothing  but 
corruption  in  their  harts ;  they  forfooth  condemned  her  facred  gouerue- 
raent  for  Autichriftian,  when,  to  the  amazement  of  fuperftitious 
Romanes,  &  felfe-praymig  Se£tuaries,  God  approued  hir  faith  by  his 

28  loue  towards  her.  And  left  I  mould  be  taskd  of  ignorance,  and  termed 
a  Nullifidian,  in  defending  neither  of  thefe  fides,  and  ouely  of  the 
faith  that  the  Colliar  profeft,  which  was  euer  one  with  the  moft,  I 
fay,  I  was  borne  and  brought  vp  in  the  Religion  profeft  by  that  moft 

32  Chriftian  Princeffe  Elizabeth,  who  beleeued  not  that  the  fpirite  of 
God  was  bound  or  tyde  to  any  one  place,  no  more  to  Rome  than 
Antioch;  that  the  Candlefticke  of  any  Church  might  be  remooude,  for 
neglecting  their  firft  loue,  and  teaching  traditions  of  men,  in  fteede  of 

36  facred  veritie :  and  no  man  can  denie  but  the  Church  of  Rome  hath  fo 


Englands  Mourning  Garment.  lot 

taught,  and  ftandeth  not  in  her  firft  eftate,  but  if  it  were  in  the  Primi- 
tiue  Church  perfectly  and  fully  eftablifhed  :  then  hath  it  receiued 
many  traditions  fince,  which  our  Elizabeth,  nor  any  of  her  faithfull 
fubie&s,  would  obay,  being  no  way  by  Gods  word  thereunto  war-  4 
ranted  :  befides,  there  is  apparent  proofes  that  the  Church  of  Rome 
hath  many  hundred  yeares  perfecuted  with  great  crueltie  :  which  is  no  * 
badge  of  the  true  Apoftolicall  Church.  D  °riS-  no  bo] 

For  the  other  fort :  it  is  well  knowne,  they  are  for  the  moft  part,  8 
ignorant   and  mechanick   people,  leade   by  fome  fevve  hot  fpirited 
fellowes,  that  would  faine  haue  all  alike.     Thefe,  tying  themfelues  to 
a  more  ftrait  courfe  outwardly  than  other  men,  and  though  they  be 
vtterly  object  to  the  Romaniftes,  yet  haue  they  more  hee  Saints  and  12 
me   Saints  among  them   than   are  in  the  Romifh  Kalender ;  where 
none,  or  at  leaft  but  very  fewe,  are  called    Saints,  but  holy  Virgins, 
Martyrs,  and  Confeffors ;  but  all  the  bretheren  and  fifters  of  the  other 
fide,  are,  at  the  firft  receiuing  into  their  Communion,  Sainted,  if  it  be  16 
but  Kit  Cobler,  and  Kate  his  wife ;  and  both  hee  and  llie  prefume 
they  haue  as  fufficient  fpirites  to  teach  and  expound  the  Scriptures,  as 
either  Peter,  or  lohn,  or  Pauls,  for  fo  bluntly  they  terme  the  blefled 
Apoftles  :  but  their  vanitie  and  pride  our  Elizabeth  hated,  and  there-  20 
fore  bridled  their  waies,  and  was  not  mooued  with  their  hypocriticall 
faftes ;  becaufe  they  fafted  to  ftrife  and  debate,  as  it  is  written  by  the 
Prophet  Esay.  58.  and  to  fmite  with  the  rift  of  wickednes. 

Her  highnes  therefore  taught  all  her  people  the  vndoubted  truth  :  24 
that  faith  in  Chrift  alone,  the  way,  the  doore,  and  the  life  :  not  turn- 
ing either  to  the  right  hand,  or  to  the  left :  and  in  this,  being  the  beft 
meane,  her  Temperance  cheefly  appeered  :  this  rule  fhe  taught  her 
kingdome,  her  familie,  her  felfe  -.  at  leaft,  cauied  them  to  be  taught  by  2° 
excellent  Paftors,  to  whom  humbly  me  gaue  publike  eare 

As  in  this,  fo  for  apparell,  manners  and  diet,  fhe  made  Lawes,  and 
gaue  example  in  hir  owne  perfon  :  to  curb  the  vanitie  of  pride  in 
garments,  by  exprefle  Statutes  appointed  all  men  and  women  to  be  32 
apparelled  in  their  degree  and  calling.  To  reprefle  the  excefie  of 
drinking  and  hated  finne  of  drunkenneffe,  (he  hath  commaunded  no 
drinke  in  her  Land  to  be  brued  aboue  an  eafie  price :  and  to  auoid 
gurmandize,  fhe  hath  yearely  commanded  the  Lent  and  Fafting-daies  3^ 


IO2,  Englands  Mourning  Garment. 

to  be  kept,  as  in  times  before,  not  for  fuperftition  fake,  but  common 
policie,  to  haue  Gods  creatures  receiued  indifferently ;  and  alfo  to 
increafe  Marriners  for  the  ftrength  of  the  He,  whofe  numbers,  while 
4  tifli  is  contemnd,  by  neglect  of  fifhing  mightily  decay  :  tifhers  being 
indeed,  pretty  traind  Marriners,  by  reafou  that  they  haue  experience 
in  moil  of  the  Hauens,  Creekes,  Shoales,  Flats,  and  other  prolits  and 
daungers  ueere  the  places  they  vfde.  But  what  fhould  I  fay  ;  if  they 
8  that  will  onely  make  the  Scripture  their  cloke,  and  yet  refpecl  not  this 
part,  Obey  the  Magiftrate  for  confcience :  their  finne  fall  vpon  them- 
felues.  I  truft  the  Prince  is  excufable,  that  would  his  fubie&s  would 
doe  well ;  and  fo  I  am  certaine  was  her  Excellence. 

12  True,  faid  Thenot,  but  for  all  her  Lawes,  thefe  courfes  were  little 
fet  by :  I  haue  feene  vpftarts  jet  it  gayer  than  Lords,  numbers  drinke 
till  they  haue  feemde  dead,  &  multitudes  eate  fleih  euen  vpon  good 
Fryday.  What  remedie,  faid  Collon  :  they  that  will  breake  the  Kings 

1 6  Law,  make  little  account  of  Gods  :  fuch  fubie&s  are  like  falfe 
Executors,  that  performe  not  the  legacies  of  the  dead  :  her  highnes 
was  not  the  worfe  for  that  good  Lawes  were  violated :  they  that  dealt 
fo  with  her,  dealt  worfe  with  God  :  offending  him  double  by  breaking 

20  his  Lawes  and  hers.     But  in  her  owne  houfehold  and  perfon  ihe 
obferued  all  thefe  rules  :  and  though  many  abroad  by  corruption  were 
winkt  at ;  yet  fometime  there  were  fome  taken  and  paid  home. 
But  her  excelling  Selfe,  though  her  Table  were  the  abundantlieft 

24  furniftit  of  any  Princes  in  the  world  with  all  varietie  :  yet  fed  fhe 
ofteneft  of  one  dilli,  and  that  not  of  the  daintieft.  For  quaffing,  as  it 
was  vnfitting  her  Sex,  fo  ihe  extreamely  abhord  it,  hating  fuperfluitie 
as  hell :  and  fo  farre  was  fhe  from  all  nicenes,  that  I  haue  heard  it 

28  credibly  reported,  and  know  it  by  many  inflances  to  be  true,  that  fhe 
neuer  could  abide  to  gaze  in  a  mirror  or  looking  glafTe :  no,  not  to 
behold  one,  while  her  head  was  tyred  and  adornd,  but  (imply  trufted 
to  her  attendant  Ladies  for  the  comelinefle  of  her  attyre  :  and  that 

32  this  is  true,  Thenot,  I  am  the  rather  perfwaded,  for  that  when  I  was 
yong,  altnofl  thirtie  yeeres  agoe,  courting  it  now  and  than,  I  haue 
feene  the  Ladies  make  great  fhift  to  hide  away  their  looking  glaffes  if 
her  Maieftie  had  paft  by  their  lodgings. 

36       O  humble  Lady,  how  meeke  a  fpirit  hadfl  thou  !  how  farre  from 


Englands  Mourning  Garment.  103 

» 

affe&ingbeautie,  or  vaine  pride  :  when  thou  defirft  not  to  fee  that  face 
which  all  thy  fubiedts  longed  dayly  to  behold,  and  fundry  Princes 
came  from  farre  to  wonder  at. 

As  in  all  thefe  things  fhe  kept  truely  the  Meane,  fo  likewife  in  her  4 
gifts :  as  I  firft  noted  touching  her  Charitie,  which  was  ftill  fo  tem- 
pered, notwithftand'mg  her  great  charge  in  aiding  her  dtftreffed  neigh- 
bours, that  fhe  was  euer  truely  liberall,  and  no  way  prodigall :  as  I 
truft  his  Royall  Maieftie  fhall  by  the  treafure  finde.  8 

As  fhe  was  adornd  with  all  thefe  vertues ;  fo  was  fhe  indued  with 
Fortitude  and  princely  courage,  fo  plentifully,  that  her  difpleafure 
fhooke  euen  her  ftouteft  aduerfaries  :  and  thofe  vnnaturall  traytors,  that, 
came  armd  fundry  times  with  bloodie  refolution  to  lay  violent  handes  12 
on  her  facred  Maieftie,  her  verie  lookes  would  daunt,  and  their  inftru- 
ments  prepared  for  her  death,  dropt  from  their  trembling  hands  with 
terror  of  their  confciences,  and  amazement  to  behold  her  counten- 
ance; nay,  when  fhe  knew  they  came  of  purpofe  to  kill  her,  fhe  hath  16 
fingled  diuers  of  them  alone,  and  let  fome  paffe  from  her  with  milde 
caueats  a  farre  off:  whofe  lenitie,  rather  increafing  than  diminifhing 
their  malice,  they  haue  followed  deftruction,  which  too  timely  ouer 
tooke  them.  20 

I  could   in   this   place   name  many  particular  men,  as  Parry,  and 
others :  but  I  will  content  yee  with  one  priuate  example  ouerpaffing 
the  generall :  fortitude  fhe  fhowd  in  her  youth,  in  her  captiuitie,  in 
her  glory,  at  all  times  :  for  defence  of  her  faith,  and  all  oppreffed  true  24 
profeffors  thereof:  ending  with  this  example  of  her  high  courage  and 
affured  confidence  in   God.     When  Appletree,  whom   I   remembred 
before,  had  hurt  her  waterman,  being  next  to  her  in  the  Barge ;  the 
French  Ambaffador   being  amazd,  and  all   crying  Treafon,  Treafon :  28 
yet  fhe  with  an  vndaunted  fpirit,  came  to  the  open  place  of  the  Barge, 
and   bad  them  neuer  feare,  for  if  the  fhot  were  made  at  her,  they 
durft  notfhoote  againe  :  fuch  maieftie  had  her  prefence,  and  fuch  bold- 
neffe  her  heart,  that  fhe  defpifed  all  feare;  and  was,  as  all  Princes  are,  32 
or  fhould  be,  fo  full  of  diuine  fulneffe,  that  guiltie  mortalitie  durft 
not  beholde  her  but  with  dazeled  eyes. 

But  I  wonder,  faith  Thenot,  fhee  in  fo  many  yeares  built  no  goodly 
^Edifice  wherein  her  memorie  might  liue.  36 


IO4  Englanck  Mourning  Garment. 

So  did  (he,  anfwered  Collin,  the  goodlieft  building  in  the  earth, 
fuch  as,  like  fleeting  lies,  commanded  the  feas,  whofe  outward  wallcs 
are  dreadfull  Engins  of  brafle,  fending  fearefull  thunder  among 
4  enemies.  And  the  inhabitants  of  thofe  wooden  lies,  are  worthy  Sea- 
men, fuch  as  dread  no  daunger,  but  for  her  would  haue  run  euen  into 
deftrucYions  mouth.  I  tell  thee,  Thenot,  I  haue  feene  in  a  fight  fome 
like  nimble  fpirites  hanging  in  the  aire  by  little  cordes,  fome  lading 
8  ordinance  with  deathful  powder  j  fome  charging  Muskets,  and  dif- 
charging  mine  on  their  enemies ;  fome  at  the  forefhip,  others  bufie  at 
helme,  skipping  here  and  there  like  Roes  in  lightnefle,  and  Lyons  in 
courage  j  that  it  would  haue  powred  fpirit  into  a  ficke  man  to  fee 

12  their  refolutions.  For  fuch  tenants  made  me  many  buildings,  exceed- 
ing any  Emperors  Nauy  in  the  earth,  whofe  feruice  I  doubt  not  will 
be  acceptable  to  her  moft  worthy  SuccefTor,  our  dread  Soueraigne 
Lord  and  King. 

1 6  Other  Pallaces  fhee  had  great  ftore  of,  which  fliee  maintained  and 
yearely  repaired ;  at  leaft,  would  haue  done,  if  thofe  that  hadde  care 
of  her  furueying,  would  haue  bene  as  carefull  for  hers  as  for  their 
owne. 

20  What  mould  I  fay  of  her  ?  the  cloudie  mantle  of  the  night  coucrs 
the  beautie  of  the  heauen :  and  this  euening  lookes  like  thofe  foure 
dayes  that  preceded  the  morning  of  her  death.  The  beaftes  the  night 
that  fhee  ended  her  fate  in  earth,  kept  an  vnwonted  bellowing,  fo 

24  that  I  aflure  thee,  Thenot,  being  aflured  of  her  ficknes,  I  was  troubled 
(being  awakened  with  their  cries)  with  imagination  of  her  death,  that 
I  pittied  not  my  bleating  flocke,  who  with  their  innocent  notes  kept 
time  with  my  true  teares,  till  the  houre  of  her  death  was  paft,  when 

28  immediately  a  heauie  fleepe  fhut  vp  the  windowes  of  mine  eyes  :  at 
which  time,  (as  I  haue  fince  heard,)  deathes  eternall  fleepe  vtterly 
benummed  all  her  fences,  whofe  foule  (I  doubt  not)  hath  alreadie 
entred  endlefle  reft,  whether  God  will  draw  her  glorified  body  in  his 

32  great  day.  Sweete  Virgin,  fhee  was  borne  on  the  Eue  of  that  bleffed 
Virgins  Natiuitie,  holy  Mary,  Chrifts  mother :  fhee  dyed  on  the  Eue 
of  the  Anunciation  of  the  fame  moft  holy  Virgin ;  a  blefled  note  of 
her  endlefle  bleflednefle,  and  her  focietie  in  heauen  with  thofe  wife 

36  Virgins,  that  kept  Oyle  euer  in  their  Lampes,  to  awaite  the  Bride- 


Englands  Mourning  Garment.  105 

groome.     Shee  came  vnto  the  Crowne  after  her  royall  fifters  death, 
like  a  frefti  Spring  euen  in  the  beginning  of  Winter,  and  brought  vs 
comfort,  as  the  cleare  Sunne  doth  to  ftorme-dreffed  Marriners ;  fhee 
left  the  Crowne  likewife  in  the  winter  of  her  Age,  and  the  beginning  4 
of  our  Spring  :  as  if  the  Ruler  of  heauen  had  ordained  her  coronation 
in  our  fharpeft  Winter  to  bring  vs  happineffe,  &  vncrowned  her  in  our 
happieft   Spring,  to  leaue  vs  in   more  felicitie  by  her  Succeeder.     O 
happie  beginning,  and  more  happy  ende :  which  notwithstanding,  as  8 
naturall  Ibnnes  and  fubiecls,  let  her  n:>t  goe  vnwept  for  to  her  graue. 
This  euening  let  vs  be  like  the  Euening,  that,  drops  dewy  teares  on 
the  earth  :  and  while  our  hyndes  lliut  vp  the  meepe  in  their  foldes, 
fing  a  Funeral!   fong  for  the  loiTe  of  diuine  Elizabeth;  inuocating  12 
abfent   Schollers   to  bewaile   her,  whome  in  fundrie   Schooles    fhee 
cherifht,    and    perfonally    in    either    of    their    Vniuerfities    vifited  : 
let  vs  bid  fouldiers  lament  her,  toward  whom,  belides  many  apparant 
fignes  of  her  exceeding  loue,  this  is  one  moft  worth  memorie ;  fliee  16 
came  amongft  them  mounted  at  Tilburie,  beeing  gathered  into  a  royall 
Armie  againft  the  Spanim  Inuafion ;  promifing  to  fhare  with  them  in 
all  fortunes,  if  the  enemie  durft  but  mewe  his  face  aland.     Let  Ci- 
tizens likewife  fhead  teares  for  her  lolTe,  efpecially  thofe  of  London,  20 
to  whom  me  was  euer  a  kinde  Soueraigne,   and   bountifull  neigh- 
bour. 

I  neede  not  bid  the  Courtiers  weepe,  for  they  can  neuer  forget  the 
countenance  of  their  gracious  MiftrefTe,  till  they  haue  ingrauen  in  their  24 
hearts  the  fauour  of  their  moft  royall  Maifter.     For  vs  *  poore  Shep- 
heards,  though  we  are  not  able  to   fute  our  felues  in  blackes  fine 
inough  to  adorne  fo  Royall  an  Enterment,  yet,  Thenot,  quicken  thy 
inuention  ;  Dryope  and  Chloris  mail  beare  partej  and  let  vs  conclude  28 
our  forrowe  for  Eliza  in  a  Funerall  Hymne,  that  mail  haue  power  to 
drawe  from   the  fwelling   Cloudes  waters  to  affift  our  woe.      The 
Springes,  taught   by  the  teares   that  breake  from  our  eyes,  alreadie 
ouerflowe  their  boundes  :  The  Birdes  fitte  mute  to  heare  our  muficke,  32 
and  our  harmeleffe  flocke  harken  to  our  mones. 

To  this  they  all,  as  gladly  as  their  griefe  would  fuffer  them,  contented- 
Collin  for  his  broken  pipe  tooke  Cuddyes,  who  could  neither  fing  nor 
play,  he  was  fo  full  of  paflion  and  fighes.  [*  Orig.  as  36 


106  Englands  Mournins:  Gannent. 


^_it</(i*o     j.  WM.  \J  M-/  rv*r*c 

Funerall    Song   lictweene   Collin   and  Thcnot; 
Dryope  and  Chloris,  vpon  the  death  of  tliefa- 
cred  Virgin  Elizabeth. 

4  Collin. 

\7 ' Efacred  Mufes  dwelling, 
IWiere  Art  is  euerfwelling ; 
Your  learned  Fount  forfake, 

8  Helpe  Funerall  Songs  to  make  : 

Hang  them  alout  her  Herfe 
That  euer  loued  Verfe. 
Clio  writ  downe  her  Storie, 
12  That  was  the  Mufes  Glorie. 

Driope. 

And  ye    oft-footed  Howers. 
Make  readie  Cypreffe  Bowers  : 
1 6  Inftead  of  Rofes  fweete 

(For  pleafant  Spring-time  meete) 
Strew  all  the  pathes  with  Yeugh, 
Night-shade  and  fritter  Reugh. 
20  Bid  Flora  hide  her  Treafure  : 

Say  tis  no  time  of  pleafure. 

Thenot. 

And  you  aiuineft  Graces, 
24  Veyle  all  your  J acred  faces 

With  your  bright  JJiining  haire, 
Shew  euery  Jigne  of  care  : 
The  Hart  that  was  your  Phane, 
28  The  cruell  Fates  hauejlaine : 

From  earth  no  power  can  raife  her, 
Onely  our  Hymnes  may  praife  her. 

Chloris. 

32  Mufes  and  Howres  and  Graces, 

Let  all  the  hallowed  places 

Which  the  cleere  Moone  did  view, 
Looke  with  a  fable  hiew : 


Englands  Mourning  Garment.  107 

Let  not  the  Sunne  befeene, 
But  weeping  for  the  Queens 
That  Grace  and  Mnfe  did  cheri/h. 
O,  that  fuch  worth  JJiould  perl/Ji  !  4 

Collin. 

So  turne  our  verfe,  and  on  this  lofty  Pine, 
Each  one  ingrauefor  herfome  Funerall  line  : 
Thus  I  beginne.  8 

Collins  Epitaph. 

Eliza,  Maiden  Mirror  of  this  Age, 

Earths  true  Ajlrcca  while  Jhe  liu'de  and  raignde, 

Is  throwne  by  Death  from  her  triumphant  Stage,  12 

But  ly  that  fall  hath  endleffe  glorie  gainde  : 

Andfooli/Ji  death  would  faine  if  he  could  weepe, 
For  killing  Her  he  had  no  power  to  keepe. 

Thenots  Epitaph.  16 

Eliza  rich  and  Royall,faire  and  iujl: 
Giues  heauen  her  Soule,  and  leaues  her  FleJIi  to  dujl. 

Dryopes  Epitaph. 

There  is  no  beautie  but  it  vades,  20 

No  glory  but  is  veyld  withjhades  : 
So  is  Eliza,  Queene  of  Maids, 

Jtoopt  to  tier  Fate. 

Yet  Death  in  this  hath  little  thriude,  24 

For  thus  her  vertues  haue  atchiude, 
She  fliall,  by  verfe,  Hue  still  reuiude 

infpight  of  Hate. 

Chloris  Epitaph.  28 

Eliza  that  ajionijlied  her  foes, 
Stoopt  her  rebellious  fubieBs  at  herfeete: 
all  word  or  Wiofe  minde  was  *  Still  the  same  in  ioy  and  woes, 
Semper Ea-  Whofefrowne  was  fearefull,  and  herfauoursfweete  :  32 

*"*•  Swaid  all  this  land,  but  mojl  herfelfejliefwaide, 

Liude  a  chajle  Queene,  and  dide  a  Royall  Maide. 


108  Englands  Mourning  Garment. 

Thcfe  Epitaphs  ended,  the  Nymphs  and  Shepheards  led  by  Collin 
and  Thenot,  who  afore  plaide  heauy  tunes  on  their  oaten  pipes,  gotte 
to  their  feuerall  cottages,  and  fpent  their  time  till  midnight,  mourning 
4  for  Eliza :  But  Sleepe,  the  equaller  of  Kings  and  captiues,  baniflied 
their  forrowes.  What  humor  they  are  in  after  reft,  you  mall  in  the 
morning  neare :  for  commonly,  as  the  day  is,  fo  are  our  affections  dif- 
pofed. 


IfThe  order  and  proceeding  at  the  Fu- 

nerall  of  the    Right   High   and   Might ie 

Princesse  Elizabeth  Queene  of  England,  France,  and 
Ireland :  from  the  Pallace  of  Westminster  called  White-hall 
To  the  Cathedrall  Church  of  Westminster  :  the 
28.  of  April.  1603. 


FIrft,  the  Knight  Marshals  man, 
to  make  way. 

Next,  the   z^o.   poore   women  by 
fou re  and  foure.  4 

Then,  feruants  of  Gentlemen,  Ef- 
quiers,  and  Knights. 

Two  Porters.  0 

o 

Next,  foure  Trumpetors. 

After  them 
Rofe,  Purjiuant  at  Amies.         12 

Two  Sergeants  at  Armes. 

The  Slander d  of  the  Dragon, 

16 
Two  Querries  leading  a  horfe. 

Then  the  meflcngers  of  the  Cham- 
ber, foure  and  foure. 

Children  of  the  Almondry.  2Q 

Children  of  the  Woodyard, 
Children  of  the  Skullery. 
Children  and  turners  of  the  paftry. 
The  Skalding  houfe. 
The  Larder. 

After  them 

Groomes. 
Wheate  porters.  28 


Coopers. 

Wine-porters. 

Conduits  in  the  Bakehoufe. 

Bel-ringer. 

Maker  of  Spice-bags. 

Cart  takers,  chofen  by  the  bord. 

Long  Cartes. 

Cart  takers. 

Of  the  Almery. 

Of  the  Stable. 

Of  the  Woodyard. 

Skullery 

Paftrie. 

Skalding  houfe. 

Poultrie. 

Caterie. 

Boyling  houfe. 

Larder. 

Kitchin. 

Laundrie. 

Ewry. 

Confectionary. 

Wafery. 

Chaundry. 

Pircherhoufe. 

Buttrie. 

Seller. 

Pantrie. 


I  10 


The  Funeral  I. 


Bakehoufe. 
Countinghoufe. 

Then    Noblemens   and    Embafladors 
feruants. 

Groomes  of  the  Chamber. 
Foure  Trumpeters. 

Blewmantle. 

A  Sergeant  at  Armes. 

The  St under d  of 'the  Greyhound. 

Two  Quirries  leading  a  horfe. 

Yeomen  of  the  Seruitors  in  the 

hall,  foure  and  foure. 


Garneter. 
Bakehoufe. 
Counting  houfe. 
4      Spicery. 
Chamber, 
Robes, 
Wardrop. 

Erles  and  Countefles  feruants. 

Foure  Trumpeters. 
12 

Portcullis. 

A  Sergeant  at  Armes. 
16 

The  Standerd  of  the  Lion. 

Two  Quirries  leading  a  horfe 


Cart  takers. 

20                   trapped  with  vel- 

Porters. 

uet. 

Almondrie. 

Sergeant  of  the  veftry. 

Herbengers. 

Children  of  the  Chappeil  in  furpleffes 

Woodyard. 

4       Gent,  of  the  Chappel,  in  Copes. 

Skullery. 

Paftrie. 

Clarkes. 

Poultrie  and  skalding  houfe. 
Purueyors  of  the  Poultrie. 
Purueyors  of  the  Acatrie. 

o      Deputie  Clarke  of  the  Market. 
Clarkes  extraordinarie. 
Coferer. 

Stable. 

Diet. 

Boyling  houfe. 

M.  Cooke  for  the  houfhold. 

Larder. 

32       Paftrie. 

Kitchin. 

Larder. 

Ewrie. 

Skullerie. 

Confe&ionarie. 

Woodyard. 

Waferie. 

3         Poultrie. 

Purueyor  of  the  wax. 

Bakehoufe. 

Tallow  Chandler. 

Acatrie. 

Chaundrie. 

Stable. 

Pitcher  houfe. 

40 

Brewers 

Sergeants. 

Buttrie. 

Gent.  Herbinger. 

Purueyors. 

Wood-yard. 

Seller. 

44      Skullery. 

Pantrie.. 

Paftrie. 

The  FuneralL 


in 


Caterie. 

Larder. 

Ewry. 

Seller. 

Pantrie. 

Bakehoufe. 

Mafter  Cooke  of  the  Kitchin. 

Clarkes  of  the  Querrie. 
Second  and  third  clarke  of  the 

Chaundrie. 
Second  &  third  clarke  of  the  Kitchin. 

Superuifors  of  the  Drefler. 

Surueyer  of  the  drefler,  for  the 

chamber. 

Mufitions. 

Apoticaries  and  Chirurgions. 
Sewers  of  the  hall. 
Marfhall  of  the  hall. 
Sewers  of  the  chamber 
Groome  Porter. 

Gentlmen  vfhers  and  waiters. 
Clarke,  Marfhall,  and  Auenor. 
Chiefe  clarke  of  the  wardrop. 
Chiefe  clarke  of  the  Kitchin. 
Two  clarkes  controllers. 
Clarke  of  the  Greenecloth. 
Maifter  of  the  houfhold. 
Cofferer. 

Rouge  Dragon. 
A  Sergeant  at  Armes. 
The  Banner  of  Chefter. 

Clarks  of  the  Counfel,  foure  &  foure. 
Clarkes  of  the  priuie  Scale. 
Clarkes  of  the  Signet. 
Clarkes  of  the  Parliament. 
Doftors  of  Phificke. 
The  Queenes  Chaplaines. 
Secretaries  for  the  Latine  and  French 
tongue. 


Rouge  Crqffe. 
Two  Sergeants  of  Armes. 

The  Banner  of  Cornewall. 

Aldermen  of  London. 
Solliciter,  Atturney,  and  Sergeant. 
Maifter  of  Reuels,  &  M.  of  the  Tents. 
Knights  Bachelors. 
Lord  chiefe  Baron,  and  Lord  chiefe 
luftice  of  the  Common  pleas. 

Maifter  of  the  lewell  houfe. 
I  2 

Knights  Embafladors,  &  Gentlemen 

Agents. 

Sewers  for  the  Queene. 
Sewers  for  the  Body. 
*"  Efquires  of  the  Body. 

Lancajler  and  IVindfor. 
The  Banner  of  Wales. 
The  Banner  of  Ireland. 

Maifter  of  the  Requefts. 

Agents  for  Venice,  and  the  Eftates, 

Lord  Maior  of  London. 
4  Sir  lohn  Popham.     Sir  lohn  Fortefcue. 

Sir  Rober  Cicell  principall  Secretary. 

Controller  &  Treafurer  of  houfhold. 

Barons. 

Bifhoppes. 

Erles  eldeft  fonnes. 

Vifcounts. 

Dukes  fecond  fonnes. 
32  Erles. 

Marquefes. 

Bifhop  Almoner.     Preacher. 

Lord  Keeper. 
36  The  French  Embaflador. 

Archbifhop  of  Canterburie. 

Foure  Sergeants  of  Armes. 
The great  embrotherdBaner  of 'England 

Somerfet  and  Richmond. 
Yorke,  Helme  and  Creaft. 
Chefter,  Target, 


28 


I  12 


The  Funerall. 


Norrey  King  at  Armes,  Sword. 
Clarenceaux  King  at  Armes,  Coate. 

After  them  the  Gentlemen  vfhers 
with  white  Rods. 

The  liuely  pifture  of  her  Highnefle 
whole  body,  crowned  in  her  Par- 
liament Robes,  lying  on  the  corps 
balmed  and  leaded,  couered  with 
veluet,  borne  in  a  chariot,  drawne 
by  foure  horfes  trapt  in  blacke  vel- 
uet. 

About  it  fixe  Banner  Rolls  on  each 
fide :  Gentlemen  pentioners  with 
their  Axes  downeward. 

With  them  the  Footemen. 

A  Canapy  borne  ouer  the  chariot  by 

foure  Noblemen. 
The  Erie  of  Worcefter  maifterof  the 

horfe,  leading  the  Palfrie  of  Honour. 


Two   Efquiers  and  a  groome,  to 
attend  and  leade  him  away. 

Gentlemen  vfher,  Garter  K.  of  Armes. 
4  Lady  MarchionefTe  of  Northamton, 
aflifted  by  the  Lord  Treafurer  and 
Lord  Admiral). 

Chiefe  mourner,   her  traine   fuppor- 
8       ted  by  maifter  Vicechamberlaine  : 
Two  Erles  afliftants  to  her. 
Fourteene  Countefles  affiftants. 
Gentlewomen  of  the  Priuy  chamber. 
12  Countefles. 

Vifcountefles 
Erles  daughters. 
BaroneflVs 

1 6       Maids   of  Honour,  of  the  Priuy 
chamber. 

Captaine  of  the  Guard,   with  all 
the  Guard  following,  flue  and  fiue  in 
20  a  ranke,  their  holberds  downeward. 


To  the  Reader. 

ILoue  as  little  as   any  man  to  come  in  print :  but  feeing  affecYion  hath 
made  me  commit  this  fault,  I   pray  you  pardon  it ;  and  amend  in  reading 
the  Printers  errors  ;  where,  being  ill  acquainted  with  Poetrie,  he  hath  paflcd 
Herores '  for  Heroes ;  what  euer  elfe  feemes  haffti,  imagine  I  can  write  Eng- 
lifh,  and  make  not  the  fault  mine. 

Farewell.  Hen :  Chetle. 


1  This  must  be  for  '  Hewres  last  M listens,'  sig.  D  3  of  the  original,  p.  98  of  this 
reprint. 


The    Shepheards    Spring    Song,    in    gratula- 

tion  of  the  royall,  happy,  and  flourishing  Entrance, 

to  the  Maiestie  of  England,  by  the  most  potent 

and  prudent  Soueraigne,  lames  king  of  Eng-  4 

land,  France  and  Ireland. 

Collin.^r^fjenot  and  Chloris,  red  lipt  Driope, 

JL   Shepheards,  Nymphs,  Swaines,  al  that  delight  in  field, 
Liuing  by  harmelefle  thrift  your  fat  heards  yeelde,  8 

Why  flacke  yee  now  your  loued  company  ? 

Vp  fluggards,  learne,  the  larke  doth,  mounted,  fing 

His  cheerefull  Carrolls,  to  falute  our  King. 

The  Mauis,  blacke-bird,  and  the  little  Wren,  I2 

The  Nightingale  vpon  the  hawthorne  brire, 
And  all  the  wingd  Mufitions  in  a  Quire, 
Do  with  their  notes  rebuke  dull  lazie  men. 

Vp  flieperds,  vp ;  your  floth  breeds  al  your  fliames  16 

You  fleep  like  beafts,  while  birds  falute  K.  lames. 
The  gray  eyde  morning  with  a  bluftring  cheeke, 
Like  Englands  royall  Rofe  mixt  red  and  white, 

Summons  all  eies  to  pleafure  and  delight.  20 

Behold  the  euenings  deaws  doe  vpward  reeke, 

Drawn  by  the  Sun,  which  now  doth  gild  the  skie, 

With  his  light-gluing  and  world-cheering  eie. 

O  thats  well  done ;  I  fee  your  caufe  of  ftay  24 

Was  to  adorne  your  temples  with  frefh  flowers, 
And  gather  beautie  to  bedecke  your  bowers, 
That  they  may  feeme  the  Cabinets  of  Maie  : 

Honor  this  time,  fweeteft  of  all  fweete  Springs,  28 

That  fo  much  good,  fo  many  pleafures  brings. 
For  now  alone  the  liuery  of  the  earth 
Giues  not  life,  comfort,  to  your  bleating  Lambes, 

Nor  fills  the  ftrowting  vdders  of  their  dams,  32 

It  yeeldes  another  caufe  of  gleefome  mirth, 

This  ground  weares  all  her  beft  embrodery, 

To  entertaine  her  Soueraignes  maieftie. 


ALLUSION-BOOKS. 


ii4  The  Shepheards 

And  well  fhe  may,  for  neuer  Englifli  ground 
Bore  fuch  a  Soueraigne  as  this  royall  Lord  : 
Looke  vpon  all  Antiquities  Record] 
4  In  no  Inrollment  fuch  a  King  is  found. 

Beginne  with  Brute,  (if  that  of  Brute  be  true,) 
As  I'le  not  doubt,  but  giue  old  Bards  their  due. 
He  was  a  Prince  vnfetled,  fought  a  Shore 
8  To  reft  his  long-tofll  Troyan  fcattred  Race  : 
And  (as  tis  fed)  found  here  a  refting  place : 
Grant  this :  but  yeeld,  he  did  falfe  gods  adore. 

The  Nations  were  not  calld  to  Chrift  that  time, 
1 2      Blacke  Pagan  clouds  darkned  this  goodly  Clime. 
So,  when  diflention  brought  the  Romans  in, 
No  Ccefar  till  the  godly  Conftantine, 
(Defcended  truely  from  the  Brittifh  line) 
1 6  Purgde  this  lies  aire  from  Idoll-hated  finnej 
Yet  he  in  care  of  Rome  left  Deputies. 
Our  lames  maintaines  (himfelfe,)  his  dignities. 
The  Saxon,  &:  the  Dane,  fcourgd  with  iharp  fteele, 
20  (So  did  the  Norman  Duke)  this  beauteous  Land, 
Inuading  Lords  raigne  with  an  yron  hand  : 
A  gentler  ruling  in  this  Change  we  feele, 
Our  Lion  comes  as  meekely  as  a  Doue, 
24      Not  conq'ring  vs  by  hurt,  but  harty  loue. 
Euen  as  a  calme  to  tempeft  tofled  men, 
As  bread  to  the  faint  foule  with  famine  vext  j 
As  a  coole  Spring  to  thofe  with  heate  perplext, 
28  As  the  Sunnes  light  into  a  fearefull  denne, 

So  comes  our  King :  euen  in  a  time  of  neede, 
To  faue,  to  mine,  to  comforte  and  to  feede. 
O  Shepheards,  fing  his  welcome  with  fweete  notes, 
32  Nymphs,  ftrew  his  way  with  Rofes  Red  and  White, 
Prouide  all  paftimes  that  may  fenfe  delight, 
Offer  the  fleeces  of  your  flockes  white  cotes  : 
He  that  now  fpares,  doth  in  that  fauing,  fpillj 
Where  Worth  is  little,  Vertue  likes  good  will. 


Spring-Song.  115 

Now  from  the  Orchades  to  the  Cornifh  lies, 

From  thence  to  Cambria,  and  the  Hyberian  more, 

The  found  of  Ciuill  warre  is  heard  no  more ; 

Each  Countenance  is  garniftied  with  fmiles,  4 

All  in  one  hymne  with  fweet  contentment  fing, 

The  praife  and  power  of  lames  their  onely  King. 
Our  onely  King,  one  He,  one  Soueraignej 

O  long-defired,  and  perfected  good  !  8 

By  him  the  heate  of  wrath,  and  boyling  blood, 
Is  mildely  quencht  j  and  Enuie  counted  vaine  : 

One  King,  one  people,  blefled  vnitie, 

That  ties  fuch  mightie  Nations  to  agree.  12 

Shepheardes,  He  not  be  tedious  in  my  Song ; 
For  that  I  fee  you  bent  to  a6tiue  fport  ; 
Though  I  perfwade  me  all  time  is  too  fliort 
To  welcome  him,  whome  we  haue  wilht  for  long.  16 

Well  done,  dance  on  j  looke  how  our  little  lambs, 

Skippe  as  you  fpring,  about  their  fleecie  dams. 
Thus  were  yee  wont  to  trip  about  the  Greene, 

And  dance  in  ringlets,  like  to  Fairie  Elues,  20 

Striuing  in  cunning  to  exceede  your  felues, 
In  honour  of  your  late  falne  fummer  Queene  : 

But  now  exceede ;  this  Maie  excelles  all  Springs, 

Which  King  &  Queene,  and  Prince  &  Princeile  brings.  24 

Showt  ioyfully,  ye  Nymphs,  and  rurall  Swaines, 
Your  maifter  Pan  will  now  prote6t  your  foldes, 
Your  Cottages  will  be  as  fafe  as  Holdes, 
Feare  neither  Wolues  nor  fubtill  Foxes  traines,  28 

A  Royall  King  will  of  your  weale  take  keepe, 

Hee'le  be  your  Shepheard,  you  fhalbe  his  meepe. 
He  comes  in  pompej  fo  mould  a  King  appearej 

Gods  Deputie  mould  fet  the  world  at  gaze  j  32 

Yet  his  milde  lookes  driue  vs  from  all  amaze ; 
Clap  hands  for  ioy,  our  Soueraigne  draweth  neere  j 

Sing  Id,  16,  fhepheards,  dance  and  fing, 

Expreffe  all  ioy,  in  welcoming  our  King.  36 


n6 


The  Skepheards  Spring-Song. 


The  aire,  the  feafon,  and  the  Earth  accord 
In  Pleafure,  Order,  both  for  fight  and  fenfe  : 
All  things  looke  frefh  to  greet  his  Excellence, 
4  And  Collin  humbly  thus  falutes  his  Lord : 

Drad  and  beloude,  liue  Englands  happy  King, 
While  feafons  laft,  freih  as  the  liuely  fpring. 


FINIS. 


A  MOURNEFULL  DITTIE 

entituled 

Elizabeths  Losse 

together  with 

A  Welcome  for  King  James 
(A.D.  1603) 


[Reprinted  from  the  unique  original  in  the  Heber  Collection  of 
Ballads  and  Broadsides  in  the  possession  of  S.  Christie-Miller,  Esq., 
of  Britwell  House,  Burnham,  Buckinghamshire,  to  whose  kindness 
the  Society  is  indebted  for  a  transcript  of  the  Ballad,  and  the  collation 
of  the  proof  with  the  original.] 


n8 

A  mournefull  Dittie,  entituled  Elizabeths  losse, 
together  with  a  welcome  for  King  lames. 


To  a  pleasant  new  tune. 


4    Farewell,  farewell,  farewell, 

braue  Englands  ioy : 
Gone  is  thy  friend 

that  kept  thee  from  annoy. 
8  Lament,  lament,  lament 

you  English  Peeres, 
Lament  your  losse 

possest  so  many  yeeres. 

1 2  Gone  is  thy  Queene,  the 

paragon  of  time, 
On  whom  grim  death 

hath  spred  his  fatall  line. 
1 6          Lament,  lament,  &c. 

Gone  is  that  gem  which 

God  and  man  did  loue, 
She  hath  vs  left 

20      to  dwell  in  heauen  aboue. 
Lament,  lament,  &c. 

You  gallant  Ladies 

of  her  Princely  traine, 
24  Lament  your  losse 

your  loue,  your  hope,  and  gaine. 
Lament,  lament,  &c. 

Weepe  wring  your  hands, 
28      all  clad  in  mourning  weeds, 


Shew  foorth  your  loue, 

in  tongue  in  hart  and  deeds. 
Lament,  lament,  &c. 

Full  foure  and  fortie  yeeres 
foure  moneths  seauen  dayes, 

She  did  maintaine  this  realme 
in  peace  alwayes. 

Lament,  lament,  &c. 

In  spite  of  Spaines  proud  Pope, 

and  all  the  rout, 
Who  Lyon  like  ran 

ranging  round  about. 
Lament,  lament,  &c. 

With  traiterous  plots  to  stay 

her  Royall  grace, 
Her  realme,  her  lawes 

and  Gospell  to  deface, 
Lament,  lament,  &c. 

Yet  time  and  tide  God  still 

was  her  defence, 
Till  for  himselfe  from  vs 

hee  tooke  her  hence 
Lament,  lament,  &c. 

We  neede  net  to  rehearse 
what  care  what  griefe, 


A  Mournefull  Dittie. 


119 


She  still  endured, 

and  all  for  our  reliefe. 
Lament,  lament,  &c. 

We  neede  not  to  rehearse 

what  benefits, 
You  all  inioyd,  what  pleasures 

and  what  gifts. 

Lament,  lament,  &c. 

You  Virgins  all  bewayle 
your  Virgin  Queene, 

That  Phoenix  rare, 

on  earth  but  sildome  scene. 
Lament,  lament,  &c. 

With  Angels  wings  she  pearst 

the  starrie  skie, 
When  death,  grim  death, 

hath  shut  her  mortall  eye. 
Lament,  lament,  &c. 


Mourne  Trumpets  shrill, 

mourne  Cornets  mute  &  round. 
Lament,  lament,  &c. 

You  Poets  all  braue  Shakspeare,      4 

Johnson,  Greene, 
Bestow  your  time  to  write 

for  Englands  Queene. 

Lament,  lament,  &c  8 

Returne  your  songs  and  Sonnets 

and  your  sayes : 
To  set  foorth  sweete 

Elizabeths  praise.  12 

Lament,  lament,  &c. 


In  fine  all  you 

that  loyall  harts  possesse, 
With  Roses  sweete, 

bedeck  hir  Princely  hearse. 
Lament,  lament,  &c. 


16 


You  Nimphs  that  sing  and  bathe,   Bedeck  that  hearse 


in  Fountaines  cleere : 
Come  lend  your  helpe  to  sing 
in  mournefull  cheere. 
Lament,  lament,  &c. 

All  you  that  doe  professe 

Sweet  musicks  Art, 
Lay  all  aside,  your  Vyoll 

Lute  and  Harpe, 

Lament,  lament,  &c. 


sprong  from  that  famous  King,   2O 
King  Henrie  the  eight, 

whose  fame  on  earth  doth  ring. 
Lament,  lament,  £c. 


Now  is  the  time  that  we 

must  all  forget, 
Thy  sacred  name 

oh  sweet  Elizabeth. 
Lament,  lament,  &c. 


24 


Mourne  Organs,  Flutes,  Praying  for  King  lames, 

Mourne  Sagbuts  with  sad  soud:       as  earst  we  prayed  for  thee, 


I2O 


A  Mounicfull  Ditlie. 


In  all  submissiue  lone 
and  loyaltie. 

Lament,  lament,  &c. 

4  Beseeching  God  to  blesse 

his  Maiestie 
with  earthly  peace 
and  heauens  felicitie. 
Lament,  lament,  &c. 

And  make  his  raigne 

more  prosperous  here  on  earth 


Then  was  the  raigne 
of  late  E/ii-dl'cth. 
Lament,  lament,  &c. 

Wherefore  all  you 

that  subiects  true  beare  names 
Still  pray  with  me,  and  say 
God  saue  King  lames. 
Lament,  lament,  lament, 

you  English  Pceres, 
Lament  your  losse  enioyd 
So  many  yeeres. 


FINIS. 


Imprinted  at  London  for  T.  P. 


12,1 


I.  C.'s  1 2th  Epigram,  from 

"EPIGRAMES 

Serued  out  in  <J2.  feuerall 
Dijhes  for   euery  man  to 

taft  without  fur  feting. 

Modicum  non  nocet. 

By  7.  C.  Gent. 


LONDON 

Printed  by  G.  Elde,  for  W.  C.  and  are 

to  be  folde  at  his  Shop  neere 
vnto  Ludgate." 

[Bodleian  Press-mark,  Malone  373.] 


[Sign.  B.]  Epigrames. 

12 

WHo  er'e  will  go  vnto  the  prelfe  may  fee 
The  hated  Fathers  of  vilde  balladrie : 
4  One  fings  in  his  bale  note  the  Riuer  Thames 

Shal  found  the  famous  memory  of  noble  king  lames ; 
Another  fayes  that  he  will,  to  his  death, 
Sing  the  renowned  worthinefle  of  Tweet  Elizaleth  ; 
8  So  runnes  their  verfe  in  fuch  difordered  ftraine, 
And-with  them  dare  great  maiefty  prophane, 
Some  dare  do  this ;  fome  other  humbly  craucs 
For  helpe  of  fpirits  in  their  fleeping  graues, 
12  As  he  that  calde  to  Shakefpeare,  lohnfon,  Greene, 
To  write  of  their  dead  noble  Queene ; 

But  he  that  made  the  Ballads  of  oh  hone,1  • 

Did  wondrous  well  to  whet  the  buyer  on  : 
1 6  Thefe  fellowes  are  the  flaunderers  of  the  time, 
Make  ryming  hatefull  through  their  baftard  rime. 
But  were  I  made  a  iudge  in  poetry, 
They  all  mould  burne  for  their  vilde  herefie. 

1  Mr  W.  Chappell  believes  that  the  Erse  and  Gaelic  exclamation  O hone!  was  first 
introduced  in  English  Ballads  after  the  execution  of  the  Earl  of  Essex.  One  of  the 
charges  against  him  was  that  of  disloyalty  in  his  administration  of  Ireland.  A  contem- 
porary ballad  says, 

Would  God  he  ne'er  had  Ireland  known 

Nor  fet  one  foot  on  Flanders  ground.    (Rox.  Bal.  I.  p.  573,  11.  i.  2.) 
This  ballad  opens  with  an  appeal  to  the  Irish  to  join  in  bewailing  his  untimely  death  : 
All  you  that  cry  O  hone  !  O  hone  ! 
Come  now  and  fing  O  hone  /  with  me. 

O  hone,  Och  hone,  or  Ochone,  i.  e.  alas  !  is  still  sung  to  music  by  the  Irish  and  the 
Scotch.    One  of  Wilson's  most  effective  songs  was  the  dirge  on  the  Glencoe  massacre, 
called  Ochone  Ochri  Oh  !    Another  ballad  with  the  burden  O  Hone  was  printed  by 
Mr  W.  Chappell  in  his  Popular  Music,  vol.  i.  p.  370.     Its  date  is  1670 — 1680. 
Franklin,  my  loyal  friend,  O  hone,  O  hone  ! 
In  whom  my  joys  do  end,  O  hone,  O  hone  1 
Franklin,  my  heart's  delight, 
Since  last  he  took  his  flight, 
Bids  now  the  world  good-night, 

O  hone,  O  hone  ! 

The  title  of  the  original  ballad  is,  says  Mr  Chappell,  "  A  mournful  Caral  :  Or  an 
Elegy  lamenting  the  tragical  ends  of  two  unfortunate  faithful  Lovers,  Franklin  and 
Cordelia  :  he  being  slain,  she  slew  herself  with  her  dagger.  To  a  new  tune  called 
Franklin  is  fled  away."  Black-letter.  Printed  for  M.  Coles,  T.  Vere,  J.  Wright, 
}.  Clarke,  W.  Thackeray,  and  T.  Passinger.  Six  stanzas  in  the  first,  and  8  in  the 
second  part.  Copies  of  this  ballad  are  in  the  Pepys  Collection,  ii.  76 ;  the  Rox- 
burghe,  ii.  348  ;  the  Bagford,  643,  m.  10,  p.  69  ;  and  the  Douce,  fol.  222.  As  E. 
Elde  printed  Palladis  Palalium  in  1604,  Ben  Jonson's  Sejanus  in  1605,  and  many 
other  books  up  to  1622,  the  date  of  I.  C.'s  Epigram  maybe  any  time  within  that 
period  :  but  on  internal  evidence  we  should  place  it  very  early. 


123 


Gabriel  Harvey's  Third  Letter, 


from 


and  certaine  Sonnets : 

Efpedally  touching  Robert  Greene,  and  other  parties, 

by  him  alufed  : 
But  incidently  of  diverfe  excellent  perfons, 

and  feme  matters  of  note, 
To  all  courteous  mindes,  that  will  voutchfqfe  the  reading. 


LONDON 

Imprinted  by  lohn  Wolfe 
1592." 


124  GABRIEL    HARVE\''s    THIRD    LETTER,    1592. 


(pages.  1.5—50.) 

The  Third  Letter. 
To  euery  Reader,  fauourablie,  or  indifferently  affected. 

ILbeit  for  thefe  tuelue,  or  thirteene  yeares,  no  man  hath  beene 
more  loth,  or  more  fcrupulous,  then  myfelfe,  to  vnderlie  the 
cenfure  of  euery  curious  conceite,  or  rigorous  Judgement,  that 
pretendeth  a  deepe  infight  in  the  perfections  of  wits  and  ftiles,  info- 
much  that  euen  Actions  of  Silence  and  Patience  haue  bene  com- 
8  menced  againft  me  :  and  although  I  ftil  dwel  in  the  fame  opinion,  that 
nothing  would  be  committed  to  a  publike  view,  that  is  not  exactly 
laboured  both  for  matter  and  maner  :  and  that  importeth  not  fome 
notable  vfe,  to  one,  or  other  effec[t]uall  purpofe :     Yet  partlie  the 
12  vehemente  importunity  of  fome  affectionate  friends,  and  partly  mine 
owne  tender  regard  of  my  fathers,  and  my  brothers  good  reputation, 
haue  fo  forcibly  ouer-ruled  me,  that  I  haue  finally  condefcended  to 
their  paffionate  motion  :  and  in  an  extraordinarie  cafe,  haue  refpect- 
16  iuely  yeelded  my  confent  to  an  extraordinary  courfe.    Which  I  would 
vnpartially  commend  to  the  reafonable  allowance  of  euery  indiferent 
perufer  that  carrieth  Courtefie  in  his  Tongue,  or  honefty  in  his  Hart. 
For  mine  own  iniury,  the  more  I  confider,  the  lefle  I  eflimate  the 
20  fame:  as  one  born  to  fuffer,  &  made  to  contemne  iniuries.     He  that 
in  his  youth  flattered  not  himfelfe  with  the  exceeding  commendations 
of  fome  greateft  fchollers  in  the  worlde  :  cannot  at  thefe  yeares,  either 
be  difcouraged  with  mifreporte,  or  daunted  with  misfortune.     A  pre- 
24  meditate,  &  refolute  minde  lightly  fhaketh  off  the  heauieft  crofles  of 
malice,  and  eafely  pafleth  ouer  a  thoufande  grieuances  with  a  fmjle. 
Some  haue  learned  of  Reafon,  fome  of  Philofophy,  fome  of  Hiflory, 
fome  of  Diuinitie,  fome  of  Experience,  fome  of  all,  to  endure  patiently, 
28  whatfoeuer  befalleth,  &  euen  to  make  the  cruelleft  paine  pleafant,  as 
fome  make  the  fweteft  pleafure  painefull.     I  had  rather  name  Titius, 


GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,  1592.  125 

or  Sempronius,  then  my  felfe :     But  the  vrgent  entreaty  of  friends, 
and  your  eager  expectation  haue  fuddainely  obtained  that,  which  no 
perfonall  empeachment,  or  real  enforcement  could  in  many  yeres 
extort.     Howbeit   I  mall  hardly  content  them,  to  fatisfy  you  :  that  4 
am  neither  to  offend  any,  but  in  cafe  of  notoriety  :  nor  to  defend  my 
felfe,  but  in  cafe  of  neceflity,  or  honefty.     If  anie  haue  charged  mee, 
or  do  charge  mee  with  infufficiency,  I  confefTe :  perfection  is  no  com- 
mon   gifte :   if  with   ignorance,  I   graunt :    many  feeme,  fewe  are,  8 
learned :    if    with   limplicity,   I   yeeld  :    wondrous   wittes    are    rare 
birdes  :  if  with  ill-lucke,  I  deny  not :  good  lucke  is  not  euerie  mans 
lotte  :  yet  who  euer  hearde  me  complaine  of  ill-lucke,  or  once  fay, 
Fortune  my  Foe  ?     But  in  the  plainneile  of  my  nature,  and  fimplicitie  12 
of  my  Arte,  I  can  eafely  defie  the  proudeft,  that  dareth  cal  my  credite 
in  queftion  :  or  accufe  me  of  any  difhonelt,  or  fcandelous  parte,  either 
in  deede,  or  in  word.     Many  thinges  are  made  offenfiue  in  the  hand- 
ling, that  are  tollerable  inough  in  their  owne  nature:  or  fie  on  an  16 
odious  circumftaunce,   where  the  fubftance  it  felfe   might  be  more 
gratious.     Letters  may  bee  priuately  written,  that  would  not  bee  pub- 
likely  diuulged  :  I  was  then  yong  in  years,  frefh  in  courage,  greene 
in  experience,  and  as  the  manner  is,  fomewhat  ouerweeninge  in  con-  20 
ceit :  and  for  varietie  of  ftudy,  and  fome  deeper  intelligence  in  the 
affayres  of  the  worlde,  otherwhiles  reading  inuecYiues,  and  Satyres, 
artificially  amplifyed  in  the  moft  exaggerate  and  hyperbolicall  kinde, 
I  coulde  hardlye  refraine  from  difcoueringe  fome  little  part  of  my  read-  24 
ing :  I  had  curioufly  laboured  fome  exa6t,  and  exquifite  poyntes  of 
ftudie  and  pra6tife,  and  greatly  mifliked  the  prepofterous  and  vntoward 
courfes  of  diuers  good  wits,  ill  directed ;  there  wanted  not  fome  lharpe 
vndeferued  difcourtefies  to  exafperate  my  mind  :  mall  I  touch  the  28 
vlcer  ?  it  is  no  fuch  myfterye,  but  it  may  be  reuealed  :  I  was  fuppofed 
not  vnmeet  for  the  Oratormip  of  the  vniuerfity,  which  in  that  fpringe 
of  mine  age,  for  my  Exercife,  and  credite,  I  earneilly  afte&ed :  but 
mine   owne  modeft  petition,  my  friendes   diligent  labour,  our  high  32 
Chauncelors  moft-honourable  and  extraordinarye  commendation,  were 
all  peltingly  defeated,  by  a  flye  praftife  of  the  olde  Fox  :  whole  a£ts, 
and  monumentes  lhal  neuer  dye :  fome  like  accidents  of  diflike,  for 
breuity  I  ouerflip  :  young  bloud  is  hot  :  youth  hafty  :  ingenuity  open  :  36 


126          GABRIEL  HAKVEY's  THIRD  LETTER,  1592. 

abufe  impatiente  :  choler  ftomachous  :  temptations  bufie  :  the  In- 
uectiue  vaine,  a  fturring,  and  tickeling  vaine :  the  Satyricall  humour, 
a  purfinge,  and  fwellinge  humor  :  Conceit  penneth,  lei  lure  perufeth, 
4  and  Curtefy  commendeth  many  needlefle  difcourfes :  Idlenefle,  the 
greateft  Author  and  variableft  Reader  in  the  world  :  fome  familiar 
friendes  pricked  me  forward :  and  I,  neither  fearing  daunger,  nor 
fufpe&ing  ill  meafure,  (poore  credulitie  fone  beguiled)  was  not 
8  vnwilling  to  content  them,  to  delight  a  few  other  and  to  auenge,  or 
fatisfie  my  felfe,  after  the  manner  of  fhrewes,  that  cannot  otherwife 
eafe  their  curil  hearts,  but  by  their  owne  tongues,  &  their  neigh- 
bours eares.  Signer  Immerito  (for  that  name  will  be  remembred) 

12  was  then,  and  is  ftill,  my  affectionate  friend,  one  that  could  very  wel 
abide  Gafcoignes  Steele  glafle,  and  that  ftoode  equallie  indifferent  to 
either  part  of  the  ftate  Demo[n]ftratiue  :  many  communications  and 
writings  may  fecretlie  pafle  betweene  fuch,  euen  for  an  exercife  of 

1 6  fpeech  and  ftile,  that  are  not  otherwife  conuenient  to  be  difclofed  : 
it  was  the  finifter  hap  of  thofe  infortunate  Letters,  to  fall  into  the  left 
handes  of  malicious  enemies,  or  vndifcreete  friends :  who  aduentured 
to  imprint  in  earneft,  that  was  fcribled  in  ieft,  (for  the  moody  fit  was 

20  foone  ouer  :)  and  requited  their  priuate  pleafure  with  my  publike  dif- 
pleafure :  oh  my  ineftimable,  and  infinite  difpleafure.  When  there 
was  no  remedie,  but  melancholy  patience  :  and  the  fharpeft  parte  of 
thofe  vnlucky  Letters  had  bene  ouer  read  at  the  Councell  Table :  I 

24  was  aduifed  by  certaine  honourable,  and  diuers  worfhipfull  perfons, 
to  interpreate  my  intention  in  more  expreffe  termes  :  and  thereupon 
difcourfed  euerie  particularitie,  by  way  of  Articles  or  Pofitions,  in  a 
large  Apology  of  my  duetiful,  and  entier  affection  to  that  flourifhing 

28  Vniuerfitie,  my  deere  Mother :  which  Apology,  with  not  fo  few  as 
forty  fuch  Academicall  Exercifes,  and  fundry  other  politique  Dif- 
courfes, I  haue  hitherto  fuppreffed,  as  vnworthie  the  view  of  the 
bufie  world,  or  the  entertainement  of  precious  Time :  but  perad- 

32  uenture  thefe  extraordinarie  prouocations  may  worke  extraordinarilie 
in  me ;  and  though  not  in  paflion,  yet  in  conceit,  fturre  me  vp,  to 
publilh  many  Trai&es,  and  Difcourfes,  that  in  certaine  confiderations 
I  meant  euer  to  conceale,  and  to  Dedicate  vnto.  none,  but  vnto 

36  obfcure  Darkeneffe,  or  Famous  Vulcane.     It  were  pittie,  but  won- 


GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,   1,592.  127 

derous  wits  (giue  enemies  their  due)  llioulde  become  more  woonder- 
ous  by  companion,  conference  maketh  excellent  things  appeare  more 
admirablie :  &  I  am   fo  far  from  being  a  Saturnift  by  nature,  or  a 
Stoick  by  difcipline,  that   I   can  eafily  frame  a  certaine  pleafurable  4 
delight  vnto  my  felfe,  by  miniftring  fome  matter  vnto  them,  that  now 
are  faine  to  make  fome  thing  of  nothing  :  and  wittily  to  plaie  with 
their  own  lhadowes.     It  goeth  fomewhat  hard  in  my  harm  Legend, 
when  the  father  of  Muficke  muft  be  mocked,  not  Tubulcain,  as  he  8 
miftearmeth  him,  but  Tuball,  whom  Genefis  voutfafeth  honourable 
mention  :  and  the  Hexameter  verfe  flouted  :  whereof  neither  Homer 
in  Greeke,  nor  Virgill  in  Latine,  (how  valorous  Autors  ?)  nor  Alex- 
ander in  conqueft,  nor  Auguftus  in  maiefty  (how  puiflaunt  Princes?)  12 
were  alhamed  :  but  accompted  it  the  onely  gallant  trompet  of  braue, 
and  Heroicall  A6ts ;  and  I  wis,  the  Englifh  is  nothing  too-good  to 
imitat  the  Greeke,   or   Latine,   or   other  eloquent    Languages,  that 
honour  the   Hexameter,  as   the  foueraigne  of  verfes,  and  the  high  16 
Controwler  of  Rimes.    If  I  neuer  deferue  anye  better  remembraunce, 
let  mee  rather  be  Epitaphed,  The  Inuentour  of  the  Engliih  Hexa- 
meter :  whome  learned  M.   Stanihurft  imitated  in  his  Virgill,  and 
excellent  Sir  Phillip  Sidney  difdained  not  to  follow  in  his  Arcadia,  &  20 
elfewhere,  then   be  chronicled,  The  greene  maifter  of  the  Blacke 
Arte :  or  the  founder  of  vgly  oathes  :  or  the  father  of  misbegotten 
Infortunatus :  or  the  Scriuener  of  Crofbiters  :  or  as  one  of  his  owne 
feclaries  termed  him,  the  Patriarch  of  Ihifters.     Happy  man  I,  if  thefe  24 
two  be  my  hainoufefl  crimes,  and  deadlier!  linnes,  To  bee  the  Inuentour 
of  the  Engliih  Hexameter,  and  to  bee  orderlie  clapt  in  the  Fleete  for 
the  forefaide  Letters :  where  he  that  fawe  me,  fawe  mee  at  Conllan- 
tinople.      Indeede  Sir   lames  Croft  (whome  I  neuer  touched  with  28 
the  leaft  tittle  of  detractions)  was  cunningly  incenfed,  and  reincenfed 
againft  mee :  but  at  laft  pacified  by  the  voluntarie  mediation  of  my 
honourable  fauourers,  M.  Secretary  Wilfon,  and  Sir  Walter  Mildmay  r 
vnrequefted  by  any  line  of  my  hand,  or  any  woord  of  my  mouth.  32 
Neither  did   I  otherwife  follicite,  or  intreate   Sir  lames,  till   I   had 
allured  notice  of  his  better  fatisfadion  :  when  I  writte  vnto  him,  as 
became  mee,  in  refpecliue,  and  duetifull  forte :  not  for  feare  of  any 
daunger,  but  for  loue  of  honourable  fauour.     Which  Letters,  albeit  36 


128  GABRIEL    HARVEY'S    THIRD    LETTER,    1^92. 

not  fo  ceremoniouflie  pleafing,  as  effe&ually  contenting,  the  wife 
knight  not  onely  receiued  courteoufly,  but  accepted  fauourablie,  and 
commended  honourablye  :  and  for  my  felfe,  earneftly  affirmed,  I  was 
4  firft  wronged  by  other,  and  then  miftaken  by  him  :  but  now  found 
another  man,  then  I  was  fuppofed.  As  for  my  olde  Controwler, 
Do&or  Perne  (for  he  indeed  was  the  man,  that  otherwhiles  flattered 
me  exceedingly,  otherwhiles  ouerthwarted  me  crofly,  alvvaies  plaied 
8  fart,  and  loofe  with  me)  he  was  old  enough,  to  aunfweare  for  him- 
felfe,  and  mould  not  bee  defended  by  him.  Onely  he  wifhed  me  to 
proceede  louingly  with  the  Vniuerfity,  howfoeuer  I  dealt  with  that 
Do6tor.  And  that  was  all  the  Fleeting,  that  euer  I  felt :  fauing  that 

12  an  other  company  of  fpeciall  good  fellowes,  (whereof  he  was  none  of 
the  meaneft,  that  brauely  threatned  to  coniure-vpp  one,  which  fhould 
mafTacre  Martins  witt,  or  fhould  bee  lambackd  himfelf  with  ten 
yeares  prouifion)  would  needs  forlboth  verye  courtly  perfwade  the 

1 6  Earle  of  Oxforde,  that  fome  thing  in  thofe  Letters,  and  namely  the 
Mirrour  of  Tufcanifmo,  was  palpably  intended  againft  him  :  whofe 
noble  Lordefhip  I  proteft,  I  neuer  meante  to  difhonour  with  the  leaft 
prejudicial  word  of  my  Tongue,  or  pen  :  but  euer  kept  a  mindefull 

20  reckoning  of  many  bounden  duties  toward  The-fame  :  fince  in  the 
prime  of  his  galla«tefl  youth,  hee  beflowed  Angels  vpon  mee  in 
Chriiles  Colledge  in  Cambridge,  and  otherwife  voutfafed  me  many 
gratious  fauours  at  the  affeftionate  commendation  of  my  Cofen,  M. 

24  Thomas  Smith,  the  fonne  of  Sir  Thomas,  fhortly  after  Colonel  of  the 
Ardes  in  Ireland.  But  the  noble  Earle,  not  difpofed  to  trouble  his 
louiall  mind  with  fuch  Saturnine  paltery,  ftil  continued,  like  his 
magnificent  felfe  :  and  that  Fleeting  alfo  proued,  like  the  other  :  a  filly 

28  bullbeare,  a  forry  puffe  of  winde,  a  thing  of  nothing.  But  a  ftrong 
imagination  pierceth  deepely  :  and  the  Paper  Fleete  will  not  bee  fo 
aunfwered.  lefu,  what  would  fuch  notable  fellowes  write,  or  rather 
would  they  not  write,  if  they  could  probably  fay,  or  fantaflically 

32  furmize  by  me,  as  I  can  euidently  proue  by  them  ?  But  I  feeke  not 
the  condemnation  of  the  deade,  or  the  difgrace  of  the  liuing  :  but  the 
good  amendement  of  the  one,  by  the  naughty  example  of  the  other. 
And  for  mine  own  farther  iuftification  in  the  premifles,  or  otherwife : 

36  I   had  rather  my  larger  writings  and  other  aftions  fhould  plead  for 


GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,   1592.  129 

mee,  than  this,  or  any  ilighte  Letter  :  wherein  I  am  not  to  infourme 
pregnant  conceits,  that  may  imagine  more  by  a  little :  or  to  addrefle 
any  peece  of  mine  own  hiftory,  though  wifer  men  in  cafe  of  vn- 
worthy   reproch,   haue   not   made   nice    to    vndertake    their    owne  4 
defence,  and  euen  to  labour  their  owne  commendation.     The  plau- 
lible  Examples  of  Tully,  Cato,  Marius,  Scipio,  diuers  fuch  vertuous 
Romanes,  and  fundry  excellent  Greekes,  are  famoufly  knowen  :  but 
not  greatly  fit  for  euery  mannes  imitation.     Were  other  of  my  difpo-  8 
fition,   fmall   time  Ihould  be  loft  in  auenging,  or  debating  verball 
iniuries,  efpecially  to  my  felfe :  who  can  verie  well  fuffer  poore  fpite, 
to  fhoote  at  mee,  and  to  hitte  himfelfe  :  and  fometime  fmile  at  the  filly 
flie,  that  will  needs  martyr  it  felfe  in  my  candle.     But  me  thinkes,  12 
the  wildeft   head,  and  defperateft  mind   mould  confider :  they  that 
fpeake  il  muft  not  looke  to  heare  well :  the  worlde  is  not  giuen  to 
pocket  vp  infamies  :  who  cannot  returne-home  a  Quippe,  or  requite 
one  libell  with  an  other  ?  nothing  more  common  in  bookes,  or  more  16 
readye  in  mouthes,  than  the  Inue&iue  vaine,  and  the  whole  Arte  of 
railing :    fome  fchollers  haue  choyce   of  nimble  pennes,  &  fmooth 
tongues  at  commandement :  &  there  was  a  time,  when  paraduenture 
I  coulde  fpeake  with  them,  that  talked  we  me.     Though  the  cafe  be  20 
altered :  and  I  now,  none  of  the  haftieft  to  ftriue  for  thofe  bucklers : 
yet  a  general,  a  fpecial,  a  glowing,  a  piercing  indignitie  may  rekindle 
fome  little  fparkes  of  courage,  and  affedion  wil  be  affedion,  though 
not  in  proper  reuenge,  yet  the  common  duetie,  I  am  not  to  difpute  24 
the  nature  of  Force,  or  the  force  of  nature,  who  knoweth  not,  how 
violentlie  force  prouoketh  force  :  or  how  mightilie  nature  worketh  in 
compatible  natures  ?      But  how   far  publike   obiediows,   or  famous 
imputations  require  publike  aunfwers  :  or  how  infufficient  the  formal-  28 
left  ludiciall  remedie  in  any  one  Court,  may  feeme,  in  cafe  of  a 
printed  diffamation,  that  with   the  winges  of  Mallice   in  fome,  of 
Enuie  in  more,  and  of  Leuity  in   moft,  flieth  through  the  Realme, 
and  ouer  the   Sea :  bee  it  indifferentlie  decided  by  euerie  difcreete  32 
judgement,  or  reafonable  conlideration.     Efpecially  when  the  guiltie 
part  is  deceafed :  and  the  iniury  not  the  leffe,  but  the  more  notorious. 
The  beft  is,  the  perfons  abufed,  are  not  altogether  vnknowen,  they 
haue  not  fo  euell  a  neighbour,  that  euer  reade,  or  hearde  thofe  oppro-  36 

ALLUSION-BOOKS.  9 


130  GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,  1592. 

brious  villanies  (it  is  too-mild  a  name,  for  my  brother  Richardes  moft 
abhominable  Legend,  who  frameth  himfelfe  to  liue  as  chaftely,  as  the 
leawde  writer  affected  to  liue  beaftly)  but  hath  prefentlie  broken  out 
4  into  fome  fuch  earneft,  or  more  pafiionate  fpeeches :  6  peflilent 
knauery,  who  euer  heard  fuch  arrant  forgeries,  and  rauke  lies  ?  A 
mad  world,  where  fuch  fhameful  fluffe  is  bought,  and  fould  :  and 
where  fuch  roifterly  Varlets  may  be  fuffered  to  play  vpon  whome 
8  they  luft,  and  how  they  lull :  Is  this  Greene  with  the  running  Head, 
and  the  fcribling  Hand,  that  neuer  linnes  putting-forth  new,  newer, 
&  neweft  bookes  of  the  maker  ?  If  his  other  bookes  bee  as  bolefome 
geere,  as  this,  no  maruaile,  though  the  gay-man  conceiue  trim  lie  of 

12  himfelfe,  and  ftatelye  fcorne  all  befide.  Green,  vile  Greene,  would 
thou  weareft  halfe  fo  honeft,  as  the  worft  of  the  foure,  whom  thou 
vpbraideft  :  or  halfe  fo  learned,  as  the  vnlearnedil  of  the  three. 
Thanke  other  for  thy  borrowed  &  filched  plumes  of  fome  little 

16  Italianated  brauery :  &  what  remaineth,  but  flat  Impudencie,  and 
grofle  Detraction  :  the  proper  ornaments  of  thy  fweete  vtterance  ?  I 
alleadge  not  mine  owne  inuentions,  (who  cannot  forget  the  two 
Athenian  Temples  of  Impudencie,  and  Calumnie,  when  I  remember 

20  him:)  I  could  nominate  the  Gentlemen,  and  fubftantiall  Yeoman, 
Gentlemens  fellowes,  that  vttered  much  more  by  his  life,  and  can 
hardlie  forbeare  him  fince  his  death :  and  who  of  acquaintance  with  him, 
or  them,  whome  hee  depraueth,  could  either  partiallie  excufe  the  one, 

24  or  reafonablie  accufe  the  other?  Their  liues  effectually  fpeake  for 
themfelues  :  and  he  that  liued  not,  to  fee  nine  and  twentie  yeares, 
died  not,  till  the  Vniuerfitie  of  Cambridge  had  beftowed  vpora  him  a 
grace  to  bee  a  Do6tor  of  his  facultie,  and  till  hee  was  reputed  in 

28  Northfolke,  where  he  pra6tifed  phificke,  a  proper  toward  man,  and  as 
skilfull  a  Phifition  for  his  age,  as  euer  came  there :  how  well  beloued 
of  the  chiefeft  Gentlemen,  and  Gentlewomen  in  that  Shire,  them- 
felues teftifie.  That  is  gone  to  Heauen,  cannot  bee  recouered  on 

32  Earth :  it  is  our  comfort,  that  he  liued  in  good  credite,  and  died  in 
good  minde.  I  muft  euer  remember  fome  of  his  notable  fayings  (for 
in  deede  fo  they  were) :  and  can  neuer  forget  that  fweete  voice  of 
the  dying  Cignet ;  6  frater,  Chrijlus  ejl  optimus  Medicus,  &  meus 

36  folus  Medicus.     Vale  Galene,  valete  humance  Artes  :  niliil  diuinum  in 


GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,   1592.  131 

terris,  prceter  animurn  afpirantem  ad  ccelos.     That  bell  and  his  onelie 
Phifition  knoweth,  what  ipiritual  phificke  I  commended  vnto  him, 
when  I  beheld  in  his  meager  and  ghaftly  countenance,  that  I  cannot 
rehearfe  without  fome  fit  of  companion.     Wee  mufl  in  order  follow  4 
him,  that  fhoulde  in  nature  haue  gone  before  him,  and  I  know  not 
by  what  deftinie,  hee  followed  him  firft,  that  foled  him  laft.     How 
he  departed,  his  ghoftly  mother  Ifarn,  can  trulieft,  and  will  fauourab- 
lieft   report :    how   he   liued,   London   remembreth.      Oh,   what   a  8 
liuelie  picture  of  Vanity  ?  but  oh  what  a  deadlie  Image  of  miferie  ? 
And  oh  what  a  terrible  Caueat  for  fuch  &  fuch  ?     I  am  not  to  exten- 
uate or  preiudice  his  wit,  which  could  not  any  way  be  great,  though 
fom  way  not   the  leaft  of  our   vulgar  writers  &   mani-waies  very  12 
vngracious :  but  who  euer  eftemed  him  either  wife,  or  learned,  or 
honeft,  or  anyway  credible?  how  many  Gentlemen,  and  other  fay  of 
him  ?     Let  the  paltry  fellow  go  :   Lord,  what   a  lewde  Companion 
was    hee?     What   an   egregious   makelhift,  Where   fhould  Conny-  16 
catchers  haue  gotten  fuch  a  Secretarie  :     How  ihal  cofenage  do  for  a 
new  Regifter :  or  Phantafticallitye  for  a  new  Autor  ?     They  wronge 
him  much  with  their  Epitaphes,  and  other  folemne  deuifes,   that 
entitle  him  not  at  the  leaft,  The  fecond  Toy  of  London  ;  the  Stale  of  20 
Poules,  the  Ape  of  Euphues,  the  Vice  of  the  Stage,  the  mocker  of  the 
fimple  world  :  the  flowter  of  his  friendes,  the  Foe  of  himfelfe :  and 
fo  foorth.     What  durft  not  hee  vtter  with  his  tongue:  or  diuulge 
with  his  Penne  :  or  countenance  with  his  face  ?      Or  whome  cared  24 
hee  for,   but  a  carelefle  crewe  of  his  own  aflbciates  ?     Perufe  his 
famous   bookes  :  and  in  fteede  of,  Omne  tullt  punElum,  qui  mifcuit 
vtile  dulci  (that  forfooth  was  his  profefled  Poefie)  Loe  a  wilde  head, 
ful  of  mad  braine  and  a  thoufand  crochets  :  a  Scholler,  a  Difcourfer,  28 
a  Courtier,  a  ruffian,  a   Gamefter,  a  Louer,  a   Souldier,  a  Trauailer, 
Merchaunt,  a  Broker,  an  Artificer,  a  Botcher,  a  Petti-fogger,  a  Plaver, 
a  Coofener,  a  Rayler,  a  beggar,  an  Omnigatherum,  a  Gay-nothing : 
a  Stoarehoufe  of  bald  and  baggage  ftuffe,  vnwoorth  the  aunfwering,  or  32 
reading:  a  Triuiall,  and  trtobular  Autor  for  knaues,   &  fooles :  an 
Image   of  Idlenes :     an    Epitome    of  fantafticalitie :    a   Mirrour   of 
Vanitie :    Fanitas   Fanitatum,   &  omnia  vanilas.     Alafle,   that   anie 
ihoulde  fay,  as  I  have  heard  diuers  affirme  :  His  witte  was  nothing,  36 


ija  GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,  1^92. 

but  a  minte  of  knauerie :  himfelfe  a  deuifer  of  iugling  feates  :  a  forger 
of  couetous  pra&ifes  :  an  Inuentour  of  monft  ruous  oathes  ;  a  derider 
of  all  religions  :  a  contemner  of  God,  and  man  :  a  defperate  Lucian- 
4  ill :  an  abhominable  Aretinift :  an  Arch-Athieft  :  and  he  arch-de- 
ferued  to  be  well  hanged  feauen  yeares  agoe.  Twenty,  and  twentie 
fuch  familiar  fpeeches  I  ouer  pafle :  and  bury  the  whole  Legendary 
of  his  Life,  &  Death,  in  the  Sepulchre  of  eternall  Silence.  I  will  not 
8  coudemne,  or  cenfure  his  workes,  which  I  neuer  did  fo  much  as 
fuperficially  ouer-runne,  but  as  fome  fewe  of  them  occurfiuly  pre- 
fented  themfelues  in  Stationers  {hops,  and  fome  other  houfes  of  my 
acquaintaunce.  But  I  pray  God,  they  haue  not  done  more  harme  by 

12  corruption  of  manners,  then  good  by  quickening  of  witte  :  and  I 
would,  fome  Buyers  had  either  more  Reafon  to  difcerne,  or  lefle 
Appetite  to  defire  fuch  Nouels.  The  world  is  full  iuough  of 
fooleries  :  though  the  humor  be  not  feafted  with  fuch  luxurious,  and 

1 6  riotous  Pamphlets.  Howe  vnlike  Tallies  fweete  Offices  :  or  Ifocrates 
pithy  inftru6tio«s :  or  Plutarcfies  holefome  Morrals :  or  the  dilicate 
Dialogues  of  Xenophon,  and  Plato  :  or  the  fage  Tragedies  of  Sophocles, 
and  Euripides  :  or  the  line  Comedies  of  the  dainetieft  Atticke  wittes, 

20  or  other  excellent  monumentes  of  antiquity,  neuer  fufficientlie  perufed  ? 
Yet  the  one  as  ftale,  as  oldeft  fafhions  :  and  what  more  frefhly  current 
for  a  while,  then  the  other  ?  Euen  Guicciardines  filuer  Hiftorie,  and 
Ar'u)Jlos  golden  Cantoes,  grow  out  of  requeft :  &  the  Countefle  of 

24  Pe/wbrookes  Arcadia  is  not  greene  inough  for  queaiie  ftomackes,  but 
they  muft  haue  Greenes  Arcadia :  and  I  beleeue,  mod  eagerlie  longed 
for  Greenes  Faerie  Queene.  O  flraunge  fancies :  6  monftrous  new- 
fanglednefle.  The  wittier  fort  tafteth,  &  flieth :  as  the  Dog  from 

28  Nilus  :  other  wantons  find  Experience  the  miilris  of  fooles  :  and  need 
no  other  pennance  but  their  owne  repentaunce.  The  verie  Time 
confuteth  Vanitie :  and  the  verie  place  requireth  fobrietie.  No 
publike' fecurity  without  priuate  moderation  :  and  the  more  bondes  of 

32  gouernment,  the  more  indefeafible  alTiarance.  Due  Circumfpe6lion  may 
do  much  good,  and  an  aboundant  Cautele  can  do  little  hurt.  Youth 
is  youth  :  &  age  corruptible  :  better  an  hundred  Guides  were  banilhed, 
then  the  ftate  of  Auguftus  endangered,  or  a  foueraigne  Empire 

36  infe&ed.     Efpecially  in  a  tumultuous  age,  and  in  a  world  of  warre  : 


GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,   i^P2-  133 

\vherin  not  Bacchus,  but  Mars  :  not  Venus,  but  Mercury;   not  Ryot, 
but  Valour ;  not  Phanfy,  but  Pollicy,  muft  ftrike  the  ftroke.     Gallant 
Gentlemen,  be-thinke  your  felues  of  the  olde  Romane  Difcipline,  and 
the  newe  Spanifti  induftry  :  and  I  am  not  to  trouble  you  with  any  4 
other  accufation  of  them,  that  condemne  themfelues,  and  neede  no 
other  fhame,  or  punifhment,  but  their  own  woorkes.     Onely  I  requeft 
fome  bufy  pennes  to  Hay  their  wifedomes  :  and  either  to  publifh  a 
iuftifyable  trueth,  or  to  conceale  their  bad  difpofition.     "Woe  to  that  8 
ftudy,  that  mifpendeth  pretious  Time,  and  confumeth  it  felf,  in  need^ 
lelfe,  and  bootleffe  quarrels.     Companions,  they  fay,  are  odious  :  but 
Inue&iues    more    odious  :    &   what    fo   abhominable,    as   forged    & 
fuborned  calumnies?     One,  or  two  miferable  examples  may  ftand  for  12 
an  hundred  :  I  will  not  aggrauate  or  difcourfe  particulars  :     A  pitiful 
cafe,  that  fuch  lufty  beginninges  fhould  haue  fuch  forry  ends  :  and 
who  can  tell,  what  dowty  yoonker  may  next  gnafh  with  his  teeth? 
Terrible  Creatures,  and  the  curft  Cowe,  haue  fometime  ihort  homes.  16 
The  wildefl  Colte  is  foone  tamed :  and  be  like  neither  Death,  nor 
Shame,  nor  Mifery  are  atfraid  of  them,  that  vaunt  themfelues,  Like 
vnto  Death,  and  Will  Sommer,  in  fparing  none.     God  helpe,  and 
Charity  pittie  them,  that  haue  neither  liability  to  help,  nor  witt  to  pitie  20 
themfelues :  but  will  needs  try  a   conclufion  betweene  their  heads, 
and  the  next  wall.     I  haue  heard  of  Gyants  in  conceit,  and  Pigmeis 
in  performance :  yong  Phaetons,  younge  Icary,  young  Choroebi,  and 
I   mall   fay  young  Babingtons,  and  how   many  millions  of  greene  24 
youthes,  haue   in  ouermounting,  moft  ruefully  difmounted,  and  left 
behinde  them   fulUamentable  Hiftories?     For  the  very  mention  of 
fome  direfull  Tragedies,  were  horrible,  and  what  fo  wretched,  as  head- 
long enterprifes  :  or  fo  hideous,  as  the  defperate  attempt  of  Impoffi-  28 
bilities  ?  Philoftratus  in  his  Icones,  pleafurably  reporteth,  according  to 
to  the  tradition  of  Greeke  Poets,  how  on  a  time,  A  refolute  bande  of 
dowty  Pigmies,  triumphantly  marched  to  inuade  Hercules  afleepe. 
Woe  to  fuch  braue  aduentures.     JEfops  Toade,  A  proud  afpiring  32 
Creature,   fhamefullie  ouermatched  her  fwelling,  and  burften  felfe. 
Great,  and  fmall  things  may  in  fome  proportion  be  compared  together  j 
and  beholde  as  miferable  a  fpe&acle,  in  their  kinde.     Flouriftiing  M. 
Greene  is  moft-wofully  faded,  and  whileft  I  am  bemoaning  his  ouer-  36 


134  GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,  1592. 

pittious  decay ;  &  difcourfing  the  vfuall  fuccefie  of  fuch  ranke  wittes, 
Loe,  all  on  the  fuddaine,  his  fworne  brother,  M.  Pierce  Penni-lcjfc, 
(ftill  more  paltery,  but  what  remedy  ?  we  are  already  ouer  fhoes  and 
4  muft  now  goe  through)  Loe  his  inwardeft  companion,  that  tailed  of 
the  fatall  herringe,  cruelly  pinched  with  want,  vexed  with  difcredite, 
tormented  with  other  mens  felicitie,  and  ouerwhelmed  with  his  owne 
mifcryj  in  a  raving,  and  franticke  moode,  moft  defperately  exhibiteth 
8  his  fupplication  to  the  Diuell.  A  ftrange  title,  an  od  wit,  and  a  mad 
hoorefon,  I  warrant  him  :  doubtles  it  wil  proue  fome  dainty  deuife, 
queintly  contriued  by  way  of  humble  Supplication  To  the  high  and 
mighty  Prince  of  Darkenefle :  not  Dunfically  botched-vp,  but  right- 

12  formally  co/meied,  according  to  the  ftile,  and  tenour  of  Tarletons  pre- 
fident,  his  famous  play  of  the  feauen  Deadly  finnes :  which  moft- 
dea[d]ly,  but  moft  liuely  playe,  I  might  haue  feene  in  London:  and 
was  verie  gently  inuited  thereunto  at  Oxford,  by  Tarleton  himfelfe,  of 

1 6  whome  I  merrily  demaunding,  which  of  the  feauen,  was  his  owne 
deadlie  linne,  he  bluntly  aunfwered  after  this  manner ;  By  God,  the 
finne  of  other  Gentlemen,  Lechery.  Oh  but  that,  M.  Tarleton,  is  not 
your  part  vpon  the  ftage,  you  are  too-blame,  that  diflemble  with  the 

20  world  &  haue  one  part  for  your  frends  pleafure,  an  other  for  your 
owne.  I  am  fomewhat  of  Do£tor  Femes  religion,  quoth  he :  and 
abruptlie  tooke  his  leaue.  Surely  it  muft  needes  bee  current  in 
matter,  and  autentical  in  forme,  that  had  firft  fuch  a  learned  prefideut : 

24  and  is  now  pleafantlie  interlaced  with  diuers  new-founde  phrafes  of 
the  Tauerne :  and  patheticallie  iutermixt  with  fundry  dolefull 
pageantes  of  his  own  ruinous  &  beggerlie  experience.  For  the  poore 
Tennement  of  his  Purfe,  (quoth  himfelfe,  gramercy  good  Tarleton) 

28  hath  bene  the  Diuels  Dauncing  fchoole,  anie  time  this  halfe  yeare, 
and  I  pray  God,  (quoth  another)  the  poore  Tennement  of  his  Heart, 
Lath  not  alfo  beene  the  Diuels  Fencing  Schoole,  twife  as  long.  Par- 
ticulars, and  Circumftances  are  tedious,  efpecially  in  forrowfull,  and 

32  forlorne  caufes,  the  fumme  of  fummes  is.  He  toft  his  imagination  a 
thoufand  waies,  and  I  beleeue,  fearched  euery  corner  of  his  Grammer- 
fchoole  witte,  (for  his  margine  is  as  deepelie  learned,  as  Faujle  precor 
gelida)  to  fee  if  he  coulde  finde  anie  meanes  to  relieue  his  eftate,  but 

36  all  his  thoughtes,  and  marginal   notes,  conforted  to  his  conclusion. 


GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,  i592-  *35 

That  the  worlde  was  vncharitable,  and  he  ordained  to  be  miferable. 
It  were  cruelty,  to  ad  affliclion  to  afflidio/z  :  what  flintly  Heart  would 
not  figh  or  rather  melt,  to  heare  the  bewailefull  moane  of  that  fob- 
bing, and  groaning  Mufe,  the  daughter  of  moft-pregnant  but  moft- 
wretched  Niole  ? 

Why  ift  damnation,  to  defpaire,  and  die, 
JVhen  Life  is  my  true  happines  difeafe  ? 

And  a  little  after :  8 

Diuines,  and  dying  men  may  talke  of  Hell : 
But  in  my  Heart,  her  feuerall  tormentes  dwell. 

And  fo  foorth  moft-hideouflie. 

For  the  Text  is  much  more  dolefull,  then  the  Gloffe :  and  who  12 
woulde  not  be  moued  with  more  pittifull  compunction,  to  heare  the 
lamentable  Farewell. 

England  adieu,  the  foile  that  brought  me  foorth  : 

Adieu  vnkinde,  where  Skill  is  nothing  worth  :  16 

Then  to  read  that  profound  Quotation, 

Heu  mihi,  quam  paucos  hcec  mea  difla  mouent  ? 
Which  was  thought  Patheticall  out  of  crie. 

Forgiue  him  God,  although  he  curfe  his  Birth,  20 

Since  Miferie  hath  dawnted  all  his  Mirth. 

•   Now  good  fweete  Mufe,  I  befeech  thee  by  thy  delicate  witte,  and 
by  all  the  queinteft  Inuentions  of  thy  deuifeful  braine,  carl  not  thy 
drearie  felfe  headlong  into  the  horrible  Gulph  of  Defperation :  but  24 
being  a  Creature  of  fo  lingular,  and  wonderfull  hope,  as  thy  infpired 
courage  diuinelie  fuggefteth,  and  ftill  reare-vp  mountaines  of  higheft 
Hope :    and    either   gallantlie   aduance    thy   vertuous    felf,    maugre 
Fortune:  (what  impoflible  to  afpiring  induflry?)  or  mightilie  enchant  28 
fome  magnificent  Meccenas,  (for  thou  canft  doe  it)  to  honour  himfelfe 
in  honouring  thee;  and  to  blifle  the  eies  of  the  gazing  worlde,  with 
beholding  thofe  Miracles,  which  forne  round  liberality,  and  thy  fuper- 


136  GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,  1592. 

thaiikfull  minde,  would  hugelie  enable  thee  to  worke.  Let  it  neuer 
be  faid,  that  the  Minion  of  the  Mufes,  fhould  forfake  himfelf,  or 
abandon  them,  whole  very  fhadowes  he  adoreth.  A  braue  Hart,  in 

4  extreameft  diftreffe,  neuer  languifheth :  no  fuch  affrighting  Death,  or 
gnafhing  Hell,  as  the  deuouring  Abyfle  of  difpaire.  Yet  better  a  man 
without  money,  then  money  without  a  man :  Pennileffe  is  not  his 
purfe  but  his  minde :  not  his  reuenue,  but  his  refolution  :  A  maw  is  a 

8  man  though  he  haue  but  a  hofe  vpon  his  head  :  for  euerie  curie,  there 
is  a  blelfing;  for  euerie  malady,  a  remedie ;  for  euerie  winter,  a  fom- 
mer :  for  euerie  night  a  day,  a  dog  hath  a  day. 

No6la  plait  tola  :  redeunt  fpe£lacula  mane. 

12  Right  magnanimitie  neuer  droupeth,  fweet  Mufike  requickeneth 
the  heauieft  fpirites  of  dumpilh  Melancholy  :  fine  Poetry  abhorreth  die 
loathfome,  and  vgly  fhape  of  forlorne  penfiuenes :  what  gentle  minde 
detefteth  not  curfed,  and  damnable  defperation  ?  All  abiedt  doleful- 

16  nes,  is  woefully  bafe,  and  bafelie  woefull.  The  die,  the  ball,  the 
fponge,  the  fiue,  the  wheele  of  Fortune,  Fortune  hirfelfe,  a  trifle,  a 
ieft,  a  toy  in  Philofophy,  &  diuine  refolution.  Be  a  Mulitian,  & 
Poet  vnto  thy  felf,  that  art  both,  and  a  Ringleader  of  both,  vnto 

20  other  j  be  a  Man,  be  a  Gentleman,  be  a  Philofopher,  be  a  Diuine,  be 
thy  relblute  felfe  5  not  the  Slaue  of  Fortune,  that  for  euery  fleabiting 
crieth  out-alas,  &  for  a  few  hungry  meales,  like  a  Greeke  Paralite, 
mifufeth  the  Tragedy  of  Hecuba :  but  the  friend  of  Vertue,  that  is 

24  richeft  in  pouerty,  freeft  in  bondage,  braueft  in  ieopardie,  cheerefulleft 
in  calamitie,  be  rather  wife,  and  vnfortunate,  with  the  filuer  Swanne, 
then  fortunate  &  vnwife,  with  the  golden  Affe :  remember  thine  owne 
marginal  Embleme,  For tuna  fauetfatuis.  Oh,  folace  thy  miraculous 

28  felfe,  and  cheere  the  Mufes  in  cheering  thy  daintie  foule,  fweetelie 
drunken  with  their  delitious  Helicon,  and  the  reftoratiue  Ne6tar  of 
the  Gods.  What  can  I  fay  more  ?  That  cordial  liquor,  and  that 
heauenly  reftoratiue,  bee  thy  foueraigne  comfort :  and  fcorne  the 

32  bafenes  of  euerie  crafed,  or  fainting  thought,  that  may  argue  a  de- 
generate minde.  And  fo  much  briefly  touching  thy  deere  felfe : 
whome  I  hope  neuer  to  finde  fo  pathetically  diftrelfed,  or  fo  Tragically 
difguifed  againe. 


GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,   1592.  137 

Now  a  word,  or  two  concerning  him,  who  in  charitie  kifleth  thy 
hand,  and  in  pitie  wifheth  thee  better  lucke.     May  it  pleafe  gentle 
Pierce,  in  the  diuine  fury  of  his  rauifhed  fpirite,  to  be  graciouflie  good 
vnto  his  poore  friendes,  who  would  be  fomewhat  loath,  to  be  filly  4 
flieepe  for  the  wolfe,  or  other  fheepe-biter :   I  dare  vndertake,  the 
abufed  Autor  of  the  Aftrologicall  difcourfe,  (euerie  page  thereof,  vnder 
correction   of  infpired  and  fupernaturall  conceits,  difcouereth  more 
Arte,  and  Judgement,  then  the  whole  Supplication  of  the  Parturient  8 
Mountaine)  notwithftanding  the  notorious  Diabolicall  difcourfe  of  ihe 
faide  Pierce,  a  man  better  acquainted  with  the  Diuels  of  Hell,  then 
with  the  Starres  of  Heauen  :  (hall  vnfainedly  pray  for  him  :  and  onely 
pray  him  to  report  the  knowen  truth,  of  his  approoued  learning,  &  *2 
liuing,  without  fauor.     Otherwife,  it  were  not  greatlie  amilfe,  a  little 
to  confider,  that  he,  which  in  the  rufte  of  his  fremefl  ioility,  was  faine 
to  cry,  M.  Churchyard,  a  mercy  in  printe,  may  be  orderlie  driuen  to 
crie  more  peccauies,   then  one.     I  would  thinke  the   Counter,   M.  16 
Churchyard,  his  hoftifle  Penia,  and  fuch  other  fenfible  Leilbns,  might 
fufficientlie  haue  taught  him,  that  Pennileffe  is  not  Lawlefie:   and 
that  a  Poets  or  Painters  Licence,  is   a  poore  fecurity,  to  priuiledge 
debt,  or  diffamacion.     I  woulde  wifh  the  burned  child  not  to  forget  20 
the  hot  Element :  and  would  aduife  ouer-weening  youthes,  to  remem- 
ber themfelues,  and  the  good  auncient  oracle  of  fage  Apollo.     There 
is  a  certaine  thing,  called  Modeftie,  if  they  could  light  vpon  it :  and 
by  my  younge  Mafters  leaue,  fome  pritty  fmacke  of  difcretion  would  24 
relim  well.      The  Athenians  were  noted  for  lauifh  amplifieng,  the 
Cretenfians  for  craftie  lying,  the  ThefTalians  for  fubtle  cogging :  the 
Carthaginians  for  deceitfull  perfidie :  HannilaU,  Fabius,  Agatkocles, 
Iphicrates,   Vliffes,  and  a  thoufand  fuch,  for  counterfeit  pollicie,  but  28 
all  their  forgeries  were  feafoned  with  the  fait  of  probabilitie,  &  onelie 
vfed  at  occafions  of  aduantage :  and  although  the  Grecians  generalise 
were  ouer-lightheaded,  and  vaine-fpoken,  yet  their  leuitie  fauored  of 
elegant  wittinelfe,  and  the  flying  birde  carried  meate  in  the  mouth.  32 
Euen  Lucians  true  Tales  are  fpiced  with  conceite:  and  neither  his, 
nor  Apuleius  Alfe,  is  altogether  an  Affe.     It  is  a  piece  of  cunning  in 
the  moft  fabulous  Legends,  to  interlace  fome  credible  narrations,  & 
verie  probable  occurrences,  to  countenance  and  authorize  the  excefliue  36 


138  GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,  1592. 

licentioumefle  of  the  reft.  Vnreafonable  fictions  palpably  bewray 
their  odious  grofneffe :  and  hee  that  will  be  a  famous  deuifer  in 
folio,  muft  be  content  with  the  reward  of  a  notable  Lier,  not  to  be 
4  credited,  when  he  auoweth  a  trueth.  The  pleafant  man  talketh  of  a 
Batchelors  hoode,  turned  ouer  his  eares,  for  abufing  of  Ariftotle :  an 
imagineth  goodlie  matters  of  cafting  the  Heauens  water:  of  anatom- 
izing the  fkies  intrailes :  of  the  vniuerfal  adulterie  of  Planets,  of  the 
8  bawd  of  thofe  celeftial  bodies :  how  Saturne,  &  Jupiter  proued 
honefter  men,  then  al  the  world  took  the;«  for :  o  braue  Tarlton 
thou  wert  hee,  when  all  is  done,  had  not  Aretine  bene  Aretine,  when 
he  was,  vndoubtedlie  thou  hadft  beene  Aretine,  gramercy  capricious, 

12  and  tranfcendent  witte,  the  onelie  high  Pole  Artique,  and  deepe 
Minerall  of  an  incowparable  ftile.  Yet  Tarltons  lefts  not  futficient : 
but  Rofcius  muft  haue  his  Stale,  to  make  him  more  admirable :  al 
were  nothing,  vnlefle  Eldertons  ale-crammed  nofe,  had  beene  con- 

16  fumed  to  nothing,  in  beare-baiting  him,  with  whole  bundels  of 
ballats :  that  forfooth  is  not  fo  good  a  gentleman,  (for  euery  heire  of 
a  Nam  is  a  good  gentleman  at  the  leaft  as  the  heard  of  Thomas  Nam, 
the  maifter  butler  of  Pembrooke  Hal  whofe  graue  countenance,  like 

20  Cato  able  to  make  him  runne  out  of  his  wittes  for  feare,  if  he  looke 
fternely  vpon  him,  and  I  wot  not  what,  and  what  trumperie  elfe,  as 
childiih,  &  garifh  ftuffe,  as  euer  came  in  print,  yet  what  packe  of 
vanity  is  not  in  print,  I  will  not  cry,  Abfurde,  Abfurde  :  as  hee  madly 

24  exclaimeth,  Monftrous,  Monftrous :  But  who  in  that  Vniuerfity  can 
deny,  but  M.  Haruey  read  the  publike  Philofophie  Lecture  with  fpecial 
good  liking,  and  many  will  fay  with  fingular  comme/zdation,  when 
this  mightie  laming  Gentleman  (now  well  read  in  the  late  exploites 

28  of  Vntrufle,  and  for  Tarletons  amplifications  A  per  fe  A)  was  not  fo 
much  as  idoneus  auditor  ciuilis  frientice.  What  hee  is  improued  fince, 
excepting  his  good  olde  Flores  Poetarum,  and  Tarletons  furmounting 
Rhetorique,  with  a  little  Euphuifme,  and  Greenefle  inough,  which 

32  were  all  prettily  ftale,  before  he  put  hand  to  penne.  I  report  me  to 
the  fauourableft  opinion  of  thofe  that  know  his  Prefaces,  Rimes,  and 
the  very  Timpanye  of  his  Tarltonizing  wit,  his  Supplication  to  the 
Diuell,  oh  that  is  the  Diuell  &  al.  I  am  fo  farre  from  doting  vppon 

36  mine  owne,  or  my  Brothers  Writinges,  in  any  matter  of  moment, 


GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,  1592.  139 

that  I  vfe  to  cenfure  them  with  a  more  curious  and  rigorous  Judge- 
ment, then  I  examine  any  thing  elfe,  wherein  my  eare  is  fo  loath  to 
flatter  me,  &  my  conceit  fo  affraid  to  cofen  me,  that  my  mind  euer 
remaineth   vnfalisfied,  &   nothing  hitherto  could   fulfill    my  defire,  4 
infatiably   couetous  to  do  better.      But  as  thofe   perfun&orie  Dif- 
courfes   are    (which   were   more    haftilie,    then   fpeedilie   published 
without  my  priuity)  let  the  belt  of  them  goe  for  waft  paper,  &  ferue 
the  bafeft  (hops,  if  the  worft  of  them  importe  not  more  publike,  or  8 
priuate  vfe,  then  his  gayeft  flower,  that  may  thanke  Greene,  &  Tar/Ion 
for   his    Garland.     Were   my   brother,    not    my  brother,  but  fome 
familiar  acquaintance,  I  might  in  Trueth,  &  fhould  in  Reafon,  make 
other  comparifons,  with    applaufe  inough :    (for  what  indifferencie  12 
feeth  not  the  differences,  or  what  fo  filly,  as  he  could  make  Pierce, 
with  voice,   or  pen?    notwithftanding  thofe  Miracles   of  the  white 
rauen   in  the  cloudes)  :    But  the  Vniuerfitie,  the  Cittie,  the  whole 
Realme,  all  good  Learning,  &  ciuil  Gouernement,  be  their  ludge,  &  16 
my  mouth  efpecially  in  this  Martinifli  and  Counter-martinifh  age: 
wherein  the  Spirit  of  Contradiction  reigneth,  and  euerie  one  fuper- 
aboundeth  in  his  owne  humor,  euen  to  the  annihilating  of  any  other, 
without  rime,  or  reafon.     Some  would  bee  Mutes,  if  they  might  bee  20 
fuffered  to  be,  as  were  meeteft  for  them,  and  onelie  to  dwell  in  the 
excellente  monuments  of  diuine  wittes  whole  fweet  company  they 
cannot   enioy  inough,   but  what  is    to    be   done,  when  vowels   are 
courfed,  &  Mutes  haunted,  and  that  heauenlie  conference  hellifhlie  24 
difturbed,  God,  or  good  Order,  circumcife  the  Tongues,  and  Pennes, 
that  flaunder  without  caufe,  and  raile  without  effect,  euen  in  the 
fuperlatiue   degree   of  rauing.       Aretine,   and   the   Diuels    Oratour 
might   very-well   bee    fpared    in    Chriftian,   or    Piliticke    Common  28 
wealthes  :  which  cannot  want  contagion  inough,  though  they  bee  not 
poyfened  with   the  venemous  potions  of  Inckhorne  witches.     Fine 
plefant  witt  was  euer  commendable  :  and  iudiciall  accufation  lawfull : 
but  fie  on  grofle  fcurility,  and  impudent  calumny:  that  wil  rather  32 
goe  to   Hell  in   ieft,  then   to  heauen  in  earneft,  and  feeke  not  to 
reforme  any  vice,  to  backebite,  and  depraue  euery  perfon,  that  feedeth 
not  their  humorous   fancy.     A  vile  mind :    and  what  a  peftelenter 
villany?   but   fome  odd  wittes  forfooth,  will  needes  bee  accompted  36 


140  GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,  1592. 

terrible  Bull  Beggars,  and  the  onely  Killcowes  of  their  age ;  for  how 
fliould  they  otherwife  keepe  the  fimple  world  in  awe :  or  fcare 
multitudes  of  plaine  folke,  like  idiot  crowes,  and  innocent  dooues. 
4  All  the  InuecYme,  and  Satyricall  Spirites,  are  their  Familiars  :  fcoffing, 
and  girding  is  their  daily  bread :  other  profeife  other  faculties :  they 
profelle  the  Arte  of  railing :  Noble,  Reuerend,  or  whatfoeuer,  al 
pefants,  and  clownes :  gowty  Diuels,  and  buckram  Giants  :  Midafies, 
8  and  golden  Aifes  :  Cormorants,  and  Drones  j  Dunces,  and  hypocriticall 
hoat  fpurres  j  Earth  wormes,  and  Pinchefart  Penny-fathers  :  that  feede 
not  their  hungry  purfes,  and  eager  ftomackes :  they  haue  termes, 
quoth  a  maruellous  doer,  fteeped  in  Aqua  Fortis,  and  Gunnepouder, 

12  that  ihal  rattle  through  the  ikies,  and  make  Earthquakes  in  fuch 
pefauntes  eares,  as  mail  dare  to  fende  them  awaie  with  a  flea  in 
their  eare  :  (howe  might  a  man  purchafe  the  fight  of  thofe  puifiant 
and  hideous  termes  ?)  they  can  lam  poore  flaues,  and  fpurgall  Afles 

1 6  mightily ;  they  can  tell  parlous  Tales  of  Beares  and  Foxes,  as  ihrewdly 
as  mother  Hubbard,  for  her  life:  they  will  dominiere  in  Tauernes, 
and  Stationers  {hops,  to  die  for 't :  they  will  be  as  egregioufly  famous, 
as  euer  was  Heraftratus,  or  Paufanias,  or  Kelt,  or  Scoggin :  Agrippa, 

20  and  Ralelays  but  Ciphers  to  them  :  they  haue  it  onely  in  them. 
Would  Chrift,  they  had  more  difcretion  in  them,  and  lefle  rancour 
againft  other,  that  neuer  wifhed  them  the  leaft  euill,  but  ftill  befeech 
GOD  to  encreafe  the  beft,  and  to  pardon  the  worft  in  them.  The 

24  Quippe  knoweth  his  rewarde,  and  the  Supplication  to  the  Diuell, 
expreflly  dedicated  to  the  Prince  of  Darkenefie,  I  comitte  to  the  cen- 
fure  of  Wifedome,  and  luftice,  with  fauour :  onelye  requefting  that 
mightie  Bombarder  of  termes,  to  fpare  quiet  men  that  meane  him  no 

28  harme,  and  to  keepe  the  huge  maine  mot  of  his  ratling  Babies  for 
Buckrame  Giants.  Alafle,  what  mould  I  touch  their  parents,  or 
twit  them  by  their  other  friendes :  Let  it  be  one  of  their  iolities  to 
offer,  &  one  of  our  fimplicities  to  fuffer  that  iniury  :  which  neither 

32  impaireth  the  reputation  of  the  Father  :  nor  abafeth  the  credite  of  the 
Sonnes  :  nor  argueth  any  thing,  but  the  impudente  defpightfulnefle  of 
the  Libeller.  Fewe  Sonnes  haue  felinger  caufe  to  loue,  or  reuerence, 
or  defend  their  Fathers,  then  my  felfe :  but  his  dealing  is  fuch,  where 

36  he  tradeth  :  and  his  lining  fuch  where  he  conuerfeth,  that  he  may 


GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,  1592-  141 

eaiely  lliame  himfelfe,  which  goeth-about  to  fhame  him,  or  vs  in 
him.  I  will  not  trouble  you  with  the  rehearfall  of  his  inheritance, 
which  I  could  haue  wimed  more  then  it  was,  yet  was  it  more,  by  the 
fauour  of  that  terrible  Thunderfmith  of  termes,  the«  the  inheritances  4 
of  both  their  Fathers  together.  Put  cafe,  I  haue  inquired,  what 
fpeciall  caufe  the  Pennilefle  Gentleman  hath,  to  bragge  of  his  birth : 
which  giueth  the  woefull  poueretto  good  leaue,  euen  with  his 
Stentors  voice,  &  in  his  ratling  terms,  to  reuiue  the  pittifull  hiuorie  of  8 
Don  Lazarello  de  Thoemes :  to  contend  with  colde,  to  conuerfe  with 
fcarcitie  :  to  be  laid-open  to  pouertie  :  to  accufe  Fortune  :  to  raile  on 
his  patrons,  to  bite  his  penne,  to  rend  his  papers,  to  rage  in  all  points, 
like  a  mad  man,  to  torment  himfelfe  in  that  agony  a  long  time;  to  12 
be  miferable,  to  be  vacuus  viator :  to  haue  opus  and  vfus  knocking  at 
his  doore  twenty  times  a  weeke,  when  he  is  not  within  :  to  feek  his 
dinner  in  poules  with  Duke  humfrey :  to  licke  dimes,  to  be  a 
beggar.  16 

To  ban  the  Aire,  wherein  he  breathes  A  ivretch  : 

to   be  the  Diuels   diftrefled  Orator,  to  proclaime  his  owne  defolate 
and  abie&  eftat,   in  thefe  &  fuch  other   moft-bafe,  and  ihamefull 
complaints,  fcarcely  befeeming  the  rafcalleft  filer  in  an  Vniuerfity,  or  20 
the  beggarlieft  mendicant  frier  in  a  country. 

Forgiue  him  God,  although  he  curfe  his  birth. 

I,  but  who  fo  exceffiuely  thankefull  to  his  other  friends  ?     One  kind 
freend,  more  worth  then  two  vnfreerrdlie  kinfemen.     Affeftion  will  24 
relieue,  where  nature  faileth  :  he  muft  needes  abound  in  deuoted  and 
bountifull  freendes,  that  Iheweth  himfelfe  fo  meritorioufly  freendlie, 
and  fo  vnfpeakeably  gratefull. 

Ofriendes,  nofriend.es  that  then  vngentlie  frowne,  28 

When  changing  fortune  cajls  vs  headlong  downe. 

I  had  nigh-hand  ouer-fkipped  the  learned  allegation  in  the  margine, 
folemnely   auouched  with  a  very-patheticall  Pol,  Pol  me,  occidiftis 
Amid.      All  which,   and  moft  of  the  Premifies,   I  had  altogether  32 
omitted,  but  that  the  two  vnmeete  Companions,  a  Lordes  heart,  and 


142  GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,  1592. 

a  beggars  purle  muft  fomewhat  remember  themfelucs,  or  be  a  little, 
as  it  were,  pulled  by  the  ragged  ileeue.  "Young  fchollers  can  tel  how 
Vlylfes  handeled  Irus,  and  olde  Truants  haue  not  altogether  forgot- 
4  ten,  howe  fawfie  the  Harpies  were,  till  they  were  interteined  accord- 
ingly. But  what  though  the  decayed  Gentleman,  fo  commendeth 
his  owne  woormipfull  birth,  and  trufty  freendes  ?  Many  noble 
Houfes  haue  feene  their  own  mines :  and  fometime  the  brothers  of 
8  the  Prodigall  Sonne,  will  not  flick  to  curfe,  wher  they  fhould 
reuerently  blelFe.  The  Table-fellow  of  Duke  Humfrey,  &  Tantalus, 
might  learne  of  him  to  curie  lupiter,  and  to  ban  not  onely  the  four 
Elementes,  but  alfo  the  feauen  Planets,  and  euen  the  twelue  honles 

1 2  of  Heanen.  And  what  though  the  other  forry  Magnifico,  as  very  a 
Bifonian,  as  he  for  hys  life,  would  fweare  in  a  brauery,  his  Father 
was  of  foure  &  twenty  religions :  and  himfelfe  a  Diuine  from  his 
mothers  womb :  an  Image  of  both  Churches,  &  both  Synagogues 

1 6  too  :  a  naturall  Perne  artificially  emproued  :  the  thrife-and-thrife- 
learned  fonne,  of  his  foure  &  twenty  times-learned  father?  So 
Greene  would  flourilh.  Euery  man  is  to  anfwere  for  hys  owne 
defaultes  :  my  trefpalle  is  not  my  fathers,  nor  my  fathers  mine :  A 

20  Gibeline  may  haue  a  Guelph  to  his  fonne,  as  Barthol  faith :  &  hath 
neuer  a  Saint  had  a  Reprobate  to  his  father  ?  are  all  worthy  minds, 
the  iiTties  of  noble  houfes :  or  all  bafe  mindes,  the  ofsprings  of  rafcall 
ftockes  ?  Were  it  not  a  felicity,  to  be  the  woorft  of  a  thoufande, 

24  that  being  defcended  ofmeaneft  parentage,  haue  prooued,  as  Hiftories 
teftify,  &  the  world  daily  confirmeth  ?  Or  might  not  Greene,  and  his 
Complices,  haue  beene  much  better,  then  they  were,  or  are,  although 
their  Parentes  had  beene  much  worfe,  then  they  were,  or  are? 

28  What  faith  the  afflicled  Suppliant  himfelfe? 

Ah  woorth/effe  wit,  to  traine  me  to  this  woe  : 
III  thriue  the  Folly,  that  lewitcKd  me  fo. 

Haue  we  not  a  nomber  of  excellente  induftrious  men  and  valorous 
32  knights,  not  greatly  beholding  vnto  Fortune  for  their  progeny  ? 

Malo  pater  tibi  Jit  Therjites,  who  knoweth  not  that  onely  Arte  of 
Heraldry  ? 

Quam  te  Therfitoejimilem  producat  Achilles. 


GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,  i593-  143 

The  Argument  of  Nobility,  is  a  gallant,  and  plaufible  argument : 
but  what  Common-place  fo  braue,  and  honourable,  as  the  Common- 
place of  vertue  ?    Can  any  thinge  bee  obfcure,  where  defert  is  famous  : 
or  any  thing  famous,  where  defert  is  obfcure  ?     Gramercy  fweete  4 
margine,    for   that    notable   Poefy :    Meritis   expendite    caujam :    in 
earneft,   a  lingular   Rule  of  infallible  iudgemente :   and  I  imagine, 
himfelfe  deferueth  fomethinge,  that  fpecially  alleadgeth  Deferte.     It 
is  longe,  tince  I  declaimed  vpon  any  Theame :  but  who  would  not  8 
pleade  Vertues  caufe,  in  whatibever  fubie&e  ?   or  what  honeft  Elo- 
quence is    not  furnimed  with  Catilinaries,  &    Phillippiques  againfl 
Vice?     Not  the  Father,  &  the  Sonne,   but  Vertue,  and  Vice,  the 
efficientes  of  Honour,  and  Dishonour.      He  onely  bafe,   he  onely  12 
fimple,  he  onely  contemptible,  that  hath  Vice  to  his  father,  &  Ignor- 
aunce  to  his  mother  :  the  onely  Parentes  of  rafcality.    And  may  I  not 
truly  affirme,  that  not  only  Oforius,  or  Patritius  gallantly  proue,  but 
all  wife  Autors  ferioufly  approue,  and  euen  Vertue,  &  Skill  them-  16 
felues,  with  their  owne  foueraine  mouths  honorably  profeiTe  ?     No 
right  fonne,  &  heire  apparant  of  theirs  either  vnnoble  in  himfelfe,  or 
obfcure  in  the  world  :  or  defpifed  in  the  higheft,  or  vnregarded  of  the 
loweft :  or  difhonorable  in  his  Life,  or  inglorious  after  his  Death.     I  20 
fpeake  not  for  any  perfon,  but  for  the  matter :  and  cannot  eyther 
condignely  praife  the  valorous  feede  of  the  one  :  or  fufficiently  bliife 
the  fruitfull  wombe  of  the  other.     And  what  fo  vngentle  in  Nature, 
or   fo  vnnoble   in    Fortune,    as   their   Contraries :    how  barbaroufly  24 
oppofed  againfl:  that  diuine  race  and  heauenly  generation  :  that  cannot 
fturre,  vnaccompanied  with  Enuy,  and  a  worlde  of  moates  ?     Yet 
neither  the  vnhappiefl  creature  vtterly  deuoide  of  all  graces  :   (I  praife 
fomethinge  in  Elderton,  and  Greene  :)  nor  the  excellenteft  perfonage  28 
thoroughly  accomplished  with  all  perfections  (ah,  that  Sir  Humfrey 
Gilbert,  and  Sir  Phillip  Sidney,  hadd  bene  as  caute'lous,  as  aduen- 
turous  :)  nor  they,  that  obie6l,  nor  we,  that  anfweare,  nor  any,  but  a 
few  fingular  men,  the  Miracles  of  the  world  ;  either  for  wit  wondrous,  32 
or  for  Art  exquifite,  or  for  action  admirable,  or  for  integrity  notable. 
I-wis,  we  little  neede,  to  be  charged  \vith  our  fathers  offences :  it  is 
inaugh  for  one,  yea  for  the  beft  one,  to  carry  the  burden  of  his  owne 
tranfgreflions,   and  errours.      Errours  are  infinite :    and  follies  how  36 


144  GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,  1592. 

vniuerfally  rife,  euen  of  the  wifeft  forte  ?  Oh  that  vertues  were  as 
like  the  ftarres  of  heauen,  or  the  birds  of  the  Aire,  as  vices  are  like 
the  fandes  of  the  Sea,  and  the  Beaftes  of  the  Earth  j  hce  that  feeith 

4  leafte,  feeith  much  amifle :  the  fine  Difcouerer,  and  curious  Intelli- 
gencer, goe  iuuifible,  &  ftratagematically  difcry  many  hidden  priuities 
of  publique  and  priuate  misgouernment :  there  is  an  eie,  that  pierceth 
into  the  fecreteft  finnes,  and  moft  infcrutable  thoughtes  of  profoundeft 

8  Hypocrify  :  in  whofe  pure  fight  nothing  is  iuftifiable,  but  by  pardon. 
Diuinity  flyeth  highe  :  and  wadeth  deepe :  But  euen  in  Humanity, 
&  in  the  view  of  the  world,  who  liueth  inculpable  ?  or  who  is  not 
obnoxious  to  fome  criminall,  or  ciuill  actions  ?  or, 

12  Where  Jhud  I  find,  that  I  feeke,  A  perfon  cleere  as  a  Chrijlal.  ? 

Where  man  God  to  man  ?  where  one  not  DluL  to  an  other, 
Where  that  Zeal  diuine,  whofe  heauenly  Sun/kin  acheerith 
The  dreryejl  drouping ;  andfellift  rancour  alayeth  f 

jg  Where  thqffame  mealting  loWels  of  tender  agreement, 

That  mildly  conquer  mojl-rowgh,  and  hideous  outrage  ? 
Where  Mofes  meeknes  ?  wher  Dauids  fweetnes  Olimp'ujue  ? 
Where  that  fame  gentle  kindnes,  that  bounty  renowned, 

20          That  gratlous  fauour,  that  whilom  l-ewtifi'd  Honour : 
That  Looue  aduanced,  that  abandoned  odious  Hatred  : 
That  Sirenized  Furies :  that  rocks  Adamantine 
Mollifid  :  arreared  Pillars  of  Glory  triumphant  ? 

24  And  fo  foorth  :  for  the  verfe  is  not  vnknowen  :  &  runneth  in  one  of 
thofe  vnfatyricall  Satyres,  which  M.  Spencer  long  fince  embraced 
with  an  ouerloouing  Sonnet :  A  token  of  his  Affe£lion,  not  a  Teftimony 
of  hys  ludgement.  What  mould  I  labour  a  needlefle  point  ?  or  what 

28  ihould  I  weary  you  with  tedioufnefle,  that  may  much-better  beftow 
your  vacant  houres  ?  Enough,  to  any  is  inough  :  to  fome,  ouer-much. 
God  knoweth,  and  who  knoweth  not,  how  fenfually  corrupt  fome 
good  fellowes  were,  and  are,  that  fo  fharpely,  and  bitterly  noted,  and 

32  do  note,  fo  many  imaginatiue  corruptions  in  other.  Would  God, 
they  had  bene  as  quietly  difpofed,  as  their  parentes  :  or  as  aduifedly 
ilayed,  as  fome  of  their  frendes,  that  wilhed  them  a  milder  courfe  :  & 
fome  of  our  pens  might  haue  bene  employed  to  better  vfe,  then  this 


GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,   1592-  145 

idle  bufinefle,  or  rather  bufy  idlenefle.     Whereof  I  defire  no  other 
fruite,  but  fome  little  contentation  of  friendes,  and  fome  reafonable 
mittigation   of  ill-willers  :    vnto   whofe   good    I    am    diligently    to 
addrefle,  &  euen  affectionately  to  dedicate  any  my  endeuour.     If  in  4 
fome  learmes  I  haue  vfed  a  little  plaine  dealing,  albeit  not  without 
refpe&e,  (but  euery  one  feeith  not  into  an  others  confiderations :  & 
diuers  Circumftances  alter  the  cafe)  I  craue  pardon  for  the  leaf!  ouer- 
fight :  and  will  be  as  ready  to  commend  any  little  good,  euen  in  an  8 
aduerfary:  as  I  was  vnwillinge,  but  enforced  to  touch  foome  palpable 
badd  :  which  I  would  wifh  amended,  where  it  may  be  redrefled  :  and 
quite  forgotten,  where  it  ought  to  be  buried.     My  meaning  was  not, 
to  difpleafure,  or  difcredite  any:  but  onely  to  fatisfie  the  pleafure,  12 
and  mainetaine  the  credite  of  thofe  vnto  whom  I  owe  many  dueties, 
afwell  in  fpeciall  confideration  as  in  naturall  affeclion.     Had  I  not 
bene  more  depely  ftinged   in  them,  then   in   my  felfe :   who  haue 
made   Comedies  of  fuch  Tragedies,  and  with  pleafure   giuen  fuch  16 
hoat-fpurres    leaue,   to   run    themfelues   out    of  breath :    what  folio 
of  folly  might  not  for  me  haue  paffed  vn touched  ?  or  who  for  me, 
might    not   haue    flourimed,    or    lafhed    in    Poules    Church   yarde, 
Cum  gratia  &  Priuilegio  ?     It  were  good,  that  they,  which  haue  20 
a  dexterity  in  writing  trimly  vppon  euery  matter,  white,  or  blacke : 
mould   alfo  haue  a   felicity  in  fpeaking  well  vppon  euery  perfon, 
that  deferueth  not  ill  :    efpecially  fuch  as   can  fay  fomething   and 
thinke  more.      The  terribleft  tearmes  may  be  repayed-home  with  24 
aduauntage :    I  haue  kuowen  the  raylingeft   Sophifter  in   an   Vni- 
uerfity,  fett  non  plus :   and   haue  feene   the  mad-brayneft   Roifter- 
doifter  in  a  countrey,  dafhte  out  of  countenaunce.     There  is  Logicke 
inough,  to  aunfweare  Carters  Logicke :  and  playe  inough,  to  tame  28 
Horfe-play.     Wronged  men  are  feldome  tounge-tied  :  the  patienteft 
Creature  wanteth  not  bloud  in  his  hart,  or  incke  in  his  penne ;  and 
although  his  bloud  be  not  wild-fire,  yet  it  is  bloud ;  that  will  not  be 
cooled  with  a  Carde,  or  daunted  with  bugs-wordes  :  and  although  32 
his  incke,  be  not  pitch,  or  poifon,  yet  it  is  incke ;  that  will  neither 
blufhe  for  fhame,  nor  waxe  pale  for  feare ;  but  will  holde  his  owne, 
when  perhaps  gayer  coullours   fhal  loofe  their  coullor ;  and  Aqua 
fortis  valiantly  eate  his  owne  harte.     Good  fweete  Matters,  quiet  36 

ALLUSION-BOOKS.  10 


146  GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,  1592. 

your  felues  :  or  thincke  not  much,  to  beare  a  little  for  company,  that 
are  fo  forward  to  load  other  without  mercy.  No  man  leather  then 
my  felfe,  to  contend  with  defperate  Malecontentes :  or  to  ouerthwart 
4  obftinate  Humoriftes  :  or  to  encounter  Incke-horne  Aduentures  :  nor 
to  quarrell  with  any  forte  of  wrangling  Companions :  (fkoldinge  is 
the  language  of  ihrewes  :  and  raylinge  the  ftile  of  Rakehells  :)  or  fo 
much  as  to  call  bufy  heads,  by  their  vfuall  and  proper  names :  (the 
8  thinges  are  paltry :  and  the  very  names  fauour  of  rafcallity :)  but 
there  is  a  time,  when  fuch  douty  warriours  muft  be  appeafed  j  & 
fuch  wife  men  aufweared  according  to  their  wifedome.  Howbeit,  in 
fauour  of  a  priuate,  and  publike  quietnefle,  I  will  thanke  the  honeft 

12  fellowes  the  more,  they  lefle  occafion  they  geue  me,  to  interrupt 
better  exercifes :  to  trouble  the  world  with  triflinge  difcourfes  vppon 
pelting  matters :  to  difeafe  themfelues :  to  pleafure  none,  but  the 
printer,  &  idle  creatures,  the  onely  bufy  readers  of  fuch  Nouellets. 

1 6  1  would  gladly  be  eipecially  beholdinge  vnto  them  for  this  courtefy  : 
and  dare  vndertake  it  mall  redounde  more  to  their  credite,  to  approue 
their  delire  of  reconciliation,  by  filence  :  then  to  continue  the  opinion 
of  their  rooted  delpight,  by  fturring  more  coales.  I  hope  this  winde 

20  hath  not  thaken  any  fuche  corne,  but  fellow- fchollers,  (as  Do6tor 
Caius  would  fay)  and  now  forfooth  fellow-writers,  may  bee  made 
friendes,  with  a  cup  of  white  wine,  and  fome  little  familliar  confer- 
ence, in  calme  and  ciuill  termes.  I  offer  them  my  hande  :  and 

24  requeft  their :  which  I  will  accept  thanckfully,  &  kiife  louinglye : 
and  euer  commende  the  good  Nature,  that  would,  and  the  better 
Gouernemente,  that  coulde,  mafter  Affection  with  Reafon,  and 
fweeten  gall  with  Humanity.  For  it  is  not  my  energetical!  perfuafion, 

28  but  their  owne  patheticall  motion,  that  muft  doe  it :  as  the  enchant- 
ing Mufe  of  Orpheus  redeemed  the  ghaftly  ghoft  of  his  owne  Euridice 
out  of  Hell.  Such  an  Experimente  of  profounde,  and  diuine  Arte, 
as  I  woulde  compaflionately  recommend  to  euery  amiable  miude, 

32  difguifed  with  hellilhe  paflion  :  the  fouleft  deformity  of  any  fayre 
wit.  Otherwife,  if  it  ftande  more  with  their  credite,  to  be  reputed 
willfull,  then  wife  :  or  if  a  peruerfe,  and  froward  refolution,  be  the 
better  pollicy :  they  are  free-men  :  and  haue  incke  at  will,  and  paper 

36  at  commaundement :    and   a  number  of  greedy  Eares,  that  egerly 


GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,   i592>  I47 

longe,  and  as  it  were,  daunce  attendaunce,  to  heare  thofe  dreadfull 
inuincible   termes,    fteeped    in   Aqua  fortis,   &    Gunpowder.      The 
intoxicate  fprite  of  the  grifly  Euridice  (I   fpeake  to  a  Poet  :   and 
cannot   more    mildly   terme    that    infernall    Fury)    may   eftfoones  4 
returne  to  her  accurfed  lodginge,  and  in  fteede  of  heauenly  Orpheus, 
embrace  the  hellifh  Oratour  of  the  Blacke  Prince  :  whome  I  will  not 
any  way  make  worfe,  but  wold  wim  infinitely  better,  then  he  hath 
made   himfelfe.     For  I    thancke  God,   I    am  neither   fo   profanely  8 
vncharitable,  as  to  fend  him  to  the  Sancebell,  to  truffe-vp  his  life  with 
a  trice  :  nor  fo  abie6tly  timorous,  as  for  extreme  fearefulnes  to  wim, 
with  a  profefled  deuotion  :   So  be  it :  Pray  Penne,  Incke,  and  Paper  on 
their  knees,  that  they  may  not  bee  troubled  with  him  any  more.     Good  12 
Lorde,  what  fantafticall  panges  are  thefe  ?  who  euer  endighted  in  fuch 
a  ftile,  but  one  diuine  Aretine  in  Italy,  &  two  heauenly  Tarletons  in 
England  :  the  fole  platformers  of  odd  Elocution,  and  onely  fingular- 
ities  of  the  plaine  worlde?     Two  of  them,  that  fo  wantonly  played  16 
with  the  higheft  and  deepeft  fubiecles  of  fpirituall  contemplation  : 
Heauen,  and  Hell,  Paradife,  and  Purgatory  :  know  their  locall  repofe  : 
and  ferioufly  admonifh  the  third,  to  be  aduifed,  how  he  lauifh  in  fuch 
dalliance.     No  variety,  or  infinity  fo  infinite,  as  Inuention :  which  20 
hath  a  huge  worlde,  and  a  maine  Ocean  of  fcope,  to  difport,  and 
raunge   it   felfe,    though    it    arreare   not   vayne    Hyperboles   of  the 
reuerende  myfleries  of  God.     Good  fweete  Oratour,  be  a  deuine  Poet 
indeede :    and  vfe   heauenly  Eloquence    indeede  :    and   employ  thy  24 
golden  talent  with  amounting  vfance  indeede :  and  with  heroicall 
Cantoes  honour  right  Vertue,  &  braue  valour  indeede :  as  noble  Sir 
Philip  Sidney,  and  gentle  Maifter  Spencer  haue  done,  with  immortal! 
Fame :  and  I  will  beftow  more  complements  of  rare  amplifications  28 
vpon  thee,  then  euer  any  beftowed  vppon  them  :  or  this  Tounge  euer 
affborded :    or  any  Aretinifh  mountaine  of  huge  exaggerations  can 
bring- foorth  :  Right  artificiality,  (whereat  I  once  aimed  to  the  vtter- 
moft  power  of  my  flender  capacity,)  is  not  mad-brained,  or  ridiculous,  32 
or  abfurd,  or  blafphemous,  or  monftrous :  but  deepe-conceited,  but 
pleafurable,  but  delicate,  but  exquifite,  but  gratious,  but  admirable : 
not  according  to  the  fantafticall  mould  of  Aretine,  or  Rabelays,  but 
according  to  the  fine  modell  of  Orpheus,  Homer,  Pindarus,  &  the  ex-  36 


148  GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,   1592. 

cellenteft  wittes  of  Greece,  and  of  the  Lande,  that  flowed  with  milke, 
and  hony.  For  what  Feftiuall  Hymnes,  fo  diuinely  dainty,  as  the 
fweete  Pfalmes  of  King  Dauid,  royally  tranflated  by  Buchanan  ?  or 
4  what  fage  Gnomes,  fo  profoundly  pithy,  as  the  wife  Prouerbes  of  King 
Salomon  5  notably  alfo  tranflated  :  but  how  few  Buchanans?  Such 
liuely  fpringes  of  ftreaming  Eloquence  :  &  fuch  right-Olympicall 
hilles  of  amountinge  witte :  I  cordially  recommend  to  the  deere 
8  Louers  of  the  Mules :  and  namely  to  the  profefled  Sonnes  of  the- 
fame  j  Edmond  Spencer,  Richard  Stanihurfi,  Abraham  France,  Thomas 
Watfon,  Samuell  Daniel/,  Thomas  Najli,  and  the  reft :  whome  I 
affectionately  thancke  for  their  ftudious  endeuours,  commendably 

12  employed  in  enriching,  &  polifliing,  their  natiue  Tongue,  neuer  fo 
furniihed,  or  embellilhed,  as  of-late.  For  I  dare  not  name  the  Hon- 
orabler  Sonnes,  &  Nobler  Daughters  of  the  fweeteft,  &  diuineft 
Mufes,  that  euer  fang  in  Englim  or  other  language :  for  feare  of 

1.6  fufpition  of  that,  which  I  abhorre :  and  their  owne  moft  deleftable, 
and  delicious  Exercifes,  (the  fine  handy-worke  of  excellent  Nature, 
and  excellenter  Arte  combined)  fpeake  incomparably  more,  then  I 
am  able  briefly  to  infinuate.  Gentle  mindes,  and  flourifhing  wittes, 

20  were  infinitely  to  blame,  if  they  mould  not  alfo  for  curious  imitation, 
propofe  vnto  themfelues  fuch  faire  Types  of  refined,  and  engraced 
Eloquence.  The  right  Noouice  of  pregnante,  and  afpiring  conceit, 
wil  not  ouer-fkippe  any  precious  gemme  of  Inuention,  or  any  beauti- 

24  full  floure  of  Elocution,  that  may  richly  adorne,  or  gallantly  bedecke 
the  trimme  garland  of  his  budding  ftile.  I  fpeake  generally  to  euery 
fpringing  wit :  but  more  fpecially  to  a  few  :  and  at  this  inftante 
fingularly  to  one :  whom  I  falute  with  a  hundred  bleflings  :  and 

28  entreate  with  as  many  prayers,  to  loue  them,  that  loue  all  good  wittes  : 
and  hate  none,  but  the  Diuell,  and  his  incarnate  Impes,  notorioufly 
profefled.  I  proteft,  it  was  not  thy  perfon,  that  I  any-way  difliked  : 
but  thy  raih,  and  defperate  proceeding  againft  thy  well-willers : 

32  which  in  fome  had  bene  vnfufferable :  in  an  youth,  was  more 
excufable  :  in  a  reformed  youth  is  pardonable  :  and  rather  matter  of 
concordance,  then  of  aggrieuance.  I  perfuade  my  felfe,  rather  to 
hope  the  beft,  then  to  feare  the  worft  :  &  euer  wifh  vnto  other,  as  I 

36  would  wim  other,  to  wifli  vnto  mee.     It  is  my  earneft  defire,  to 


GABRIEL  HARVEY'S  THIRD  LETTER,   i^P2-  T49 

begin,  and  ende  fuch  friuolous  altercations  at  once  :  and  were  it  not 
more  for  other,  then  for  my  felfe,  affuredly  I  would  be  the  firft,  that 
mould  cancell  this  impertinent  Pamflet  :  and  throw  the  other  twoo 
Letters,  with  the  Sonnets   annexed,  into  the  fire.     Let  them  haue  4 
their  fwinge,  that  affe6t  to  be  terribly  fingular  :  I  defire  not  to  be  a 
blacke  Swanne  :  or  to  leaue  behinde  me  any  Period  in  the  ftile  of  the 
Diuels  Oratour  :  or  any  verfe  in  the  vaine  of  his  Dammes  Poet :  but 
rather  couet  to  be  nothing  in  printe,  then  any  thinge  in  the  ftampe  of  8 
needelefle,  or  fruitlelle  Contention.     As  I  -am  ouer-ruled  at  this  pre- 
fente,  and  as  it  ftandeth  now  :   I  am  not  to  be  mine  owne  ludge,  or 
Aduocate :  but  am  contente  to  bee  fentenced  by  euery  courteous,  or 
indifferente  perufer,  that  regardeth  honefty  in  perfons,  or  trueth  in  12 
teftimonies,  or  reafon  in  caufes.     Or  feeing  fome  matters  of  Fame  are 
called  in  queftion  :   I  am  not  onely  willing,  but  defirous  to  vnderlye 
the  verdicle,  euen   of  Fame   her-felfe ;    and  to  fubmit   our  whole 
credites,  to  the  voice  of  the  people,  as  to  the  voice  of  Equity,  and  the  16 
Oracle  of  God  :  to  whole  gratious  fauours  he  recommendeth  your 
Courtefy,  that  neither  flattereth  the  belt :  nor  ilaundereth  the  woorft  : 
nor  willfully  wrongeth  any  :  but  profeffeth  duety  to  his  fuperiours  : 
humanity  to  his  equals  :  fauour  to  his  inferiours  :  reafon  to  all :    And  20 
by  the  fame  Rule,  oweth  you  amends  for  the  premifles  :  not  fpedily 
difpatched,  but  haftily  bungled-vp  as  you  fee.     London :  this  8.  and 
9.  of  September. 

Thefrend  of  his  frendes,  &  foe  of  none.  24 


Five  Sections  o<" 

"  P  alladis     T  ami  a. 


Being  the  Second  part 

of  Wits  Common 

wealth. 

BY 

Francis  Meres  Maifter 

of  Artes  of  both  Vni- 

uerfities. 

Viuitur  ingenio,  ccetera  mortis  erunt. 


AT  LONDON 

Printed  by  P.  Short,  for  Cuthbert  Burbie,  and 

are  to  be  folde  at  his  fhop  at  the  Royall 

Exchange.     1598." 


Poetrie. 

[leaf  275]  As  in  a  Vine  clutters  of  grapes  are  often  hidde  vnder  the 
broade  and  fpacious  leaues  :  fo  in  deepe  conceited,  and  well  couched 
4  poems,  figures  and  fables,  many  things,  verie  profitable  to  be  knowne, 
doe  pafle  by  a  yong  fcholler.   Plut. 

As  according  to  Pluloxenus,  that  flefh  is  moft  fweete  which  is  no 

flefli ;  and  thofe  the  deledableft  fifhes,  which  are  no  fifhes  :  fo  that 

8  Poetrie  dooth  moft  delight  which  is  mixt  with  Philofophie ;  and  that 

Philofophie,  which  is  mixt  with  Poetrie.  Plutarchus  in  Cornmentario, 

quomodo  adolefcens  Poetas  audire  delet. 

As  a  Bee  gathereth  the  fweeteft  and  mildeft  honie  from  the  bit- 
12  tereft  flowers,  &  fharpeft  thornes  :  fo  fome  profite  may  bee  extracted 
out  of  obfcene  and  wanton  Poems,  and  fables,  idem. 

Albeit  many  be  drunke  with  wine,  yet  the  Vines  are  not  to  bee 

cut  downe,  as  Lycurgus  did,  but  Welles  and  Fountaines  are  to  bee 

*6  digged  neare  vnto  them  :  fo  although  manie  abufe  poetrie,  yet  it  is 

not  to  bee  banilhed,  but  difcretion  is  to  bee  vfed,  that  it  may  bee 

made  holefome.  Idem. 

As  Mandrake  growing  neare  Vines,  doth  make  the  wine  more 
20  mild :     fo    philofophie   bordering  vppon    poetrie   dooth   make   the 
knowledge  of  it  more  moderate,  idem. 

As  poyfon  mixt  with  meate  is  verie  deadlie  :   fo  lafciuioufnefle 
and  petulancie  in  poetrie  mixt  with  profitable  and  pleafing  matters  is 
24  very  peftilent.  idem. 

[leaf  276]  As  we  are  -delighted  in  deformed  creatures  artificiallye 
painted:  fo  in  poetrie,  which  is  a  liuely  adumbration  of  things,  euil 
matters  ingenioufly  contriued  do  delight. 

28  As  Phifitians  vfe  for  medicine  the  feete  and  wings  of  the  flies 
Cantharides,  which  flies  are  deadly  poyfon  :  fo  we  may  gather  out  of 
the  fame  poem,  that  may  quell  the  hurtfull  venome  of  it ;  for  poets 


FIVE    SECTIONS    OF    MEREs's    "  WITS    TREASVRY,"    l<^8.         153 

do  alwaies  mingle  fomewhat  in  their  Poems,  wherby  they  intimate 
that  they  condemne,  what  they  declare,  idem. 

As  our  breath  doth  make  a  Ihiller  found  being  fent  through  the 
narrow  channell  of  a  Trumpet,  then  if  it  be  dirfufed  abroad  into  the  4 
open  aire  :  fo  the  well  knitte  and  fuccin6t  combination  of  a  Poem, 
dooth  make  our  meaning  better  knowen  and  difcerned,  then  if  it 
were  deliuered  at  random  in  profe.   Seneca. 

As  he  that  drinkes  of  the  Well  Ciitorius,  doth  abhorre  wine  :  fo  8 
they  that  haue  once  tailed  of  poetry,  cannot  away  with  the  ftudie  of 
philofophie ;  after  the  fame  maner  holdes  the  contrarie. 

As  the  Anabaptifts  abhorre  the  liberall  artes  and  humane  fciences  : 
fo  puritanes  and  precifians  deteft  poetrie  and  poems.  1 2 

As  Eloquence  hath  fou«d  many  preachers  and  orators  worthy 
fauourers  of  her  in  the  Engliih  touwg  :  fo  her  lifter  poetry  hath 
fou«d  the  like  welcome  and  entertainment  giuen  her  by  our  Englifh 
poets,  which  makes  our  language  fo  gorgeous  &  dele£table  amowg  vs.  J6 

As  Rubarbe  and  Sugarcandie  are  pleafant  &  profitable  :  fo  ill 
poetry  ther  is  fweetnes  and  goodnes.  M.  lohn  Haring.  in  his 
Apologie  for  poetry  before  his  tr  (inflated  Ariofto. 

Many  cockney  and  wanton  women  are  often  licke,  but  in  faith  2° 
they  cannot  tell  where  :  fo  the  name  of  poetrie  is  odious  to  fome, 
but  neither  his  caufe,  nor  effects,  neither  the  fumme  that  contains 
him,  nor   the   particularities  defcending   from   him,  giue   any  fail 
handle  to  their  carping  difpraife.     Sir  Philip  Sidney  in  his  Apologie  24 
for  poetry. 


Poets. 

As  fome  do  vfe  an  Amethift  in  compotations  agaynft  drunkennes: 
fo  certain  precepts  are  to  be  vfed  in  hearing  and  reading  of  poets,  28 
leaft  they  infect  the  mind.  Plut.  &  Plin.  lib.  37.  cap.  9. 

As  in  thofe  places  where  many  holfome  hearbes  doe  growe,  there 
alfo  growes  many  poyfonfull  weedes :  fo  in  Poets  there  are  many 
excellent  things,  and  many  peftilent  matters.  Plut.  32 

[leaf  277]   As    Simonides   fayde,   that   the    Thejffalians  were   more 


154        FIVE    SECTIONS    OF    MERES'S    "  WITS    TREASVRY,"     1^98. 

blockilh,  then  that  they  could  be  deceiued  of  him :  fo  the  riper  and 
pregnanter  the  wit  is,  the  fooner  it  is  corrupted  of  Poets,  idem. 

As  Cato  when  he  was  a  fcholler  woulde  not  beleeue  his  maifter, 
4  except  hee  rendered  a  reafon  of  that  he  taught  him  :  fo  wee  are  not 
to  beleeue  Poets  in  all  that  they  write  or  fay,  except  they  yeelde  a 
reafon.  Idem. 

As  in  the  fame  pafture  the  Bee  feafeth  on  the  flower,  the  Goate 

8  grazeth  on  the  fhrub,  the  fwine  on  the  root,  and  the  Oxen,  Kine  & 

Horfes  on  the  grafie :  fo  in  Poets  one  feeketh  for  hiftorie,  an  other 

for  ornament  of  fpeech,  another  for  proofe,  and  an  other  for  precepts 

of  good  life.  idem. 

12        As  they  that  come  verie  fuddainlie  out  of  a  very  darke  place,  are 

greatly  troubled,  except  by  little  and  little  they  be  accuftomed  to  the 

light :  fo  in  reading  of  Poets,  the  opinions  of  Phylofophers  are  to  bee 

fowne  in  the  mindes  of  young  fchollers,  leaft  many  diuerfities  of 

1 6  doftrines  doe  afterwardes  diftracl:  their  mindes.  idem. 

As  in  the  portraiture  of  murder  or  inceft,  we  praife  the  Art  of 
him  that  drewe  it,  but  we  deteft  the  thing  it  felfe :  fo  in  lafciuious 
Poets  let  vs  imitate  their  elocution,  but  execrate  their  wantonnes. 
20  idem. 

Some  thinges  that  are  not  excellent  of  themfelues,  are  good  for 
fome,  bicaufe  they  are  meet  for  them  :  fo  fome  things  are  com- 
mended in  Poets,  which  are  fit  and  correfpondent  for  the  perfons, 
24  they  fpeake  of,  although  in  themfelues  they  bee  filthy  and  not  to  be 
fpoken  :  As  lame  Demonides  wilhed,  that  the  fhoes  that  were  ftolne 
from  him,  might  fit  his  feet  that  had  ftoln  them.  idem. 

As  that  fhip  is  endaungered,  where  all  leane  to  one  fide,  but  is  in 

28  fafetie,  one  leaning  one  way,   and  another   another   way :    fo  the 

diflenfion  of  Poets  among  themfelues,  doth  make  them,  that  they 

lefle  infed  their  readers.     And  for  this  purpofe  our  Satyrifts,  Hall, 

the  Author  of  Pigmalions  Image,  and  certaine  Satyres,  Rankins,  and 

32  fuch  others,  are  very  profitable. 

As  a  Bee  doth  gather  the  iuice  of  honie  from  flowres,  whereas 
others  are  onely  delighted  with  the  colour  and  fmel :  fo  a  Philofopher 
findeth  that  among  Poets  which  is  profitable  for  good  life,  when  as 
36  others  are  tickled  only  with  pleafure.  Plut. 


FIVE    SECTIONS    OF    MEREs's    "  WITS    TREASVRY,"     I^S-        1$$ 

As  wee  are  delighted  in  the  pi6ture  of  a  Viper  or  a  fpider 
artificially  enclofed  within  a  precious  iewell :  fo  Poets  do  delight  vs 
in  yc  learned  &  cunning  depainting  of  vices. 

[leaf  278]  As  fome  are  delighted  in  coureterfet  wines  confe6ted  of  4 
fruites,  not  that  they  refreih  the  hart,  but  that  they  make  drunke  :  fo 
fome  are  delighted  in  Poets  only  for  their  obfcenity,  neuer  refpecling 
their  eloquence  good  grace,  or  learning. 

As  Emperors,  kings  and  princes  haue  in  their  handes  authority  to  8 
dignifie  or  difgrace  their  nobles,  attendants,  fubiects  and  vaflals  :  fo 
Poets  haue  the  whole  power  in  their  handes  to  make  men  either 
immortally  famous  for  their  valiant  exploiter  and  vertuous  exercifes, 
or  perpetually  infamous  for  their  vicious  Hues.  12 

As  God  giueth  life  vnto  man :  fo  a  Poet  giueth  ornament 
vnto  it. 

As  the  Greeke  and  Latine  Poets  haue  wonne  immortal!  credit  to 
their  natiuefpeech,  beeing encouraged  and  graced  by  liberall  patrones  16 
and   bountifull  Benefactors :    fo  our   famous  and   learned  Lawreat 
mafters  of  England  would  entitle  our  Englifh  to  far  greater  admired 
excellency,  if  either  the  Emperor  Augujlus,  or  06iauia  his  filler,  or 
noble  Meccenas  were  aliue  to  rewarde  and  countenaunce  them;  or  if  20 
our  witty  Comedians  and  ftately  Tragedians  (the  glorious  and  goodlie 
reprefenters  of  all  fine  witte,  glorified  phrafe  and  queint  action)  bee 
ftill  fupported  and  vphelde,  by  which  meanes  for  lacke  of  Patrones 
(6  ingratefull  and  damned  age)  our  Poets  are  foly  or  chiefly  main-  24 
tained,  countenanced  and  patronized. 

In  the  infancy  of  Greece,  they  that  handled  in  the  audience  of 
the  people,  graue  &  neceflary  matters,  were  called  wife  men  or  ejo- 
quent  men,  which  they -men  t  by  Fates :  fo  the  reft,  which  fang  of  28 
loue   matters,  or  other  lighter   deuifes    alluring  vnto  pleafure  and 
delight,  were  called  Poette  or  makers. 

As  the  holy  Prophets  and  fan&ified  Apoftles  could  neuer  haue 
foretold  nor  fpoken  of  fuch  fupernaturall  matters,  vnlefle  they  had  32 
bin  infpired  of  God  :  fo  Cicero  in  his  Tufculane  queftions  is  of  y* 
minde,  that  a  Poet  cannot  expreffe  verfes  aboundantly,  fufficiently, 
and  fully,  neither  his  eloquence  can  flow  pleafantly,  or  his  wordes 
found  well  and  plenteoufly,  without  celeftiall  inftin6lion ;  which  36 


1$6        FIVE    SECTIONS     OF    MEHEs's    "  WITS    TKEASVRY,"    1598. 

Poets  themfelues  do  very  often  and  gladly  witnes  of  themlelues,  as 
namely  Quid  in  6.  FaJL 

Eft  Deus  in  nobis  agitante  calefcimus  illo,  £s*c. 

4  And  our  famous  Englifh  Poet  Spenfer,  who  in  his  Sheepeheards 
Calender  lamenting  the  decay  of  Poetry  at  thefe  dayes,  faith  moft 
fweetly  to  the  fame. 

Then  make  thee  wings  of  thine  afpiring  wit 
8  And  whence  thou  camejlfly  lacks  to  heauen  apace,  &c. 

[leaf  279]  As  a  long  gowne  maketh  not  an  Aduocate,  although  a 
gowne  be  a  fit  ornament  for  him  :  fo  riming  nor  verfing  maketh.  a 
Poet,  albeit  the  Senate  of  Poets  hath  chofen  verfe  as  their  fitteft 
i2raymentj  but  it  is  y4  faining  notable  images  of  vertues,  vices,  or 
what  elfe,  with  that  delightfull  teaching,  which  muft  bee  the  right 
defcribing  note  to  knowe  a  Poet  by.  Sir  Philip  Sidney  in  his  Apology 
for  Poetry. 


1 6  A -comparatiue  difcourfe  of 

our  Englifh  Poets,  with  the 
Greeks,  Latine,  and  Ita- 
lian Poets. 

20  As  Greece  had  three  Poets  of  great  antiquity,  Orpheus,  Linus  and 
Mufccus  :  and  Italy,  other  three  auncient  Poets,  Liuius  Andronicus, 
Ennius  &  Plautus :  fo  hath  England  three  auncient  Poets,  Chaucer, 
Gower  and  Lydgate. 

24  As  Homer  is  reputed  the  Prince  of  Greek  Poets  ;  and  Petrarch  ot 
Italian  Poets  :  fo  Chaucer  is  accounted  the  God  of  Englifh  Poets. 

As  Homer  was  the  firft  that  adorned  the  Greek  tongue  with  true 
quantity :  fo  Piers  Plowman  was  the  firft  that  obferued  the  true 

28  quantitie  of  our  verfe  without  the  curiofitie  of  Rime. 

Quid  writ  a  Chronicle  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  his 
own  time,  that  is,  to  the  raign  of  Augujlus  the  Emperour :  fo  hath 
Harding  the  Chronicler  (after  his  maner  of  old  harfh  riming)  from 

32  Adam  to  his  time,  that  is,  to  the  raigne  of  King  Edward  the  fourth. 


FIVE    SECTIONS    OF    MEREs's    "  WITS    TREASVRY,"    J^S.         1^7 

As  Sotades  Maronites  ye  lambicke  Poet  gaue  himfelfe  wholy  to 
write  impure  and  lafciuious  things  :  fo  Skelton  (I  know  not  for  what 
great  worthines,  furnamed  the  Poet  Laureat)  applied  his  wit  to  fcur- 
rilities  and  ridiculous  matters,  fuch  amowg  the  Greeks  were  called  4 
Pantomimi,  with  vs  Buffons. 

As  Confaluo  Periz  that  excellent  learned  man,  and  Secretary  to 
King  Philip  of  Spayne,  in  translating  the  U/yffes  of  Homer  out  of 
Greeke  into  Spanifh,  hath  by  good  iudgement  auoided  the  faulte  of  8 
Ryming,  although  not  fully  hit  perfect  and  true  verifying  :  fo  hath 
Henrie  Howards  that  true  and  noble  Earle  of  Surrey  in  tranllating 
the  fourth  book  of  Virgils  ^Sneas,  whom  Michael  Drayton   in  his 
Englands  heroycall  Epiftles  hath  eternized  for  an  Epiftle  to  his  faire  12 
Geraldine. 

As   thefe    Neoterickes  louianus  Pontanus,    Politianus,    Manillas 
Tarchaniota,  the  two   Strozce  the  father  and  the  fon,   Palingenius, 
[lea  280]  Mantuanus,  Philelphus,  Quintianus  Stoa  and  Germanus  Brixius  16 
haue  obtained  renown  and  good  place  among  the  auncient  Latine 
Poets  :  fo  alfo  thefe  Englifh  men  being  Latine  Poets,  Gualter  Had- 
don,    Nicholas    Car,    Gabriel   Haruey,    Chriftopher    Ocland,    Thomas 
Newton  with  his  Leyland,  Thomas  Watfon,  Thomas  Campion,  Erun-  20 
fwerd  &  I'Tilley,  haue  attained  good  report  and  honorable  aduance- 
ment  in  the  Latin  Empyre. 

As  the  Greeke  tongue  is  made  famous  and  eloquent  by  Homer, 
Hejiod,    Euripedes,   Aefchilus,    Sophocles,   Pindar  us,    Phocylides,   and  24 
Ariftophanes ;  and  the  Latine  tongue  by  Virgill,  Quid,  Horace,  Silius 
Italicus,  Lucanus,  Lucretius,  Anfonius  and  Claudianus  :  fo  the  Englifh 
tongue  is  mightily  enriched,  and  gorgeouflie  inuefted  in  rare  orna- 
ments   and   refplendent  abiliments   by   Sir   Philip  Sidney,  Spencer,  28 
Daniel,  Drayton,  Warner,  Shakefpeare,  Marlow  and  Chapman. 

As  Xenophon,  who  did  imitate  fo  excellently,  as  to  giue  vs 
effigiem  iujii  imperij,  the  portraiture  of  a  iuft  Empyre  vnder  ye  name 
of  Cyrus  (as  Cicero  faieth  of  him)  made  therein  an  abfolute  heroicall  32 
Poem ;  and  as  Heliodorus  writ  in  profe  his  fugred  inuewtiora  of  that 
piciure  of  Loue  in  Theagines  and  Cariclea,  and  yet  both  excellent 
admired  Poets :  fo  Sir  Philip  Sidney  writ  his  immortal  Poem,  The 
Countejfe  of  Pembrookes  Arcadia,  in  Profe,  and  yet  our  rareft  Poet.  36 


158        FIVE    SECTIONS    OF    MEHEs's    "  WITS    TREASVRY,"    I^pS. 

As  Sextus  Propertius  faide  ;  Nefc'to  quid  magis  nafcitur  Iliade  :  fo 
I  fay  of  Spencers  Fairy  Queene,  I  knowe  not  what  more  excellent  or 
exquifite  Poem  may  be  written. 

4  As  Achilles  had  the  aduantage  of  Heflor,  becaufe  it  was  his  fortune 
to  bee  extolled  and  renowned  by  the  heauenly  verfe  of  Homer :  fo 
Spenfirs  Elifa  the  Fairy  Queen  hath  the  aduantage  of  all  the  Queenes 
in  the  worlde,  to  bee  eternized  by  fo  diuine  a  Poet. 
8  As  Theocritus  is  famoufed  for  his  Idyllia  in  Greeke,  and  Virgill 
for  his  Eclogs  in  Latine  :  fo  Spencer  their  imitatour  in  his  Shepheardes 
Calender,  is  renowned  for  the  like  argument,  and  honoured  for  fine 
Poeticall  inuention,  and  moft  exquifit  wit. 

12  As  Parthehius  Nicceus  excellently  fung  the  praifes  of  his  Arete: 
fo  Daniel  hath  diuinely  fonetted  the  matchlefle  beauty  of  his  Delia. 

As  euery  one  mourneth,  when  hee  heareth  of  the  lamentable 
plangors  of  Thracian  Orpheus  for  his  deareft  Euridice :  fo  euery  one 

1 6  paffionateth,  when  he  readeth  the  afflicted  death  of  Daniels  diftreffed 
Rofamond. 

[leaf  281]  As  Lucan  hath  mournefully  depainted  the  ciuil  wars  of 
Pompey  &  Ccefar  :  fo  hath  Daniel  the  ciuill  wars  of  Yorke  and 

20  Lancafter  j  and  Dray  ton  the  ciuill  wars  of  Edward  the  fecond,  and 
the  Barons. 

As  Virgil  doth  imitate  Catullus  in  ye  like  matter  of  Ariadne  for 
his  ftory  of  Queene  Dido  :  fo  Michael  Drayton  doth  imitate  Quid  in 

24  his  Englands  Heroical  Epifiles. 

As  Sophocles  was  called  a  Bee  for  the  fweetnes  of  his  tongue :  fo 
in  Charles  Fit%-Iefferies  Drake,  Drayton  is  termed  Golden-mouth' d, 
for  the  purity  and  pretioufnefle  of  his  flile  and  phrafe. 

28  As  Accius,  M.  Attilius  and  Mililhus  were  called  Tragcediographi, 
becaufe  they  writ  Tragedies  :  fo  may  wee  truly  terme  Michael  Dray- 
ton Tragcediographus,  for  his  paflionate  penning  the  downfals  of 
valiant  Robert  of  Normandy,  chaft  Matilda,  and  great  Gauejion. 

32  As  loan.  Honterus  in  Latine  verfe  writ  3  Bookes  of  cofmography 
wl  Geographicall  tables :  fo  Michael  Drayton  is  now  in  penning 
in  Englifh  verfe  a  Poem  called  Polu-ollion  Geographical  and  Hydro- 
graphicall  of  all  the  forefts,  woods,  mountaines,  fountaines,  riuers, 

36  lakes,  flouds,  bathes  and  fprings  that  be  in  England. 


FIVE    SECTIONS    OF    MEREs's    "  WITS    TREASVRY,"     159^-        J59 

As  Aitlus  Perjlus  Flaccus  is  reported  among  al  writers  to  be  of  an 
honeft  life  and  vpright  conuerfation :  fo  Michael  Dray  ton  (quern  toties 
honoris  &  amoris  caufa  nomino]  among  fchollers,  fouldiours,  Poets, 
and  all  forts  of  people,  is  helde  for  a  man  of  vertuous  difpofition,  4 
honeft  conuerfation,  and  wel  gouerned  cariage,  which  is  almoft 
miraculous  among  good  wits  in  thefe  declining  and  corrupt  times, 
when  there  is  nothing  but  rogery  in  villanous  man,1  &  whew  cheating 
and  craftines  is  counted  the  cleaneft  wit,  and  foundeft  wifedome.  8 

As  Decius  Aufonius  Gallus  in  libris  Fqftorum,  penned  the  occur- 
rences of  ye  world  from  the  firft  creation  of  it  to  his  time,  that  is,  to 
the  raigne  of  the  Emperor  Gratian  :  fo  Warner  in  his  abfolute  Allions 
Englande  hath  moft  admirably  penned  the  hiftorie  of  his  own  country  1 2 
from  Noah  to  his  time,  that  is,  to  the  raigne  of  Queene  Elizabeth ; 
I  haue  heard  him  termd  of  the  beft  wits  of  both  our  Vniuerfities,  our 
Englifh  Homer. 

As  Euripedes  is  the  moft  fententious  among  the  Greek  Poets  :  fo  16 
is  learner  amowg  our  Englifh  Poets. 

As  the  foule  of  Euphorias  was  thought  to  liue  in  Pythagoras :  fo 
the  fweete  wittie  foule  of  Quid  liues  in  mellifluous  &  hony-tongued 
Shakefpeare,  witnes  his  Venus  and  Adonis,  his  Lucrece,  his  fugred  20 
[leaf  282]  Sonnets  among  his  priuate  friends,  &c. 

As  Plautus  and  Seneca  are  accounted  the  beft  for  Comedy  and 
Tragedy  among  the  Latines  :  fo  Shakefpeare  among  ye  Englifh.  is  the 
moft  excellent  in  both  kinds  for  the  ftage;  for  Comedy,  witnes  his  24 
Gentlemen  of  Verona,  his  Errors,  his  Loue  labors  lojl,  his  Loue  labours 
wonne,  his  Midfummers  night  dreame,  &  his  Merchant  of  Venice :  for 
Tragedy  his  Richard  the  i.  Richard  the  3.  Henry  the  4.  King  John, 
Titus  Andronicus  and  his  Romeo  and  luliet.  28 

As  Epius  Stolo  faid,  that  the  Mules  would  fpeake  with  Plautus 
tongue,  if  they  would  fpeak  Latin :  fo  I  fay  that  the  Mufes  would 
fpeak  with  Shakefpeares  fine  filed  phrafe,  if  they  would  fpeake  Eng- 
lifh. 32 

As  Mufceus,  who  wrote  the  loue  of  Hero  and  Leander,  had  two 
excellent  fchollers,  Thamarus  &  Hercules  :  fo  hath  he  in  England  two 

1  An  expression  quoted  from  the  First  Part  of  "  Henry  the  4,"  which  is  named  in 
the  corresponding  line  of  the  next  page.  - 


l6o        FIVE    SECTIONS    OF    MERES's    "  WITS    TREASVRY,"     1598. 

excellent  Poets,  imitators  of  him  in  the  fame  argument  and  fubieft, 
Chnjlopher  Marloiv,  and  George  Chapman. 
As  Quid  faith  of  his  worke ; 

4  Iam<rae  opus  exegi,  quod  nee  louis  ira,  nee  ignis, 

Nee  poteritferrum,  nee  edax  abolere  vetujlas. 

And  as  Horace  faith  of  his  ;  Exegi  monitmentum  cere  perennius ; 

RegaliqvLQjitu  pvramidum  altius ;   Quod  non  imber  edax  ;  Non  Aquilo 

8  impotens  pojjit  diruere ;    aut  innumeralUis   annorum  feries   &  fuga 

temporum :  fo  fay  I  feuerally  of  fir  Philip  Sidneys,  Spencers,  Daniels, 

Dray  tons,  Shakefpeares,  and  Warners  workes  ; 

Non  louis  ira  :  imlres  :  Mars :  firrum  :  Jlamma,feneclus, 
1 2  Hoc  opus  vnda  :  Lues  :  turbo :  venena  ruent. 

Et  quanquam  ad  plucherrimum  hoc  opus  euertendum  tres  illi  Dij 
confpirabunt,  Cronus,  Vulcanus,  &  pater  ipfe  gentis  ; 

Non  tamen  annorum  feries,  nonflamma,  nee  en/is, 
1 6  jEternum  potuit  hoc  abolere  Decus. 

As  Italy  had  Dante,  Boccace,  Petrarch,  Tqffb,  Celiano  and  Ariojlo : 
fo  England  had  Mathew  Roydon,  Thomas  Atchelow,  Thomas  Watfon, 
Thomas  Kid,  Robert  Greene  &  George  Peele. 

20  As  there  are  eight  famous  and  chiefe  languages,  Hebrew,  Greek, 
Latine,  Syriack,  Arabicke,  Italian,  Spani/h  and  French :  fo  there  are 
eight  notable  feuerall  kindes  of  Poets,  Heroick,  Lyricke,  Tragicke, 
Comicke,  Satiricke,  lambicke,  Elegiacke  &  Pajtoral. 

24  As  Homer  and  Virgil  among  the  Greeks  and  Latines  are  the 
chiefe  Heroick  Poets  :  fo  Spencer  and  Warner  be  our  chiefe  heroicall 
Makers. 

As   Pindarus,   Anacreon  and  Callimachus   among   the   Greekes ; 

28  [leaf  283]  and  Horace  and   Catullus  among  the  Latines  are  the  beft 
Lyrick  Poets  :  fo  in  this  faculty  the  beft  amowg  our  Poets  are  Spencer 
who   excelleth  in  all  kinds)  Daniel,  Drayton,  Shakefpeare,  Bretton. 
As  thefe  Tragicke  Poets  flouriflied  in  Greece,  Aefchylus,  Euripedes, 

32  Sophocles,  Alexander  Aetolus,  Achteus  Erithr'ueus,  Aftydamas  Athe- 
neinfis,  Apollodorus  Tarfenjis,  Nicomachus  Phrygius,  Thefpis  Atticus, 
and  Timon  Apolloniates ;  and  thefe  among  the  Latines,  Accius,  M. 
Attilius,  Pomponius  Secundus  and  Seneca  :  fo  thefe  are  our  beft  for 


FIVE    SECTIONS    OF    MEREs's    "  WITS    TREASVRY,"   IjpS.        l6l 

Tragedie,  the  Lord  Buckhurjl,  Dodor  Leg  of  Cambridge,  Do&or  Edes 
of  Oxforde,  maifter  Edward  Ferris,1  the  Authour  of  the  Mirrour  for 
Magiftrates,  Marlow,  Peele,  Watfon,  Kid,  Shakefpeare,  Dray  ton,  Chap- 
man, Decker,  and  Beniamin  lohnfon.  4 

As  M.  Anneus  Lucanus  writ  two  excellent  Tragedies,  one  called 
Medea,  the  other  de  Incendio  Troice  cum  Priami  calamitate  :  fo  Doftor 
Leg  hath  penned  two  famous  tragedies,  ye  one  of  Richard  the  3.  the 
other  of  the  deftruction  of  lerufalem.  8 

The  beft  Poets  for  Comedy  among  the  Greeks  are  thefe,  Menander, 
Ariftophanes,  Eupolis  Athenienjls,  Alexis  Terius,  Nicoftratus,  Amipjias 
Athenienjis,  Anaxandrides  Rhodius,  Ariftonymus,  Archippus  Athenien/is 
and  Callias  Athenienjls;  and  among  the  Latines,  Plautus,  Terence,  12 
Nceuius,  Sext.  Turpilius,  Licinius  Imbrex,  and  Flrgilius  Romanics :  fo 
the  beft  for  Comedy  amongft  vs  bee,  Edward  Earle  of  Oxforde, 
Do6tor  Gager  of  Oxforde,  Maifter  Rowley  once  a  rare  Scholler  of 
learned  Pembrooke  Hall  in  Cambridge,  Maifter  Edwardes  one  of  her  16 
Maiefties  Chappell,  eloquent  and  wittie  lohn  Lilly,  Lodge,  Gafcoyne, 
Greene,  Shakesfpeare,  Thomas  Na/h,  Thomas  Heywood,  Anthony 
Mundye  our  beft  plotter,  Chapman,  Porter,  Wilfon,  Hathway,  and 
Henry  Chettle.  20 

As   Horace,   Ludlius,  luuenall,   Perjius  &  Lucullus  are  the  beft 
for  Satyre  among  the  Latines :  fo  with  vs  in  the  fame  faculty  thefe 
are  chiefe,  Piers  Plowman,  Lodge,  Hall  of  Imanuel  Colledge  in  Cam- 
bridge;   the    Authour  of  Pigmalions    Image,  and  certaine  Satyrs;  24 
the  Author  of  Skialetheia. 

Among  the  Greekes  I  wil  name  but  two  for  lamlicks,  Archil- 
ochus  Parius,  and  Hipponax  Ephejius :  fo  amongft  vs  I  name  but 
two  lambical  Poets,  Gabriel  Haruey,  and  Richard  Stanyhurjl,  bicaufe  28 
I  haue  feene  no  mo  in  this  kind. 

As  thefe  are  famous  among  the  Greeks  for  Elegie,  Melan- 
thus,  Mymnerus  Colophonius,  Olympius  Myfius,  Parthenius  Nicceus, 
[leaf  284]  Philetas  Cous,  Theogenes  Megar en/is  and  Pigres  Halicarnaf-  32 

1  It  is  usually  believed  that  this  is  an  error  for  George  Ferrers.     But  Meres,  here 
as  elsewhere,  follows  Puttenham,  who  writes  : 

"  That  for  Tragedie,  the  Lord  of  Buckhurst,  and  Maister  Edward  Ferry s  for  such 
doings  as  I  haue  sene  of  theirs  do  deserue  the  hyest  price  :"  [? praise].     The  Arte 
of  English  Poesie,  1589.     (Arber's  Reprint,  p.  77.) 
ALLUSION-BOOKS.  11 


l62        FIVE    SECTIONS    OF    MEREs's    "  WITS    TREASVRY,"    1598. 

fccus ;  and  thefe  among  the  Latines,  Meccenas,  Quid,  Tilullus,  Pro- 

pertius,  T.  Valgius,  Cajfius  Seuerus  &  Clodius  Salinus  :  fo  thefe  are 

the  moft  paflionate  among  vs  to  bewaile  and  bemoane  the  perplexities 

4  of  Loue,  Henrie  Howard  Earle  of  Surrey,  fir  Thomas  IVyat  tlie  elder, 

fir  Francis  Brian,  fir  Philip  Sidney,  fir  Walter  Rawley,  fir  Edward 

Dyer,  Spencer,  Daniel,  Drayton,   Shakefpeare,  JVIietflone,  Gafcoyne, 

Samuell  Page  fometines  fellowe  of  Corpus  Chrijli  Colledge  in  Oxford, 

8  Churchyard,  Bretton. 

As  Theocritus  in  Greeke,  Virgil  and  Manluan  in  Latine,  Sanazar 

in   Italian,  and  the  Authour  of  Amyntoe  Gaudia  and  Waljinghams 

Melibceus  are  the  beft  for  paftorall :  fo  among  vs  the  befl  in  this  kind 

12  are   fir   Philip   Sidney,  mafter   Challener,   Spencer,  Stephen   Gojffbn, 

Alraham  Fraunce  and  Sarnefield. 

Thefe  and  many  other  Epigrammatijls  ye  Latin  tongue  hath,  Q. 
Catulus,  Porcius  Licinius,  Quintus  Cornificius,  Martial,  Cn.  Getulicus, 
!6  and  wittie  fir  Thomas  Moore  :  fo  in  Englifh  we  haue  thefe,  Heyivood, 
Drante,  Kendal,  Bajlard,  Dauies. 

As  noble  Meccenas  that  fprung  from  the  Hetrufcan  Kinges  not 

onely  graced  Poets  by  his  bounty,  but  alfo  by  beeing  a  Poet  himfelfe ; 

20  and  as  lames  the  6.  nowe  king  of  Scotland  is  not  only  a  fauorer  of 

Poets,  but  a  Poet,  as  my  friend  mafter  Richard  Barnejielde  hath  in 

this  Difticke  pafling  well  recorded  : 

The  King  of  Scots  now  liuing  is  a  Poet, 
24  As  his  Lepanto,  and  his  furies  Jhow  it : 

fo  Elizabeth,  our  dread  foueraign  and  gracious  Queene  is  not  only  a 
liberal  patrone  vnto  Poets,  but   an   excellent  Poet  herfelfe,  whofe 
learned,  delicate  and  noble  Mufe  furmounteth,  be  it  in  Ode,  Elegy, 
28  Epigram,  or  in  any  other  kind  of  Poem  Heroicke,  or  Lyricke.1 

Octauia  fifter  vnto  Auguftus  the  Emperour  was  exceeding  bounti- 
ful! vnto  Virgil,  who  gaue  him  for  making  26.  verfes,  1137  pounds, 
to  wit,  tenne  Sejiertiaes  for  euerie  verfe,  which  amount  to  aboue  43 

1  So  Puttenhara,  at  the  last  reference  : 

"  But  last  in  recitall  and  first  in  degree  is  the  Queene  our  soueraigne  Lady,  whose 
learned,  delicate,  noble  Muse,  easily  surmounteth  all  the  rest  that  haue  written  before 
her  time  or  since,  for  sence,  sweetnesse  and  subtillitie,  be  it  Ode,  Elegie,  Epigram,  or 
any  other  kinde  of  poeme  Heroick  or  Lyricke,"  &c. 


FIVE    SECTIONS    OF    MEREs's    "  WITS    TREASVRY,"    IjpS.        163 

pounds  for  euery  verfe  :  fo  learned  Mary,  the  honorable  Counteffe  of 
Pembrooh,  the  noble  fitter  of  immortall  fir  Philip  Sidney,  is  very 
liberall  vnto  Poets ;  befides  fhee  is  a  moft  delicate  Poet,  of  whome  I 
may  fay,  as  Antipater  Sidonius  writeth  of  Sappho  :  I 

Dulcia  Mnemofyne  demirans  carmina  Sapphus, 
Quoejiuit  decima  Pieris  vndeforet. 

[leaf  285]  Among  others  in  times  paft,  Poets  had  thefe  fauourers, 
Augujlus,   Meccenas,  Sophocles,  Germanicus,  an   Emperour,  a  noble  8 
man,  a  Senatour,  and  a  Captaine  :  fo  of  later  times  Poets  haue  thefe 
patrones,  Robert  king  of  Sicil,  the  great  king  Frances  of  France,  king 
lames  of  Scotland,  &  Queene  Elizabeth  of  England. 

As  in  former  times  two  great  Cardinals,  Bembus  &  Elena,  did  12 
countenance  Poets  :  fo  of  late  yeares  two  great  preachers  haue  giuen 
them  their  right  hands  in  felowfhip,  Beza  and  Melan&hon. 

As  the  learned  philofophers  Fracqflorius  and  Scaliger  haue  highly 
prized  them  :  fo  haue  the  eloquent  Orators  Pontanus  and  Muretus  very  16 
glorioufly  eftimated  them. 

As  Georgius  Buckananus  lepthe,  amo«gfl  all  moderne  Tragedies  is 
able  to  abide  the  touch  of  Arijlotles  precepts,  and  Euripedes  examples  : 
fo  is  Bifliop  Watfons  Alfalon.  20 

As  Terence  for  his  tranflations  out  of  Apollodorus  &  Menander, 
and  Aquilius  for  his  translation  out  of  Menander,  and  C.  Germanicus 
Augujlus  for  his  out  of  Aratus,  and  Anfonius  for  his  tranflated  Epigrams 
out  of  Greeke,  and  Do&or  lohnfon  for  his  Frogge-Jlght  out  of  Homer,  24 
and  IVatfon  for  his  Antigone  out  of  Sophocles,  haue  got  good  com- 
mendations :  fo  thefe  verfifiers  for  their  learned  tranflations  are  of 
good   note  among  vs,  Phaer  for  Flrgils  Aeneads,  Golding  for  Quids 
Metamorphnfts,  Harington  for  his   Orlando  Furiofo,  the  tranflators  of  28 
Senecaes  Tragedies,  Barnale  Googe  for   Palingenius,   Turleruile  fc;r 
Quids  Epiftles  and  Mantuan,  and  Chapman  for  his  inchoate  Homer. 

As  the  Latines  haue  thefe  Emllematifts,  Andreas  Alciatus,  Reuf- 
nerus,  and  Samlucus :  fo  we  haue  thefe,  Geffrey   Whitney,  Andrew  32 
Willet,  and  Thomas  Combe* 

As  Nonnus  Panapolyta  writ  the  Gofpell  of  faint  lohn  in  Greeke 
Hexameters  :  fo  leruis  Markkam  hath  written  Salomons  Canticles  in 
Englifh  verfe.  36 


164        FIVE    SECTIONS    OF    MEREs's    "  WITS    TREASVRY,"    1^98. 

As  C.   Plimua  writ  the  life  of  Pomponius  SecunJus :    fo  yong 
Charles  Fitz-Ieflrey,  that  high  touring  Falcon,  hath  moft  glorioufly 
penned  the  honourable  life  and  death  of  worthy  fir  Francis  Drake. 
4        As  He/tod  writ  learnedly  of  husbandry  in  Greeke  :  fo  hath  Tuffer 
very  wittily  and  experimentally  written  of  it  in  Englifli. 

As  Antipater  Sidonius  was  famous  for  extemporall  verfe  in  Greeke, 

and  Quid  for  his  Quicyuid  conalar  dicere  verfus  erat :   fo  was  our 

8  Tarleton,  of  whome  Do&our  Cafe  that  learned  phyfitian  thus  fpeaketh 

peaf  286]  in  the  feuenth  Booke,  &  feuenteenth  chapter  of  his  Politikes ; 

Arijioteles  fuum  Theodoretum  laudauit  quendam  peritum  Traguediarum 

aclorem  ;   Cicero  fuum  Rnfcium  :  nos  Angli  Tarletonum,  in  cuius  voce 

1 2  £5*  vultu  omnes  iocoji  qffectus,  in  cuius  cerebrofo  capite  lepidce  facetiae 

•  habitant.     And  fo  is  now  our  wittie  IVilfon,  who,  for  learning  and 

extemporall  witte  in  this  facultie,  is  without  compare  or  compeere, 

as   to  his  great  and  eternall  commendations  he  manifested  in  his 

1 6  chalenge  at  the  Swanne  on  the  Banke  fide. 

As  Achilles  tortured  the  deade  bodie  of  Hector,  and  as  Antonius, 
and  his  wife  Fuluia  tormented   the   liuelefle   corps   of   Cicero :    fo 
Gabriell  Haruey  hath  {hewed  the  fame  inhumanitie  to  Greene  that 
20  lies  full  low  in  his  graue. 

As  E'jpolis  of  Athens  vfed  great  libertie  in  taxing  the  vices  of 
men  :  fo  dooth  Thomas  Nq/h,  witnefle  the  broode  of  the  Haruey s. 

As  Aclaeon  was  wooried  of  his  owne  hounds :  fa  is  Tom  Najk  of 
24  his  JJle  of  Dogs.     Dogges  were  the  death  of  Euripedes,  but  bee  not 
difconfolate  gallant  young  luuenall,  Linus,  the  fonne  of  Apollo  died 
the  fame  death.     Yet   God  forbid  that  fo  braue  a  witte  fhould  fo 
bafely  perilh,  thine  are  but  paper  dogges,  neither  is  thy  banifhment 
28  like  Quids,  eternally  to  conuerfe  writh  the  barbarous  Getes.     There- 
fore comfort  thy  felfe  fweete  Tom.  with  Ciceros  glorious  return  to 
Rome,  &  with  the  counfel  Aeneas  giues  to  his  feabeaten   foldiors, 
lib.  i  Aeneid. 

32  Pluck  vp  thine  heart,  &  driue  from  thence  loth  fear e  and  care  away  : 
To  thinke  an  this  may  pleafure  be  perhaps  another  day. 
Durato,  £5*  temet  rebus  feruato  fecundis. 

As  Anacreon  died  by  the  pot :   fo  George  Peele  by  the  pox. 
36        As  Archejilaus  Prytanceus  periihed  by  wine  at  a  drunken  feaft,  as 


FIVE    SECTIONS     OF    MEREs's    "  WITS    TREASVRY,"    J^pS.         l6$ 

Hermippus  teftifieth  in  Diogenes  :  fo  Robert  Greene  died  of  a  furfet 
taken  at  Pickeld  Herrings,  &  Rheniih  wine,  as  witnefleth  Thomas 
Nqfli,  who  was  at  the  fatall  banquet. 

As  lodelle,  a  French  Tragical  poet  beeing  an  Epicure,  and  an  4 
Atheift,  made  a  pitifull  end  :  fo  our  tragicall  poet  Marlow  for  his 
Epicurifme  and  Atheifme  had  a  tragicall  death ;  you  may  read  of 
this  Marlow  more  at  large  in  the  Theatre  of  Gods  iudgments,  in  the 
25.  chapter  entreating  of  Epicures  and  Atheifts.  8 

As  the  poet  Lycophron  was  {hot  to  death  by  a  certain  riual  of 
[leaf  287]  his  :  fo  Chriftopher  Marlow  was  ftabd  to  death  by  a  bawdy 
Seruingman,  a  riuall  of  his  in  his  lewde  loue. 

Painters.  12 

Apelles  painted  a  Mare  and  a  Dogge  fo  liuelie,  that  Horfes  and 
Dogges  pafling  by  woulde  neigh,  and  barke  at  them  j  hee  grewe  fo 
famous  for  his  excellent  Art,  that  great  Alexander  came  often  to  his 
fhoppe  to  vifite  him,  and  commaunded  that  none  other  Ihould  paint  16 
him;  at  his  death  hee  left  Venus  vnfinilhed,  neither  was  anie  euer 
founde,  that  durft  perfect,  what  hee  had  begunne.     rLeuxls  was  fo 
excellent  in  painting,  that  it  was  eafier  for  anie  man  to  view  his 
pictures,  then  to  imitate  them,  who  to  make  an  excellent  Table,  had  20 
fiue   Agrigentine  Virgins    naked   by  him;    hee  painted   Grapes  fo 
liuelie,  that  Birdes  did  flie  to  eate  them.  Parrhajius  painted  a  Sheete 
fo  artificiallie,  that  Zeuxis  tooke  it  for  a  Sheete  in  deede,  and  com- 
maunded it  to  bee  taken  away  to  fee  the  picture,  that  hee  thought  it  24 
had  vayled;    as  learned   and   fkilmll   Greece  had  thele  excellently 
renowned  for  their  limning :  fo  Englande  hath  thefe  ;  Hiliard,  Ifaac 
Oliuer,  and  lohn  de  Creetes,  very  famous  for  their  painting. 

As    Greece   moreouer   had   thefe    Painters ;    Timantes,    Phidias,  28 
Polignotus,   Paneus,   Bularchus,   Eumarus    Cimon    Cleonceus,    Pythis, 
Apollodorus    Athenienjis,    Arijlides     Thebanus    Nicophanes,    Perfeus, 
Antiphilus,  and  Nicearchus :  fo  in  Englande  wee  haue  alfo  thefe ; 
William  and  Francis  Segar  brethren,  Thomas  and  lohn  Bettes,  Lockey,  32 
Lyne,  Peake,  Peter  Cole,  Arnolds,  Marcus,  laques  de  Bray,  Cornelius, 
Peter  Golchis,  Hieron'nno  and  Peter  Jrande  Velde. 


l66       FIVE    SECTIONS    OF    MERES's    "  WITS    TREASVRY,"    1598. 

As  Lyfippus,  Praxiteles,  and  Pyrgoteles,  were  excellent  engrauers  : 
fo  wee  haue  thefe  engrauers,  Rogers,  Chriftopher  Switfer,  and  Cure. 


Muficke 

4  The  Loadftone  draweth  iron  vnto  it,  but  the  ftone  of  Aethiopia 
called  Theamedes  driueth  it  away :  fo  there  is  a  kinde  of  Muficke 
that  dooth  afiwage  and  appeafe  the  affe&ions,  and  a  kinde  that  doth 
kindle  and  prouoke  the  paflions. 

8  As  there  is  no  law  that  hath  foueraintie  ouer  loue  :  fo  there  is  no 
heart  that  hath  rule  ouer  Muficke,  but  Muficke  fubdues  it. 

As  one  day  takes  from  vs  the  credite  of  another  :  fo  one  ftrain  of 
[leaf  288]  Muficke  extincts  the  pleafure  of  another. 

12  As  the  heart  ruleth  ouer  all  the  members:  fo  Muficke  ouer- 
commeth  the  heart. 

As  beautie  is  no  beautie  without  vertue :  fo  Muficke  is  no  Mu- 
ficke without  Art. 

1 6  As  all  thinges  loue  their  likes  :  fo  the  mofle  curious  eare  the 
delicateft  Muficke. 

As  too  much  fpeaking  hurts ;  too  much  galling  fmarts :  fo  too 
much  Mufick  gluts  and  diftempereth. 

20  As  Plato  and  Arijlotle  are  counted  princes  in  philofophie  and 
Logicke ;  Hippocrates  and  Galen  in  phifick  j  Ptolomie  in  Aftrologie, 
Euclide  in  Geometrie,  and  Cicero  in  eloquence  :  fo  Boetius  is  efteemed 
a  Prince  and  captaine  in  Muficke. 

24  As  Priejls  were  famous  among  the  Egyptians ;  Magi  among  the 
Caldeans ;  and  Gymnofophijtes  among  the  Indians :  fo  Mufitians 
flourifhed  among  the  Grecians,  and  therefore  Epaminondas  was  ac- 
counted more  vnlearned  then  Themiftocles,  becaufe  he  had  no  fkill  in 

28  Muficke. 

As  Mercuric  by  his  eloquence  reclaymed  men  from  their  barbar- 
oufuefle  and  crueltie :  fo  Orpheus  by  his  Mufick  fubdued  fierce 
beafts,  and  wild  birds. 

32  As  Demojlhenes,  Ifocrates,  and  Cicero  excelled  in  Oratorie :  fo 
Orbheus,  Amphion,  and  Linus,  furpaffed  in  Muficke. 


FIVE    SECTIONS    OF    MEREs's    "  WITS    TREASVRY,"    1598.        167 

As  Greece  had  thefe  excellent  Munitions  j    Arion,  Dorceus,  Ti- 
motheus,  Mileftus,  Chryfogonus,  Terpander,  Leslius,  Simon  Magnejius, 
Philamon,   Linus,    Stratonicus,   Arijlonus,   Chiron,   Achilles,    Clinias, 
Eumonius,   Demodochus,   and   Ruffinus :    fo    Englande    hath   thefe  j  4 
Maijler  Cooper,  Maifter  Fairfax,  Maifter  Tallis,  Majler   Tauerner., 
Maijler  Blithman,  Maifter  Bird,  DoSlor  Tie,  Do6lor  Dallis,  Do6i<~r 
Bull,  M.  Thomas  Mud,  fometimes  fellow  of  Pembrook  hal  in  Cam- 
bridge,  M.    Edward    lohnfon,   Maifter    Blankes,    Maifter    Randall,  8 
Maifter  Philips,  Maifter  Lowland,  and  M,  Morley. 


l68  SPENSER  3    ALLUSION    TO    6HAK.SPERE. 


From  "  Colin  Clouts  come  home  againe. 
By  Edm.  Spencer. 

At  London  Printed  by  H.  L.  for  Mathew  Lownes. 
I59$-     [4to,  pp.  80] 

Printed  by  T.  Creed  for  Wm.  Ponfonbie." 


And  there,  though  laft  not  leaft  is  AETION, 
A  gentler  fhepheard  may  no  where  be  found  : 
Whofe  Mufe,  full  of  high  thoughts  inuention 
Doth  like  himfelfe  Heroically  found.1 

'  The  dedication  of  this  poem  to  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  is  dated  "the  ^^  of 
December,  1591."  But  portions  of  the  poem  were  subsequently  added,  three 
verses  being  certainly  written  after  April  16,  1594. 


WILLOBIE 

HIS 

AVIS  A; 

OR 

The    true   Picture    of   a    mo- 

dest  Maid,  and  of  a  chast  and 

constant  wife. 

In  Hexamiter  verse.      The  like  argu- 
ment wherof,  was  neuer  hereto- 
fore published. 


Read  the  preface  to  the  Reader  before 
you  enter  further 


A  vertuous  woman  is  the  crowne  of  her  husband,  but 

she  that  maketh  him  ashamed,  is  as  corruption  in 

his  bones.     Prouerb.  12.  4. 


imprinted  at  London  by 
John  Windet. 

1594- 


I7O  EXTRACTS    FROM    '  WILLOBIE    HIS    AVISA,      1.594. 


1  In  praise  of  WILLOBIE  his  AUISA,  HEX- 

AMETON  TO  THE  AUTHOR. 

IN  Lauine  Lande  though  Liuie  host,  [l  sign.  A  4] 

There  hath  leene  scene  a  Constant  dame  : 
Though  Rome  lament  that  she  haue  lost 
The  Gareland  of  her  rarest  fame, 
Yet  now  we  see,  that  here  is  found, 
As  great  a  Faith  in  English  ground  [6] 

Though  Collatine  haue  deerely  bought ; 
To  high  renowne,  a  lasting  life, 
And  found,  that  most  in  vaint  haue  sought, 
To  haue  a  Faire,  and  Constant  wife, 

Yet  Tarquyne  pluckt  his  glistering  grape, 

And  Shake-speare,  paints  poore  Lucrece  rape.  [12] 

Though  Susan  shine  in  faithfull  praise, 
As  twinckling  Starres  in  Christall  skie, 
Penelop'sfame  though  Greekes  do  raise, 
Of  faithfull  wiues  to  make  vp  three, 

To  thinke  the  Truth,  and  say  no  lesse, 

Our  Auisa  shall  make  a  messe.  [18] 

This  numler  knits  so  sure  a  knot, 

Time  doubles,  that  she  shall  adde  no  more, 

Vnconstant  Nature,  hath  legot, 

Of  Fleting  Feemes,  suchjickle  A  tore, 

Two  thousand  yeares,  haue  scarcely  scene, 
Such  as  the  worst  of  these  haue  leene.  [24] 

Then  Aui-Susan  ioyne  in  one, 
Let  Lucres- Auis  le  thy  name, 
This  English  Eagle  sores  alone, 
Andfarre  surmounts  all  others  fame, 

Where  high  cr  low,  where  great  or  small, 

This  Brytan  Bird  out-Jlies  them  all.  [30] 


EXTRACTS)    FROM    *  WILLOBIE    HIS    AVISA/    1594-  T7* 

Were  these  three  happie,  that  haue  found 
Braue  Poets  to  depaint  their  praise  ? 
Of  Rurall  Pipe,  with  sweetest  sound, 
That  haue  leene  heard  these  many  dales, 
Sweete  wylloly  his  AVIS  blest 

That  makes  her  mount    aloue  the  rest.  [36] 

Contraria  Contrary's  : 
Vigilantius  •  Dormitanus. 


Cant.  XLIIII. 
Henrico  Willolego.     Italo-Hispalensis. 

H.  W.  being  sodenly  infected  with  the  contagion  of  a  fantasticall 
fit,  at  the  first  sight  of  A,  pyneth  a  while  in  secret  griefe,  at  length 
not  able  any  longer  to  indure  the  burning  heate  of  so  feruent  a 
humour,  bewrayeth  the  secresy  of  his  disease  vnto  his  familiar  friend 
W.  S.  who  not  long  before  had  tryed  the  curtesy  of  the  like  passion, 
and  was  now  newly  recouered  of  the  like  infection ;  yet  finding  his 
frend  let  bloud  in  the  same  vaine,  he  took  pleasure  for  a  tyme  to  see 
him  bleed,  &  in  steed  of  stopping  the  issue,  he  inlargeth  the  wound, 
with  the  sharpe  rasor  of  a  willing  conceit,  perswading  him  that  he 
thought  it  a  matter  very  easy  to  be  compassed,  &  no  doubt  with 
payne,  diligence  &  some  cost  in  time  to  be  obtayned.  Thus  this 
miserable  comforter  comforting  his  frend  with  an  impossibilitie, 
eyther  for  that  he  now  would  secretly  laugh  at  his  frends  folly,  that 
had  giuen  occasion  not  long  before  vnto  others  to  laugh  at  his  owne, 
or  because  he  would  see  whether  an  other  could  play  his  part  better 
then  himselfe,  &  in  vewing  a  far  off  the  course  of  this  louing  Comedy 
he  determined  to  see  whether  it  would  sort  to  a  happier  end  for  this 
new  actor,  then  it  did  for  the  old  player.  But  at  length  this  Comedy 
was  like  to  haue  growen  to  a  Tragedy,  by  the  weake  &  feeble  estate 
that  .H.  W.  was  brought  vnto,  by  a  desperate  vewe  of  an  impossi- 
bility of  obtaining  his  purpose,  til  Time  &  Necessity,  being  his  best 
Phisitions  brought  him  a  plaster,  if  not  to  heale,  yet  in  part  to  ease 
his  maladye.  In  all  which  discourse  is  liuely  represented  the  vnrewly 


172  EXTRACTS    FROM    '  WILLOBIE    HIS    AVISA, 

rage  of  vnbrydeled  fancy,  hauing  the  raines  to  roue  at  liberty,  with 
the  dyuers  &  sundry  changes  of  affections  &  temptations,  which  Will, 
set  loose  from  Reason,  can  deuise.  &c. 


H  W 


WHat  sodaine  chance  or  change  is  this, 
That  doth  bereaue  my  quyet  rest  ? 
What  surly  cloud  eclipst  my  blisse, 
What  sprite  doth  rage  within  my  brest  ? 
Such  fainty  qualmes  I  neuer  found, 
Till  first  I  saw  this  westerne  ground.  [6] 

Can  change  of  ayre  complexions  change, 
And  strike  the  sences  out  of  frame? 
Tnough  this  be  true,  yet  this  is  strange, 
Sith  I  so  lately  hither  came  : 

And  yet  in  body  cannot  find 

So  great  a  change  as  in  my  mynd.  [12] 

My  lustlesse  limmes  do  pyne  away, 
Because  my  hart  is  dead  within 
All  liuely  heat  I  feele  decay, 
And  deadly  cold  his  roome  doth  win, 

My  humors  all  are  out  of  frame, 

I  frize  amid'st  the  burning  flame.  [18] 

I  haue  the  feauer  Ethicke  right, 
1  burne  within,  consume  without, 
And  hauing  melted  all  my  might 
Then  followes  death,  without  all  doubt; 

O  fearefull  foole,  that  know  my  greefe, 

Yet  sew  and  seeke  for  no  releefe.  [24] 


EXTRACTS    FROM    '  WILLOBIE    HIS    AVISA,'    IJ94.  1/3 

I  know  the  tyme,  I  know  the  place, 
Both  when  and  where  my  eye  did  vew 
That  nouell  shape,  that  frendly  face, 
That  so  doth  make  my  hart  to  rew, 

0  happy  tyme  if  she  inclyne, 

If  not,  O  wourth  theese  lucklesse  eyne.  [30] 

I  loue  the  seat  where  she  did  sit, 

I  kisse  the  grasse,  where  she  did  tread, 

Me-thinkes  I  see  that  face  as  yet, 

And  eye,  that  all  these  turmoyles  breed, 

1  enuie  that  this  seat,  this  ground, 

Such  frendly  grace  and  fauour  found.  [36] 

I  dream' t  of  late,  God  grant  that  dreame 

Protend  my  good,  that  she  did  meete 

Me  in  this  greene  by  yonder  streame, 

And  smyling  did  me  frendly  greete  : 

Where  wandring  dreames  be  iust  or  wrong, 

I  mind  to  try  ere  it  be  long.  [42] 

But  yonder  comes  my  faythfull  frend, 
That  like  assaultes  hath  often  tryde, 
On  his  aduise  I  will  depend, 
Where  I  shall  winne,  or  be  denyde, 

And  looke  what  counsell  he  shall  giue, 

That  will  I  do,  where  dye  or  Hue.  [48] 

Cant.  XLV. 


W.  S. 


WEll  met,  frend  Harry,  what's  the  cause 
You  looke  so  pale  with  Lented  cheeks  ? 
Your  wanny  face  &  sharpened  nose 
Shew  plaine,  your  mind  some  thing  mislikes, 


174  EXTRACTS    FROM    'WILLOBIE    HIS    AVISA,'    1.594- 

If  you  will  tell  me  what  it  is, 

He  helpe  to  mend  what  is  amisse.  [6] 

What  is  she,  nun,  that  workes  thy  woe, 
And  thus  thy  tickling  fancy  moue? 
Thy  drousie  eyes,  &  sighes  do  shoe, 
This  new  disease  proceedes  of  loue, 

Tell  what  she  is  that  witch't  thee  so, 

I  sweare  it  shall  no  farder  go.  [12] 

A  heauy  burden  wearieth  one. 
Which  being  parted  then  in  twaine, 
Seemes  very  light,  or  rather  none, 
And  boren  well  with  little  paine  : 

The  smothered  flame,  too  closely  pent, 

Burnes  more  extreame  for  want  of  vent.  [18] 

So  sorrowes  shrynde  in  secret  brest, 
Attainte  the  hart  with  hotter  rage, 
Then  griefes  that  are  to  frendes  exprest, 
Whose  comfort  may  some  part  asswage : 

If  I  a  frend,  whose  faith  is  tryde, 

Let  this  request  not  be  denyde.  [24] 

Excessiue  griefes  good  counsells  want, 
And  cloud  the  sence  from  sharpe  conceits, 
No  reason  rules,  where  sorrowes  plant, 
And  folly  feedes,  where  fury  fretes, 

Tell  what  she  is,  and  you  shall  see, 

What  hope  and  help  shall  come  from  mee.  [30] 


Cant.  XLVI. 


H.  W. 


Seeft  yonder  howfe,  where  hanges  the  badge 
Of  Englands  Saint,  when  captaines  cry 


EXTRACTS    FROM    '  WILLOBIE    HIS    AVISA,'    1^94-  ^75 

Victorious  land,  to  conquering  rage, 
Loe,  there  my  hopelefle  helpe  doth  ly : 
And  there  that  frendly  foe  doth  dwell, 
That  makes  my  hart  thus  rage  and  fwell.  [6] 


Cant.  XLVII. 


w. 

s. 

Well,  fay  no  more :  I  know  thy  griefe, 
And  face  from  whence  thefe  flames  aryfe, 
It  is  not  hard  to  fynd  reliefe, 
If  thou  wilt  follow  good  aduyfe : 

She  is  no  Saynt,  She  is  no  Nonne, 

I  thinke  in  tyme  me  may  be  wonne,  [6] 

An  veterato-   At  firft  repulfe  you  muft  not  faint, 
Nor  flye  the  field  though  fhe  deny 
You  twife  or  thrife,  yet  manly  bent, 
Againe  you  muft,  and  ftill  reply  : 

When  tyme  permits  you  not  to  talke, 

Then  let  your  pen  and  fingers  walke.  [12] 

Munera  (ere-  Apply  her  ftill  with  dyuers  thinges, 
cant  horn*       (F°r  giftes  the  wyfeft  will  deceaue) 
nesque  Dtos-    Sometymes  with  gold,  fometymes  with  ringes, 
No  tyme  nor  fit  occafion  leaue, 

Though  coy  at  firft  me  feeme  and  wielde, 

Thefe  toyes  in  tyme  will  make  her  yielde.  [  18] 

Looke  what  fhe  likes  ;  that  you  muft  loue, 
And  what  me  hates,  you  muft  deteft, 
Where  good  or  bad,  you  muft  approue, 
The  wordes  and  workes  that  pleafe  her  beft  : 

If  me  be  godly,  you  muft  fweare, 

That  to  offend  you  ftand  in  feare.  [24] 


1"]6  EXTRACTS    FROM    '  WILLOBIE    HIS    AVISA/     1594. 

Wicked  wiles  You  muft  commend  her  louing  face, 

to  deceaue 

wiiles  wo-        For  women  ioy  in  beauties  praife, 

You  muft  admire  her  fober  grace, 
Her  wifdome  and  her  vertuoas  wayes, 

Say,  'twas  her  wit  &  modeft  ihoe, 

That  made  you  like  and  loue  her  fo.  [30] 

You  muft  be  fecret,  conftant,  free, 

Your  filent  fighes  and  trickling  teares, 

Let  her  in  fecret  often  fee, 

Then  wring  her  hand,  as  one  that  feares 
To  fpeake,  then  wilh  me  were  your  wife, 
And  laft  defire  her  faue  your  life.  [36] 

When  me  doth  laugh,  you  muft  be  glad, 
And  watch  occafions,  tyme  and  place, 
"When  {he  doth  frowne,  you  muft  be  fad, 
Let  fighes  &  fobbes  requeft  her  grace  : 

Sweare  that  your  loue  is  truly  ment, 

So  me  in  tyme  muft  needes  relent.  [42] 


w    HAR[BERT]'S  SUPPOSED  ALLUSION  TO  SHAKSPERE.         177 


EPICEDIUM. 

A  funerall  Song,  upon  the  vertuous  life  and  godly  death  of  the 
right  worshipfull  the  Lady  Helen  Branch. 

Virtus  sola  manet,  caetera  cunctu  ruunt. 
London,  printed  by  Thomas  Creede,  1594. 

(From  Sir  Egerton  Brydges'  Restituta  (1815),  vol.  iii.  pp.  297 — 
499.  "The  ' Epicedium '  ...  is  signed  W.  HAR.  which  may  pos- 
sibly be  an  adumbration  for  Sir  William  Harbert,  a  poet  of  fair 
repute."  ib.  p.  298.) 

(First  verse.) 

You  that  to  shew  your  wits,  haue  taken  toyle 

In  regist'ring  the  deeds  of  noble  men ; 

And  sought  for  matter  in  a  forraine  soyle, 

As  worthie  subjects  of  your  silver  pen, 

Whom  you  have  rais'd  from  darke  oblivion's  den.  [5] 

You  that  have  writ  of  chaste  Lucretia,1 

Whose  death  was  witnesse  of  her  spotlesse  life : 

Or  pen'd  the  praise  of  sad  Cornelia, 

Whose  blamelesse  name  hath  made  her  fame  so  rife, 

As  noble  Pompey's  most  renoumed  wife : 

Hither  unto  your  home  direct  your  eies, 

Whereas,  unthought  on,  much  more  matter  lies.  [10] 

1  Mr  Malone,  in  his  list  of  the  most  authentic  editions  of  Shakspeare's 
poems,  registers  the  publication  of  his  Tarquin  and  Lucrece,  in  1594.  An 
allusion  complimentary  may  therefore  have  been  made  to  it  in  this  passage. 
(Brydges.) 


ALLUSION-BOOKS.  12 


178  DRAVTON'S  POSSIBLE  ALLUSION  TO  SHAKSPERE. 


From 

'The  Legend  of  Matilda  the  chaft,  daughter  to  the 
Lord  Robert  Fitzwater,  poyfoned  by  King  John."1 

By  Michaell  Drayton.     1594. 

Lucrece,  of  whom  proude  Rome  hath  boafted  long 
Lately  reuiu'd  to  liue  another  age, 
And  here  ariv'd  to  tell  of  Tarquins  wrong, 
Her  chaft  deniall,  and  the  Tyrants  rage, 
A6ting  her  paffions  on  our  llately  ftage. 
She  is  remembred,  all  forgetting  me, 
Yet  I,  as  fay  re  and  chaft  as  ere  was  She. 

1  Printed  in  a  small  volume  of  Drayton's  "  Legends,"  of  which  the  first 
is  "  The  Tragicall  Legend  of  Robert,  Duke  of  Normandy." 


POLIMANTEIA, 

OR, 

The  meanes  lawfull  and  vnlawfuU,  to 

IVDGE    OF    THE    FALL    OF    A 

COMMONWEALTH,  AGAINST 

the  friuolous  and  foolish  conie- 
ctures  of  this  age. 

Whereunto  is  added, 

A    Letter  from    England    to    her    three   daughters, 

Cambridge,  Oxford,  Innes  of  Court,  and  to  all  the 

rest  of  her  inhabitants  :  perswading  them  to  a 

constant  vnitie  of  what  religion  soever  they 

are,  for  the  defence  of  our  dread  soveraigne, 

and  natiue  cuntry  :  most  requisite  for 

this  time  wherein  wee 

now  live. 


Invide,  quod  nequeas  imitari  carpere  noli  : 
Nil  nisi  cum  sumptu  mentem  oculosque  iuvat. 


Printed  by  John  Legate,  Printer  to  the  Vniversitie 

of  Cambridge.      1 59  *)  • 

And  are  to  be  sold  at  the  signe  of  the  Sunne  in  Pauls 
Church-yard  in  London. 


i8o 


WILLIAM    CLARK  S    "  SWEET    SHAKSPEARE, 


"  England  to  her  three  Daughters  "  says,  — 


-  R  2  to 


*.s-] 

Schollers 
must  learne 
patience, 


«  Let  your  children  (daughters)  content  thewzselues  j 
leaue  to  repine  at  baser  fortunes  :  let  them  be  perswaded 
of  this,  that  Fame  shall  be  their  seruant,  Honour  shall  bee 
their  subiect,  Glory  shalbe  their  crown,  Eternitie  their 
inheritance  :  (then  indeard  wit  decking  admired  daugh- 
ters) write  and  let  the  worlde  know  that  heavens  har- 
monie  is  no  musicke,  in  respect  of  your  sweete,  &  well 
arte-tuned  strings  :  that  Italian  Ariosto  did  but  shadowe 
the  meanest  part  of  thy  muse,  that  Tassos  Godfrey  is  not 
worthie  to  make  compare  with  your  truelie  eternizing 
M.  Alabla-  Eliza  s  stile  :  let  France-admired  Bellaw,  and  courtlike 
Spenser  and  amarous  Rousard  confesse  that  there  be  of  your  children, 
that  in  these  latter  times  haue  farre  surpassed  them.  Let 
diuine  Bartasse  eternally  praise  worthie  for  his  weeks 
worke,  say  the  best  thinges  were  made  first  :  Let  other 
countries  (sweet  Cambridge)  enute,  (yet  admire)  my 
lrirgil,  thy  petrarch,  diuine  Spenser.  And  vnlesse  I  erre, 
(a  thing  easie  in  such  simplicitie)  deluded  by  dearlie  be- 
loued  Delia,  and  fortunatelie  fortunate  Cleopatra;  Oxford 
thou  maist  extoll  thy  courte-deare-verse  happy  Daniell, 
whose  sweete  refined  muse,  in  contracted  shape,  were 
sufficient  amongst  men,  to  gain  pardon  of  the  sinne  to 
Rosemond,  pittie  to  distressed  Cleopatra,  and  euerliuing 
praise  to  her  louing  Delia  :  Register  your  childrens  pete- 
gree  in  Fames  forehead,  so  may  you  fill  volumes  with 


Lylia  clou- 
ded, whose 
teares  are 
making. 


All  praise 

•worthy. 

Lucrecia 

Sweet 

Shak- 

speare. 

Eloquent 

Gaueston. 

Wanton 
Adonis.^ 
Watson  s 

Sowellgra-     Chausers  praise,  with  Lydgate,  the   Scottish   knight,  & 
"ie  dese£       such  like,  whose  vnrefined  tongues  farre  shorte  of  the 

ueth  immor- 
tall  praise 

from  the  hand  times  WCare." 
of  that  di- 
uine Lady 
who  like  Co- 
rinna  conten- 
ding with 
Pindarus 
•was  oft  vi- 
ctorious. 


excellencie  of  this  age,  wrote  simplie  &  purelie  as  the 


John  Weever's  Epigram  to  Shakspere  (A.D.  1595) 
from  the  second  edition  of 

EPIGRAMMES 

in  the  old  eft  cut,  and 
neweft  falhion. 

A 

twife  feuen  houres  (info  many 
weekes)  Jludie 

No  longer  (like  the  fafhion)  not  vn- 
like  to  continue. 

Thejirjl  Jeuen. 

lohn  Weeuer. 

Sit  voliilffe,  Sat  valuijje. 


At  London 

Printed  by  V.  S.  for  Thomas  Bujhell,  and  are  to  be 

fold  at  his  fhop  at  the  great  north  doore 

of  Paules         T599  " 

[Press-mark :— Malone  904.] 


182 


JOHN    WEEVEK  S    EPIGRAM    TO    SHAKESPEARE. 


THE   FOURTH   WEEKE. 

Epig.  22.  Ad  Gulidinum  Shakefpeare. 

Honie-tong'd  Shakefpeare,  when  I  law  thine  in*ue, 

I  fwore  Apollo  got  them  and  none  other, 

Their  roue-tainted  features  cloth'd  in  tifiue, 

Some  heauen  born  goddefle  faid  to  be  their  mother :  [4] 

Roie-checkt  Adonis  with  his  amber  trefles, 

Faire  fire-hot  Venus  charming  him  to  loue  her, 

Chafte  Lucretia  virgine-like  her  drefles, 

Prowd  luft-ftung  Tarquine  feeking  flill  to  proue  her :  [8] 

Romea  Richard ;  more,  whole  names  I  know  not, 

Their  fugred  tongues,  and  power  attractiue  beuty 

Say  they  are  Saints,  althogh  that  Sts  they  fhew  not, 

For  thoufands  vowes  to  them  fubiectiue  dutie  :  [12] 

They  burn  in  loue  thy  childre  Shakespear  het  the, 

Go,  wo  thy  Mufe  more  Nymphifh  brood  beget  them. 


[Sign.  E  6.] 


F.  DOUCE'S  MS.  NOTE. 

Weever  says  he  was  scarcely  20  years  old  when  he  wrote  these  epigrams  : 
but,  according  to  the  date  of  the  print  of  him  by  Cecill,  he  was  23  when  they 
were  printed  in  1599.  [&c.  &c.] 

[The  first  edition  appeared  in  1595  ?  which  would  make  him  about  20.] 
(2  lines  on  leaf1  Sign.  A  5,* 

As  daigne  to  view  my  tender-blufhing  youth 
That  twenty  twelue  months  yet  did  neuer  know.) 


RICHARD    CAREW's    MENTION    OF    SHAKSPEKE.  183 


From  "  The  Excellencie  of  the  English  tongue  by  R.  C.  [i.  e. 
Richard  Carew]  of  Anthony  Esquire  to  W.  C."  written  about 
1595-6,  and  inserted  by  W.  Camden  after  his  chapter  on  "  Lan- 
guages," in  "  Remaines  concerning  Britaine,"  p.  43.  London,  ly 
lohn  Legatt,  1614.  [40.  C.  57.  Art.  Seld :  Press-mark.]  (Not  in 
the  first  edition,  1605.) 

"  The  long  words  that  we  borrow  being  intermingled  with  the 
short  of  our  owne  store,  make  vp  a  perfect  harmonic,  by  culling  from 
out  which  mixture  (with  Judgement)  you  may  frame  your  speech 
according  to  the  matter  you  must  worke  on,  maiesticall,  pleasant, 
delicate,  or  manly  more  or  lesse,  in  what  sort  you  please.  Adde 
hereunto,  that  whatsoeuer  grace  any  other  language  carrieth  in  verse 
or  Prose,  in  Tropes  or  Metaphors,  in  Ecchoes  and  Agnominations, 
they  may  all  bee  5iuely  and  exactly  represented  in  ours :  will  you 
haue  Platoes  veine  ?  reade  Sir  Thomas  Smith,  the  lonicke  ?  Sir  Thomas 
Moore.  Ciceroes  ?  Ascham,  Varro  ?  Chaucer,  Demosthenes  ?  Sir  lohn 
Cheeke  (who  in  his  treatise  to  the  Rebels,  hath  comprised  all  the 
figures  of  Rhetorick.  Will  you  reade  Virgill?  take  the  Earle  of 
Surrey.  Catullus?  Shakespheare  and  Barlowes  fragment,  Quid? 
Daniell,  Lucan  ?  Spencer,  Martial  ?  Sir  lohn  Dauies  and  others  :  will 
you  haue  all  in  all  for  Prose  and  verse  ?  take  the  miracle  of  our  age,  Sir 
Philip  Sidney." 


184         ROBERT    TOFTE    ON    "LOVES    LABORS    LOST,"    IN    1.598. 


From 

Alia.  I  The  Months  /  Minde  of  a  Me-/Iancholy  Lover,,/  diuided 
into  three  /  parts :  /  By  R.  T.  Gentleman.  /  Herevnto  is  added  a  / 
most  excellent  pathetical  and  passionate  Let-/ter,  sent  by  Duke 
D'Epernoun,  vnto  the  late  /  French  King,  Henry  the  3.  of  that 
name,/  when  he  was  commanded  from  the  /  Court,  and  from  his 
Royall  /  Companie.  Translated  /  into  English  by  the  /  foresaid 
Au-/thor./  Spes,  Amor,  &  Fortuna  valete.j  At  London./  Printed 
by  Felix  Kyngston,  for  Matthew  I  Lownes.  iJJpS./  8°,  A — I  in  eights, 
and  a  leaf  of  K. 

LOVES  LABOR  LOST,  I  once  did  see  a  Play, 

Ycleped  so,  so  called  to  my  paine, 

Which  I  to  heare  to  my  small  loy  did  stay, 

Giuing  attendance  on  my  froward  Dame, 
My  misgiuing  minde  presaging  to  me  ill, 
Yet  was  I  drawne  to  see  it  gainst  my  Will.  [6] 

This  Play  no  Play,  but  Plague  was  vnto  me, 

For  there  I  lost  the  Loue  I  liked  most  : 

And  what  to  others  seemde  a  lest  to  be, 

I,  that  (in  earnest)  found  vnto  my  cost. 
To  euery  one  (saue  me)  'twas  Comicall, 
Whilst  Tragick  like  to  me  it  did  befall.  [12] 

Each  Actor  plaid  in  cunning  wise  his  part, 
But  chiefly  Those  entrapt  in  Cupids  snare  : 
Yet  All  was  fained,  twas  not  from  the  hart, 
They  seemde  to  grieue,  but  yet  they  felt  no  care  : 
T'was  I  that  Griefe  (indeed)  did  beare  in  brest, 
The  others  did  but  make  a  show  in  lest.  [18] 


ROBERT    TOFTE    ON    "LOVES    LABORS    LOST,"    IN    I^pS.         iSj 

Yet  neither  faining  theirs,  nor  my  meere  Truth, 

Could  make  her  once  so  much  as  for  to  smile : 

Whilst  she  (despite  of  pitie  milde  and  ruth) 

Did  sit  as  skorning  of  my  Woes  the  while. 
Thus  did  she  sit  to  see  LOVE  lose  his  LOVE, 
Like  hardned  Rock  that  force  nor  power  can  moue.  [24] 

Sign.  G  (5). 


[The  Society  has  to  thank  Mr  W.  Carew  Hazlitt  for  this  copy, 
and  the  collation  of  it ;  and  Mr  Henry  Huth  for  allowing  his  most 
rare  volume  to  be  used  for  the  purpose.] 


i86        (?)  RICHARD  BARNFEILD'S  MENTION  OF  SHAKSPERE. 


A  REMEMBRANCE  OF  SOME  ENGLISH  POETS. 


From  "Poems  in  Diuers  humors."  London,  1598.  Sign.  E.  2  back. 
[Being  the  fourth  tract  in  a  volume  of  which  the  first  bears  Richard 
Barnfeild's  name  :  signatures  running  on  throughout.] 

Liue  Spenser  euer,  in  thy  Fairy  Queene : 

Whose  like  (for  deepe  Conceit)  was  neuer  scene. 

Crownd  mayst  thou  bee,  vnto  thy  more  renowne, 

(As  King  of  Poets)  with  a  Lawrell  Crowne.  [4] 

And  Daniell,  praised  for  thy  sweet-chast  Verse  : 

Whose  Fame  is  grav'd  on  Rosamonds  blacke  Herse. 

Still  mayst  thou  liue  :  and  still  be  honored, 

For  that  rare  Worke,  The  IVhite  Rose  and  the  Red.  [8] 

And  Drayton,  whose  wel-written  Tragedies, 

And  sweete  Epistles,  soare  thy  fame  to  skies. 

Thy  learned  Name,  is  aequall  with  the  rest  j 

Whose  stately  Numbers  are  so  well  addrest.  [12] 

And  Shakespeare  thou,  whose  hony-flowing  Vaine, 
(Pleasing  the  World)  thy  Praises  doth  obtaine. 
Whose  Venus,  and  whose  Lucrece  (sweete,  and  chaste) 
Thy  Name  in  fames  immortall  Booke  haue  plac't.  [16] 

Liue  euer  you,  at  least  in  Fame  liue  euer  : 
Well  may  the  Bodye  dye,  but  Fame  dies  neuer. 


JOHN  MARSTON'S  ALLUSIONS  TO  SHAKSPERE.  187 


JOHN  MARSTON'S  SCOVRGE  OF  VILLANIE  : 

[Press-mark : — Malone  414.] 
i6mo,  Land.,  by  I[ames]  R[oberts],  1598.     (Anon.) 

SATYRE.    X.  [Sign.  H  3,  back.] 

Humours. 

A  hall,  a  hall, 

Roome  for  the  Spheres,  the  Orbes  celestiall 
Will  daunce  Kemps  ligge.     They'le  reuel  with  neate  iumps 
A  worthy  Poet  hath  put  on  their  Pumps  ? 

0  wits  quick  trauers,  but  sance  ceo's  slow, 
Good  faith  tis  hard  for  nimble  Curio. 

Yee  gracious  Orbs,  keepe  the  old  measuring,  [7] 

All's  spoyld  if  once  yee  fall  to  capering. 

Luscus  what's  playd  to  day  ?  faith  now  I  know  [9] 

1  set  thy  lips  abroach,  from  whence  doth  flow 

Naught  but  pure  luliat  and  Romio.  [ri] 

Say,  who  acts  best  ?  Drusus,  or  Roscio  ? 

Now  I  haue  him,  that  nere  of  ought  did  speake 

But  when  of  playes  or  Plaiers  he  did  treate. 

H'ath  made  a  common-place  booke  out  of  plaies,  [15] 

And  speakes  in  print,  at  least  what  ere  he  sayes 

Is  warranted  by  Curtaine  plaudeties,  [  1 7] 

If  ere  you  heard  him  courting  Lesbias  eyes  ; 

Say  (Cuiteous  Sir)  speakes  he  not  mouingly 

From  out  some  new  pathetique  Tragedie  ? 

He  writes,  he  railes,  he  iests,  he  courts,  what  not, 

And  all  from  out  his  huge  long  scraped  stock 

Of  well  penn'd  playes.  [seep.  188.] 


i88  JOHN  MAHSTON'S  ALLUSIONS  TO  SHAKSPERE. 


VARIATIONS    IN    THE    1^99  EDITION    OF    MARSTON. 

[Bodleian  Press-mark : — 8°  L  550.  B.S.] 

1.    7.  Yee  gracious  Orbs,  &c.,  and  the  next  line,  8,  are  in  Italic  type. 
7.  Orbesybr  Orbs.  IT.  Romeo  for  Romio. 

9.  fayth/or  faith.  15.  playes/or  plaies. 

ii.  luliet  for  luliat.  I*],  plaudities  for  plaudeties. 


John  Marston's  "  Scovrge  of  Villaniej  London,  ly  I.  R.  1598." 
SATYRE.  VIT. 

A  Cynicke  Satyre.  {Press-mark .-— Malone  414.] 

A     Man,  a  man,  a  kingdomefor  a  man. 
Why  how  now  currish  mad  Athenian  ? 
Thou  Cynick  dogge,  see'st  not  streets  do  swarme 
With  troupes  of  men  ?     No,  no,  for  Circes  charme 
Hath  turn'd  them  all  to  1  swine ; 

Is  this  a  Man  ?     Nay,  an  incarnate  deuill, 
That  struts  in  vice,  and  glorieth  in  euill. 

A  man,  a  man  :  peace  Cynick,  yon  is  one, 
A  compleat  soule,  of  all  perfection. 

A  man,  a  man,  Loe  yonder  I  espie 
The  shade  of  Nestor  in  sad  grauitie  j 

A  man,  a  man  :  peace  Cynick,  yon's  a  man. 
Behold  yon  sprightly  dread  Mauortian. 
With  him  I  stop  thy  currish  barking  chops. 

'  Big  S  in  the  ind  cd.,  1599.     The  two  editions  agree  in  nearly  every 
other  respect. 


JUNUH54 


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2338      London 

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