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REESE LIBRARY
OF THK
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
iAtcessioii No. /Cy^U>/- ^'^^^^^'^^'>-
yi^^l
University of California • Berkeley
Ji^.
f'ff'ffff'f'f^'f^flff'if'^'ff'^fff^
THE HUTH LIBRARY.
THE WORKS
OF
GABRIEL HARVEY, D.C.L
VOL. II.
PRECURSOR OF PIERCE'S SUPEREROGATION.
AND
PIERCE'S SUPEREROGATION, OR A NEW PRAYSE OF
THE OLD ASSE.
1593-
l>ooke how a Tygreffe that hath loft her whelpe,
Runs fiercely raging through the woods aftray :
And feeing her felfe depriu'd of hope or helpe,
Furiously affaults what's in her way,
To fatisfie her wrath, (not for a pray ;)
So fell flie on me in outragious wife ;
As could difdaine and iealoufie deuife.
Daniel's The Complaint of Rofamona.
<?i
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01^
ELIZABETHAN- JACOBEAN
^
B (D) © K g
YERSE ahd PRO'S E
LAR G E LY
TroTfv lh& Zhiro^ry of
BY THE
FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLV
C6e ^ut6 HitJrarp,
THE WORKS
GABRIEL HARVEY, D.C.L
IN THREE VOLUMES.
FOR THE FIRST TIME COLLECTED AND EDITED
WITH MEMORIAL-INTRODUCTION, NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS, ETC.,
BY THE REV.
ALEXANDER B. GROSART, LL.D. (EoiN.), F.S.A. (SCOT.),
St, George's, Blackburn, Lancashire.
VOL. II.
PRECURSOR OF PIERCE'S SUPEREROGATION.
AND
PIERCE'S SUPEREROGATION, OR A NEW PRAYSE OF
THE OLD ASSE. A PREPARATIUE TO CERTAINE
LARGER DISCOURSES, INTITULED
NASIIES S. FAME.
1593-
PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY.
1884.
50 Copies. \
yc, SG/
Printed by Maxell, Watson, ana Viney, Limited, London and Aylesbury.
72 F
//3¥/
V
CONTENTS.
HACK
Precursor of Pierces Supererogation . . i
Pierces Supererogation, or A New Prayse of
THE Old Asse. A Preparatiue to certaine
larger Discourses, intituled Nashes S.
Fame . . z-j
Foolifh he that feares, and faine would flop
An inundation working on apace ;
Runs to the breach, heapes mighty matter vp,
Throwes indigefted biu-thens on the place,
Loades with huge waights, the outfide and the top,
But leaues the inner parts in feeble cafe :
Thinking for that the outward forme feemes ftrong
'Tis fure inough, and may continue long.
But when the vnderworking waues come on,
Searching the fecrets of vnfenced waies,
The full maine Ocean following hard vpon,
Beares downe that idle frame, fkorning fuch ftaies ;
Proftrates that fruftrate paines as if not done,
And proudly on his filly labors plaies,
Whilft he perceiues his error, and doth finde
His ill proceeding contrary to kind.
So fares it with our indirect diffeignes,
And wrong-contriued labors at the lafl,
Whilft working Time or luftice vndermines
The feeble ground-worke. Craft thought laid fo faft :
Then when out-breaking vengeance vncombines
The ill-ioynd plots fo fairely ouercaft,
Tumes vp thofe ftrong-pretended heapes of fliowes,
And all thefe weake illufions ouerthrowes.
Daniel's Civill Warres (1599), b. iii., 4-6.
V.
PRECURSOR
OF
PIERCE'S SUPEREROGATION or A
NEW PRAYSE OF THE
OLDE ASSE.
1593-
NOTE.
This precursor of the larger 'Pierce's Supererogation' was separately
published and in anticipation of its publication. When the latter appeared
such copies of the former as remained unsold were bound up with it. But
very few must so have remained over, as the present tractate is rarely found
prefixed or affixed. Not more than three complete copies seem to be
known. ,
Mr. J. Payne Collier — who reprinted both, like his other reprints of the
Harvey-Greene books, with deplorable inaccuracy — supposed that Harvey
or his friends suppressed or withdrew the precursor, because he had been
so "much laughed at for the vanity and egotism" shown therein. But,
seeing that the Printer in his Epistle at the close of the present tractate
expressly states that it was to precede the other and larger — incidentally
letting out that the so-called ' Preparatiue ' was all of ' Nashes S. Fame '
intended, for the Letters and Sonnets named are found appended to the
larger 'Pierce's Supererogation' — ours is the true explanation, i.e., separate
and prior publication. Harvey's " selfe-admiration " might or might not
be "so impervious that it could scarcely distinguish between applause and
irony"; but certes none of the (high-flown) laudation was ironical, albeit
obtained in part at least under misrepresentation and published without the
authors' consent.
For the text of both I am indebted again to the Huth Library. There
is a second complete exemplar of precursor and sequel in the British
Museum ; an incomplete in the Bodleian. See Memorial-Introduction for
more of these books. A. B. G,
Pierces Supererogation
OR
A NEW PRAYSE OF THE
OLD ASSE.
A Preparatiue to certaine larger Bifcourfes^ intituled
NASHES S. FAME.
Gabriell Haruey.
Ilvostro Maligtiare NonGiova Nvlla,
LONDON
Imprinted by lohn Wolfe.
TO MY VERY GENTLE AND LIBE-
rall frendes^ M. Barnahe Barnes^ M. John
ThoriuSj M. Antony Chewt^ and
euery fauorable Reader.
'OUING M. Barnabe, M. lohn, and
M. Antony, (for the reft of my
partiall Comenders muft pardon
me, till the Print be better ac-
^ quainted with their names) I haue
lately receiued your thrife-curteous Letters, with
the Ouerplus of your thrife-fweet Sonets annexed :
the liberalleft giftes, I beleeue, that euer you be-
ftowed vpon fo flight occafion, and the very prodi-
galleft fruites of your flooriftiing wittes. Whofe
onely default is, not your, but my default, that
the matter is nothing correfpondent to the manner ;
and mifelfe muft either grofely forget mifelfe, or
franckly acknowledge mi fimple felfe an vnworthy
6 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
fubiedt of fo worthy commendations. Which I
cannot read without blufhing, repeate without
fhame, or remember without griefe, that I come
fo exceeding-fhort in fo exceffiue great accountes;
the fummes of your rich largefTe, not of my poore
defert ; and percafe deuifed to aduertife me what
I fhould be, or to fignifie what you wifh [me] to
be ; not to declare what I am, or to infinuate what
I may be. Eloquence, and Curtefie were euer
bountifull in the amplifying veine: and it hath
bene reputed a frendly Pollicy, to encourage their
louing acquaintance to labour the attainement of
thofe perfedlions, which they blafon in them, as
already atcheiued. Either fome fuch intention
you haue, by / way of Stratageme, to awaken my
negligence, or enkindle my confidence ; or you are
difpofed by way of Ciuility, to make me vnreafon-
ably beholding vnto you for your extreme affec-
tion. Which I muft either leaue vnrequited ; or
recompenfe affedion with affedion, & recommende
me vnto you with your owne Stratageme, fitter to
animate frefher fpirites, or to whet finer edges.
Little other vfe can I, or the world reape of thofe
great-great commendations, wherewith you, and
diuers other Orient wittes haue newly furcharged
me, by tendring fo many kinde Apologies in my
behalfe, and prefenting fo many fharpe inuedliues
againft my aduerfaries : vnlefle alfo you purpofed
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 7
to make me notably afliamed of my cSfefTed in-
fufficiency, guilty of fo manifold imperfe6ti5s, in
refped: of the leaft femblance of thofe imputed
fmgularities. Whatfoeuer your intendment in an
ouerflowing afFedion was, I am none of thofe,
that greedily furfet of felfe-conceit, or fottifhly
hugge their owne babyes. Narcijfus was a fayre
boy, but a boy : Suffenus a noble braggard, but
a braggard : Nejior a fweet-tongued old-man, but
an Old-man: and 'Tully (whom I honour in his
vertues, and excufe in his ouerfightes) an eloquent
Selfe-loouer, but a Selfe-loouer. He that thought
to make himfelfe' famous with his ouerweening
and brauing //V, //*<?, We, might perhaps nourrifh
an afpiring imagination to imitate his Ego, Ego,
Ego, fo glorioufly reiterated in his gallant Orations.
Some fmirking minions are fine fellowes in their
owne heades, and fome cranke Princockes iolly
men in their owne humours : as defperate in refo-
lution, as the dowtieft ranke of Errant knightes ;
and as coye in phantafie, as the nice ft fort of
fimpring damofels, that in their owne glafles find
no creature fo bewtifull, or amiable, as their deli-
tious felues. I haue beheld, /& who hath not
feene fome lofty conceites, towring very high, &
coying themfelues fweetly on their owne amount-
ing winges, young feathers of old Icarus? The
gay Peacocke is woondroufly inamored vpon the
8 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION, ^
glittering fanne of his owne gorgious taile, and
weeneth himfelfe worthy to be crowned the Prince
of byrdes, and to be enthroniihed in the chaire
of fupreme excellency. Would Chrift, the greene
Popiniay, with his newfangled ieftes, as new as
Newgate, were not afmuch to fay, as his owne
Idol. Queint wittes muft haue a Priuiledge to
prank-vp their dainty limmes, & to fawne vpon
their owne trickfie deuifes. But they that vnpar-
tially know themfelues, feuerely examine their
owne abilities ; vprightly counterpoife defedles
with fufficiencies; frankly confefTe the greateft
part of their knowledge, to be the leaft part of
their ignorance; aduifedly weigh the difficulties
of the painfull and toylefome way, the hard
maintenance of credit eafely gotten, the impoffible
fatisfadlion of vnfatisfiable expedation, the vncer-
taine ficklenefle of priuate Phantafie, & the cer-
taine brittlenefTe of publique Fame ; are not lightly
bewitched with a fonde doting vpon their owne
plumes. And they that deepely confider vpon
the weakenefTe of inward frailty, the cafualtie of
outward fortune, the detraction of Enuie, the
virulency of Malice, the counter-pollicy of Am-
bition, and a hundred-hundred empeachments of
growing reputation : that afwell diuinely, as philo-
fophically haue learned to looue the gentleneffe of
Humanity, to embrace the mildnefle of Modeftie,
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 9
to kifle the meekenefle of Humilitie, to loath the
odioufnefTe of Pride, to afluage the egrenefs of
Spite, to preuent the vengeance of Hatred, to
reape the fweet fruites of Temperance, to tread
the fmooth Path of Securitie, to take the firme
courfe of AfTuraunce, / and to enioy the fehcitie
of Contentment : that iudicioufly haue framed
themfelues to carry Mindes, hke their Bodies,
and Fortunes, as apperteineth vnto them, that
would be loth to ouerreach in prefumptuous con-
ceit: they I fay, and all they that would rather
vnderly the reproche of obfcuritie, then ouercharge
their mediocritie with an illufiue opinion of extra-
ordinary furniture, and I wott not what imaginarie
complementes: are readier, and a thoufand times
readier, to returne the greateft Prayfes, where they
are debt, then to accept the meaneft, where they
are almes. And I could nominate fome, that in
efFe(5t make the fame reckoning of Letters, Sonets,
Orations, or other writinges commendatory, that
they do of meate without nourifhment, of hearbes
without vertue, of plants without fruite ; of a
lampe without oyle, a linke without light, or a
fier without heate. Onely fome of vs are not fo
deuoide of good manner, but we conceiue what
belongeth to ciuill duty, and will euer be preft to
interteine Curtefie with curtefie, & to requite
any frendfhip with frendfhip : vnfainedly defirous,
H. II.
10 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
rather to recompenfe in deedes, then to glofe,
or paint in wordes. You may eafely perfuade
me to pubhfh, that was long fithence finifhed in
writing, and is now almoft difpatched in Print:
(the amendes muft be addrefled in fome other
mere materiall Treatife, or more formal Difcourfe :
and haply Na/hes S. Fame may fupply fome
defedles of Pierces Supererogation:) but to fuffer
your thrife-affedlionate Letters and Sonets, or
rather your thrife-lauifh beneuolences to be pub-
lifhed, which fo farre furmount not onely the
mediocrity of my prefent endeuour, but euen the
poffibility of any my future emproouement ; I
could not be perfuaded by any eloquence, or im-
portunacy in the world, were I not as monftroufly /
reuiled by fome other without reafon, as I am
exceffiuely extolled by you without caufe. In
which cafe he may feeme to a difcreet enemy
excufable, to an indifferent frend iuftifiable, that is
not tranfported with his owne paffion, but relyeth
on the iudgement of the learnedeft, and referreth
himfelfe to the Pradlife of the wifeft. In the one,
efteeming Plutarch or Homsr as an hundred Autors:
in the other, valuing Cato^ or Scipio^ as a thoufand
Examples. I neuer read, or heard of any re-
fpedliue, or confiderate perfon, vnder the degree
of thofe that might reuenge at pleafure, contemne
with autority, affecure themfelues from common
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. n
obloquy, or commande publique reputation,
(mighty men may finde it a Pollicy, to take a
fingular, or extraordinary courfe), fo carelefie of -^^^^^^ s/ft-Ci^'-'^-^
his owne credit : fo reckleffe of the prefent time,
fo fenfeleffe of the pofterity, fo negligent in
occurents of confequence, fo difTolute in his
proceedings, fo prodigall of his name, fo deuoide
of all regard e, fo bereft of common fenfe, fo vilelyi
bafe, or fo hugely hawtie of minde ; that in cafe
of infamous imputation, or vnworthy reprochj
notorioufly fcattered-abroad, thought it not requi-
fite, or rather neceffary, to ftand vpon his owne!
defence according to Equity, and euen to labourj
his owne commendation according to the prefented
occafion. Difcourfes yeeld plenty of Reafons : and
Hiftories affburde ftore of Examples. It is no
vain-glory to permit with confideration, that abufed
Modefty hath affe6led with difcretion. It is vanity
to controwle, that true honour hath pradifed : and
folly to condemne, that right wifedome hath
allowed. If any diflike Immodefty indeede, de-
fpife vanity indeede, reprooue Arrogancy indeede,
or loath Vainglory indeede ; I am as forward with
Tongue and Hart as the foremoft of the forwarded:
and were / my pen anfwerable, perhaps at occafion
it fhould not greatly lagge behinde. To accom-
plifh, or aduaunce any vertuous purpofe, (fith it is
now enforced to be fturring), it might eafely be
U-l/''-
b>, Ltu-
12 PIER CES S UPEFER O GA TION.
entreated, euen to the vttermofl extent of that
little-little PofTibility, wherewith it hath pleafed
the Greateft to endowe it. Howbeit Curtefie is as
ready to ouerloade with prayfe, as Malice eger to
oiierthrow with reproch. Both ouerfhoote, as the
manner is ; but malice is the Diuell. For my
poore part, I hope the One fhall do me as little
harme, as fayre weather in my iorney : I am fuer,
the other hath done me more good, then was
intended, and fhall neuer puddle or annoy the
courfe of the cleere running water. Albeit I haue
ftudied much, and learned little : yet I haue
learned to gleane fome handfulls of corne out-of
the rankeft cockle : to make choice of the moft
fragrant flowers of Humanitie, the moft vertuous
hearbes of Fhilofo-phie^ the moft foueraine fruites
of Gouernmenty and the moft heauenly manna of
Diuinitie : to be acquainted with the fayreft,
prouided for the fowleft, delighted with the
temperateft, pleafed with the meaneft, and con-
tented with all weather. Greater men may
profefle, and can atchieue greater matters : I
thanke God, I know the legth, that is, the ftiortnes
of mine owne foote. If it be any mans pleafure
to extenuate my fufficiecy in other knowledge, or
pra6life, to empeach my ability in wordes, or
deedes, to debafe my fortune, to abridge my
commendations, or to annihilate my fame, he
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 13
fhall finde a cold aduerfary of him, that hath . .
layed hoat pafTions awatering, and might eafely [rwxA^c ^^c u^
be induced to be the Inuediue of his owne Non- ' (hrw'tMJ -
proficiency. Onely he craueth leaue to eftimate his
credit, and to value his honefty, as behooueth euery
man, that regardeth any good : and if withall it
be his / vnfained requeft, that Order fhould repeale
diforder ; moderation reftraine licentioufnefle ;
difcretion abandon vanity ; mildnefTe afTuage
choller; meeknefle alay arrogancy ; confideration
reclaime rafhneffe ; indifFerency attemper paflion ;
Curtefie mitigate, Charity appeafe, & Vnity attone
debate : pardon him. Or, in cafe nothing will
preuaile with fury but fury, and nothing can
winne defired amity, but pretended hoftility, that
muft driue-out one naile with another, & beat-
away one wedge with another, according to the
Latin Prouerbe : Pardon him alfo, that in the
refolution of a good minde, will commaund, what
he cannot entreat ; and extort, what he cannot
perfuade. That little may be done with no great
adoo : and, feeing it may as furely, as eafely be
done, I am humbly to befeech eftablifhed Wifedome,
to winke at one experiment of aduenturous Folly ;
neuer before embarked in any fuch adio, and euer
to efchewe the like with a chary regard, where any
other mediation may purchafe redrefTe. 1 will
not vrge what conniuence hath been noted in as
14 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
diffauorable cafes : it is fufficient for me to pleade
mine own acquittall. Other prayfe he afFe6teth
not, that in a deepe infight into his innermoft
partes, findeth not the higheft pitch of his Hope,
equiualent to the loweft pit of your commendation.
And if by a gentle conftrudlion, or a fauorous
encouragement, he feemeth any thing in others
opinion, that is nothing in his owne Cenfure, the
lefTer his merite, the greater their mercy ; and the
barrainer his defert, the frutefuller your Hberality.
Whofe vnmeafurable prayfes I am to interpret, not
as they may feeme in fome bounteous conceit,
but as they are in mine owne knowledge ; good
wordes, but vnfitly applied ; frendly beneuolences,
but waftfully bellowed ; gallant amplifications, but
flenderly defer/ued : what but termes of Ciuility,
or fauours of Curtefie, or hyperboles of Looue :
whofe franke allowance I fhall not be able to earne
with the ftudy of twenty yeares more : in briefe,
nothing but partial 1 witnefles, preiudicate iudge-
ments, idle preambles, and in efiPedl meere wordes.
And euen fo as I found them, I leaue them. Yet
let me not difmiffe fo extenfiue curtefie with an
empty hand. Whatfoeuer I am, (that am the
leaft little of my thoughtes, and the greateft
contempt of mine owne hart) Parthenophill and
Parthenophe embellifhed, the Spanijh Counfellour
Inglifhed, and Shores Wife eternifed ; fhall euer-
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION 15
laftingly teftifie what you are : go forward in
maturity, as ye haue begun in pregnancy, and
behold Parthenopoeus the fonne of the braue
Meleager, Homer himfelfe, and of the fwift
Atalanta Calliope herfelfe : be thou, Barnabe, the
gallant Poet, like Spencer, or the valiant fouldiour,
like Bafkeruile ; and euer remember thy French
Jeruice vnder the braue Earl of Eflex. Be thou,
lohn, the many-tongued Linguift, like Andrewes,
or the curious Intelligencer, like Bodley ; and
neuer forget thy NetherlandiJJi traine vnder Him,
that taught the Prince of Nauarre, now the
valorous king of Fraunce. Be thou Antony, the
flowing Oratour, like Dooue, or the fkilfull Heralde,
like Clarentius ; and euer remember thy Portugall
voyage vnder Don Antonio. The beginning of
vertuous Proceedings, is the one halfe of honorable
adlions. Be yourfelues in hope, and what your-
felues defire in efFedl : and I haue attained fome
portion of my requefl:. For you cannot wifh fo
exceeding-well vnto me, but I am as ready with
tongue, and minde, to wifh a great-deale better
vnto you, and to reacquite you with a large vfury
of mofl:-affed:ionate prayers, recommending you to
the diuine giftes, and gratious bleflings of Heauen.
May / it pleafe the fauorable Reader, to voutfafe
me the Curtefie of his Patience, vntill he hath
thoroughly perufed the whole Difcourfe at his
i6 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
c, A* v^ ^i I lowers of leyfure (for fuch fcriblings are hardly
^vitjv/ui^,^ worth the vacanteft howers) : I am not to im-
portune him any farther ; but would be glad, he
might finde the Whole, lefTe tedious in the end,
then fome Parts in the beginning, or mid ft ; or,
at-leaft, that one peece might helpe to furnifh-out
amendes for an other. And fo taking my leaue
with the kindeft Farewell of a moft thankfull
minde, I defift from wearying him with a tedious
Preface, whom I am likely to tire with fo many
fuperfluous Difcourfes. Howbeit might it happely
pleafe the fweeteft Interceffour, to enfweeten the
bittereft gall of Spite, and to encalme the rougheft
tempeft of Rage ; I could cordially wifh, that
Najhes S. Fame might be the Period of my
Inuedtiues : and the excellent Gentlewoman^ my
patronefTe, or rather Championefl'e in this quarrel,
is meeter by nature, and fitter by nurture, to be
an enchaunting Angell, with her white quill, then
a tormenting Fury with her blacke inke. It re-
maineth at the eledlion of one, whom God indue
with more difcretion.
At London: this i6. of July, 1593. The in-
uiolable frend of his entire frendes, Gabriell
Haruey. /
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 17
Her owne Prologue, or Demurr.
0 Mufes, may a wootnan poore^ and blinde,
A Lyon-draggon, or a Bull -bear e binde ?
IJi pojjible for puling wench to tame
The furibundall Champion of Fame ?
He brandijheth the whurlewinde in his mouthy
And thunderbolteth fo-confounding Jhott :
Where fuck a Bombard-goblin, North, or South,
With drad Fen-powder, and the conquerous pott ?
Silly it is, that I can ftng, or Jay :
And Jhall I venture Juch a bluftrous fray ?
Hazard not, panting quill, thy afpenjelfe :
Hel'e m.urther thy conceit, and braine thy braine.
Spare me, 6 Juper domineering Elfe,
And moji, railipotent for euer raine.
Si Tibi vis ipfi parcere, parce Mihi.
Her Counter-fonnet, or CorredlioH of her owne
Preamble.
ScorriQ frump the meacock Verje that dares not ftng,
Drouping,Jo like a flagging flowre in raine :
Where doth the Vrany or Fury ring,
'That Jhall enfraight my Jiomacke with dijdaine ?
Shall Frend put-vp fuch braggardous affront es ?
Are milkfop Mufes fuch whiteliuerd Trontes ?
Shall Boy the gibbet be of Writers all.
And none hang-vp the gibbet on the wall?
H. II. 3
i8 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
If I dreery hobbling Ryme hart-broken be^
And quake for dread of Danters fcarecrow Prejfe :
Shrew Profe^ thy pluckcrow implements addrejfe^
And pay the hangman pen his double fee.
Be Spite a Sprite^ a 'Termagant^ a Bugg :
'Truth feares no ruth^ and can the Great Diull tugg
Ultrix accin£ia flagello.
Her old Comedy, newly intituled.
My Profe is rejolute, as Beuis fworde :
March rampant beaft in formidable hide :
Supererogation Squire on cockhorfe ride :
Zeale fhapes an aunjwer to the blouddieji worde.
If nothing can the booted Souldiour tame^
Nor Ryme^ nor Profe, nor Honefly, nor Shame,
But Swafh will fi ill his trompery aduaunce,
IV e leade the gagtooth'd fopp a new-founde daunce.
Deare howers were euer cheape to pidling me :
I knew a glorious, and brauing Knight,
That would be deem'd a truculentali wight :
Of him Ifcrauld a dowty Comedy.
Sir Bombarduccio was his cruell name :
But Gnafharduccio thejole brute of Fame.
L'Enuoy.
See, how He hrayes, and fumes at me poore lajfe.
That mufi immortalife the killcowe AlTe. /
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. \ g
rO THE RIGHT WORSHIP FVLL, his ejpeciall
dearefrend^ M. Gabriell Haruey^ Do5iour of Lawe.
Sweet M. Dodour Haruey, (for I cannot intitule
you with an Epithite of lefTe value then that which
the Grecian, and Roman Oratours afcribed to
Theophraftus, in refpect of fo many your excellent
labours, garnifhed with the garland of matchlefTe
Oratory) : if at any time either the moft earneft
perfuafion of a deare frend, and vnufually moft
deare, and conftant, adiured therevnto by the
fingular vertue of your moft prayfe-worthy, and
vnmatchable wit : or the woonderful admiration of
your peerleiTe conceit, embraued with fo many
gorgeous ornamentes of diuine Rhetorique : or
the doubtlefle fuccefliue benefit thereof, deuoted
to the glory of our Englifti Eloquence, and our
vulgar Tufcanifme (if I may fo terme it) ; may
worke any plaufible or refpediue motions with
you to bewtifie, and enrich our age, with thofe
moft praife-moouing workes, full of gallanteft
difcourfe, and reafon, which I vnderftand by fome
aflured intelligence be now glowing vpon the
anvile, ready to receiue the right artificiall forme
of diuineft workemaftiip : the let I befeech you,
nay, by all our mutuall frendftiips I coniure you
(loue and admiration of them arming me with the
placarde of farther confidence) thofe, and other
20
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
(Iha^'"^-^
m
r\
your incomparable writings, fpeedily, or rather
pre/fently, jfhew thefelues in the fhining light
^ of the Sunne. That, by this Publication of fo
rare, & rich Difcourfes, our Englifh Rauens, the
Ifpitefull enemyes to all birdes of more bewtifull
wing, and more harmonious note then themfelues,
! may fhroude themfelues in their nefts of bafeft
iobfcurity, 6c keepe hofpitality with battes, and
' owles, fit conforts for fuch vile carions. Good
I Sir, arife, and confound thofe Viperous Cryticall
monfters, and ' thofe prophane Atheiftes of our
Commonwealth ; which endeuour with their
mutinous and Serpentine hifling, like geele, not
to arme the Senatours and Oratours of Rome,
but to daunt, aftonifh, and, if it were pofTible, to
ouerthrow them. And fithence the very thunder-
lightning of your admirable Eloquence, is fufficietly
auailable to ftrike them with a lame Palfie of
tongue, (if they be not already fmitten with a
fenceleffe Apoplexy in head, which may eafely
\enfewe fuch contagious Catharres and Reumes, as
I am priuy fome of them haue been grieuoufly
difieafed withall), miffe not, but hitt them feurly
home, as they deferue with Supererogation. You
haue bene reputed euermore, fince firft I heard
of you in Oxford and elfewhere, to haue bene as
much giuen to fauour, commende, and frequent
mch as were approoued, or toward in learning,
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
21
i/K^
;^\fy^-
witt, kinde behauiour, or any good quality, as
may be required in any man of your demerit : I I, , (r; , j fi C'^\\j<
an vndoubted figne, how much you loath In-
ued:iues or any needeles contetions. I would
(as many your afFedlionate freds would) it had
bene your fortune to haue encountred fome
other Paranymphes, then fuch as you are now to
difcipline : moft vnwillingly, I perceiue, but moft'
neceflarily, & not without efpeciall confideration,
being fo manifeftly vrged, and grofely prouoked
to defend yourfelfe. But you haue ere now bene
acquainted / with patience perforce : and I hope
the moft defperate fwafher of them will one day
learne to fhew himfelf honefter or wifer. And
thus recommending your fweete endeuours, with
your grauer ftudies, to the higheft treafury of
heauenly Mufes; I right hartely take my leaue
with a Sonnet of that Mufe, that honoreth the
Vrany of du Bartas, and yourfelfe : of du Bartas
elfewhere ; here of him, whofe excellent Pages of
the French King, the Scottifti King, the braue
Monfieur de la Noe, the aforefayd Lord du Bartas,
Sir Philip Sidney, and fundry other worthy perfon-
ages, deferue immortall commendation. I thanke
him very hartely that imparted vnto me thofe fewe
fheetes : and if all be like them, truly all is paffing
notable, and right fingular.
O^aU
«t^
aa PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
SONNET.
Tho/e learned Oratours, Roomes auncient Jages ^
Perjuafions Pith, dire ^ ours of affe5lion^
The mindes chief counfail^ rhetoriques perfe5iion.
The pleai'aunt haulms of 'peace, warres fierce
outrages:
Sweet Grecian Prophets, whoje fmooth Mufe affuages
The Furies powerfull wrath, poijons infeSlion :
Philofophers (by Caufes due connexion.
Match' t with tK Effe^s of Nature) future ages
Embrauing with rich documents of Art : /
The wifefi States-men of calme Commonweales :
The learned Generall Councels, which impart
Diuineji laws, whofe wholejome Phyjique Heales
Both Church, and Layety : All in one beholde
Ennobled Arts, as Precious Jiones in golde.
From my lodging in Holborne : this of June.
1593. Your moft afFedionate,
Barnabe Barnes.
Hauing perufed my former Sonet, if it may
pleafe you. Sir, to do afmuch for your deare
frends Parthenophill, and Parthenophe, they fhall
haue the defired fruite of their fhort exercife, and
will reft beholding to your curteous acceptance :
which they would be glad to reacquite in the
loouingeft manner they may. And fo moft affec-
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 23
tionatly recommend themfelues vnto your good
felf : whofe vnblemifhed fame they will euermore
maintaine with the beft bloud of their hartes,
tongues, and Pennes. We will not fay, how
much we long to fee the whole Prayfes of your
two notorious enemyes, the AJfe and the Foxe.
Sonet.
Nafly^ or the confuting Gentleman.
'The Mufes /come ; the Courtiers laughing-fiock ;
The Countreys Coxecombe ; Printers proper new ;
The Citties Leprofte ; the Pandars fiew ;
Vertues di/dayne ; honejiies aduerfe rock ;
Enuies vile champion ; Jlaunders fiumblingblock.
Graund / Oratour of Cunny -catchers crew ;
Bqfe broaching tapjier of reports vntrue ;
Our moderne Viper ^ and our Country es mock ;
True Valors Cancer-worme^Jweet Learnings rufi.
Where fhall I finde meete colour s^ and fit wordes.
For Juch a counterfai5l^ and worthlejfe matter F
Him, whom thou rayleji on at thine owne lufl,
Sith Bodine andfweet Sidney did not flatter.
His Inueffiue thee too much grace affordes,
Parthenophil.
24 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Sonet.
Harueyy or the fweet Dodtour.
Si\dntY,/'weet Cignet^ pride of 'Thamefis ;
Apollos laurell ; Mars-his proud prowejje :
Bodine, regijier of Realmes happinejfe^
Which Italy es^ and Fraunces wonder is :
Hatcher, with filence whom I may not mijfe :
Nor Lewen, Rhetoriques richeji nohlejfe :
Nor Wilfon, whofe dijcretion did redrejfe
Our Englifh Barharifme : adioyne to this
Diuinefi morall Spencer : let thefe Jpeake
By their fweet Letters, which do befi vnfould
Harueys defer ued praife : fince my Mufe weake
Cannot relate fomuch as hath bene tould
By thefe Fornam'd : then, vaine it were to bring
New feather to his Fames fwift -feathered wing.
Parthenophe.
THE PRINTERS ADUERTISSE-
ment to the Gentleman Reader.
Curteous Gentlemen, it feemed good to M. Do 51 our
Haruey, for breuity-fake, and becaufe he liked not
ouer-long Preambles, or Pojiambles, to fhort dis-
courjes, to omit the commendatorie Letters, and Son-
nets of M. Thorius, M. Chewt, and diuers other
his affectionate frendes of London, and both the
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 25
Vniuerfities. Which neuerthelejfey are referued to
be prefixed^ inferted^ or annexed^ either in his
defend ue Letters, enlarged with certaine new
Epijiles of more Jpeciall note ; or in his Difcourfes
of Nafhes S. Fame, already finijhed^ ^ prefently
to be publifhed^ as theje JJiall like their interteine-
ment : of who/e fauorable i^ plauftble Welcome,
diuers learned and fine wittes haue prejumed the
befi. Howbeit finally it was thought not amijfe,
vpon conference with fome his aduifed acquaintance,
to make choice of fome two or three of the reajon-
ablefty and temperatefi Sonnets (but for variety,
(^ to auoyde tedioufnejfe in the entrance, rather
to be annexed in the end, then prefixed in the
beginning of the prefent Difcourfes) : one of the
forefayd M. I'horius, an other of M. Chewt, and
the third of a learned French gentleman, Monfieur
Fregeuill Gautius, who hath publifhed fome weighty
Treatijes, afwell Politique as Religious, both in
Latin and French ; and hath acquainted M. Doc-
tour Haruey with certaine mofi profitable Mathe-
maticall deuifes of his own inuention. The refidue
is not added by me, but annexed by the Autor him-
felfe: whom I humbly recommende to your curteous
Cenfure, and fo reft from ouertroubling you with my
vnpolifhed lines.
H. II.
oie- ojg- m ^ m' && m ■siC' Of/z- oic-
VI.
PIERCE'S SUPEREROGATION OR
A NEW PRAYSE OF THE
OLDE ASSE.
IJ93-
j^, ;v^, ^^, ^iA ,^i£>, ;w*, ."W*, ^W*, t^V» **w*,
t/TV* «^!\* o'r^ «/r^ t/!V» «/r«» */•%» c/rj <j!\j e/fV^
NOTE.
It will be noticed that the title-page of ' Pierce's Supererogation ' is
identical with that of its slender precursor (see relative Note, page 2). So
that the precursor was a ■ preparative ' to a ' preparative,' although the
Printer in his Epistle to the former deals with the so-called ' Preparative '
as really 'Nashes S. Fame,' by appending to it the Letters and Sonnets
specified by him. As stated in Note before the Precursor, I am indebted
for our text to the Huth Library. See Memorial-Introduction for more.
A. B, G.
Pierces Supererogation
OR
A NEW PRAYSE OF THE
Old Asse.
A Preparatiue to certaine larger Dtfcourfes^ intituled
Nashes S. Fame.
Gabriell Haru-y.
IL VOSTRO
MALIGNARE NON
GIOVA NVLLA.
r
(7V«fA, and respectfully,
the tree.)
LONDON
Imprinted by lohn Wolfe.
"h^
Pierces Supererogation.
OR
A NEW PRAYSE OF THE
Old Asse.
/I Pteparatiue to certame larger Di/courses, intituled
Nashes S. Fame.
Was euer vnwilling to vndertakc
any enterprife, that was vnmeete
for me ; or to play any part,
either in earneft, or in ieft, that
might ill befeeme me : and neuer
more vnwilling then at this in-
ftant, when I muft needes do it, or put fomething
in hazard, that I would be loth to commit to the
curtefie of aduenture. Not becaufe my Confuters
fwordes, or my enemies daggers carry any credite
with the wife ; or becaufe my Letters feare any
32 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
difcredite with the honeft ; or becaufe I cannot
W'h. <'i'' ! abide to be confuted, that daily confute my felfe,
f foL'A^'vt. land condemne euery mine owne default with
I rigour : but becaufe Silence may feeme fufpicious
to many ; Patience contemptible to fome ; A good
minde, A bad hart to thofe, that value all by
courage ; A knowne forbearer of Libellers, A
continuall bearer of coales ; and there is no end
of abufes vpon abufes, of iniuries vpon iniuries,
of contempt vpon contempt, where prefumptuous
Impudency, and odious Slaunder, the two errantift:
vagabonds in the world, may fafe condud: them-
felues, and franckely pafTe vncontrolled. Yet were
that, either / all, or the worft of all, I could ftill
vow filence in brawles, and would ftill profefTe
Patience in wronges : (I hate brawles with my
hart : and can turne-ouer A volume of wronges
with a wett finger :) but fome cunning men, that
carry hooney in their mouthes, and gall in their
hartes, not fo fweete in the Premiffes, as bitter in
the Conclufion, can fmoothly, and finely defcant
vpon the leaft aduantage, howfoeuer iniurious :
I, , . and certaine pretty Experiences, by way of fenfible
inftruction, haue taught fome, that Malice was
neuer fuch an hypocrite, as now ; and the world
neuer fuch a Scoggin, as now ; & the Diuell neuer
C , ■ luch a knaue, as now : & what a defperate
:>( Ki^'^v^ ... .
diflblutenefTe were it in him, that regardeth his
'L<^A
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. xz
good name, to abandon himfelfe, or to relinquifh
the deereft thing in this life, (I know no deerer
thing, then honeft credite) to the fauour of Enuy,
or to the difcretion of Fortune ? Gentlemen, he is
hardly beftead for a Patrone, that relyeth on the
tuition of Enuy, or repofeth his affiance in the
protedion of Fortune : and he muft not take it
vnkindely, to bee forfaken of other by the way,
that forfaketh himfelfe in the way. Euen he that
loueth not to be his owne defender, much lefle
his owne prayfer (do him no wrong, my Mafters,
though ye doe him no right) yet hateth to be his
owne traytor: and hath reafon to experimente
fome rounde conclufions, before hee offer his
throte to the blade of villany, or his forhead to
the brand of diff^amation. And although he be ; ''"W.' -^^
the fubieft of his own contempt, and the argument "^ t. v t-
of his owne Satyres : (furely no man lefTe doteth
vpon himfelfe, or more feuerely cenfureth his
own imperfediions :) yet he in fome refpedls •
difdayneth to be reuiled by the abieds of the ;
world. Whofe difpraife in fome age were a com- | V. Z^^'^''' *
mendation, and whofe praife an inuediue : but
this is a queint world, and needeth no Aprill /
fhowers, to furnifh May-games. I proteft, I haue
thefe many yeeres, not in pride, but in iudgement,
fcorned, to appeere in the rancke of this fcribling
generation : and could not haue bene hired with a
H. II. 5
'A ' /•
C^r^'d.
34 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
great fee, to publifh any Pamflet of whatfoeuer
nature, in mine owne name, had I not bene in-
tollerably prouoked, firft by one rakehell, and now
by an other, the two impudenteft mates, that
euer haunted the preffe : (fome haue called them
knaues in grofe : I haue found them fooles in
retayle :) but when it came to this defperate point,
that I muft needes either bee a bafe writer, or a
vile Affe in printe, the lefTe of the two euils was
to be chofen : and I compelled rather to alter my
refolution for a time, then to preiudice my felfe
for euer. They that lift may feede at the manger
with the fonnes of the Mule : it is another Table-
Philofophy, that I fanfie. Howbeit amongft all
the misfortunes, that euer happened vnto me, I
account it my greateft afflidlion, that I am con-
ftrained to bufy my penne, without ground, or
fubftance of dilcourfe, meete for an adiue and
induftrious world. Euery man hath his crofTes
in one accident, or other: but I know not a |, /-,,,/'_
greeuoufter perfecution, then a bafe employment
of precious time, neceftarily enforced. Other
crofTes may fomeway edifie : this is a plague
without remedy ; a torment without end ; a hell
without redemption. As in the courfe of my
ftudy, it was allwayes my reckoning ; He loofeth
nothing, whatfoeuer he lofeth, that gaineth Time :
fo in the tafke of my writing, or other exercife.
ki I'-
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 35
it is my account ; He gayneth nothing, whatfoeuer
he gayneth, that loofeth Time. A good matter,
deHuered in good manner, winneth fome eftimation i ,.-.», f
with good mindes : but no manner fufficient to
countenance a contemptible Theame : & a rafcall
fubiedl abafeth any forme : or what hath drowned
the /memory of the trimmeft, and daintieft trifles,
that fine conceit hath deuifed ? Were it mine
owne election, 1 might worthily incurre many
reproofes, and iuftly impute them to my fimple
choyce : but NecefTity hath as little free will, as
Law ; and compelleth like a Tyrant, where it
cannot perfwade, like an Oratour, or aduife like a
Counfellour. Any Vertue, an honourable Common^
place, and a flourifhing braunch of an heauenly
tree : Politique, and militar affaires, the woorthieft
matters of confultation, and the two Herculean
pillers of noble ftates : the priuate liues of I
excellent perfonages in fondry courfes, and the j
publike aftions of puiflant nations in fondry
gouernementcs, fhining mirrours of notable vfe
for the prefent time, and future ages. Were it
at my appointment, to difpofe freely of mine
owne howers : O how willingly, and cheerefully
could I fpend the frefhefl: & deereft part of mv/
life, in fuch argumentes of valour? Learninge is
a goodly and gallant Creature in many partes : &
diuers members of that beautifuU body vpbraide
(V -^
36
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
the moft-exquifite penne, and moft-curious pencil
of infufficiency : no diligence too-much, where no
labour inough : the fruitefulleft fciences require
painefulleft induftry, and fome liuely principles
would be touched to the quicke : whatfoeuer
booke-cafe, or fchole-point is found by experience
to be efTentiall, and pradticable in the world,
deferueth to be difcufTed with fharpe inuention,
and found iudgement. I could yet take pleafure,
and proffite, in canuafTing fome Problems of
naturall Philofophy, of the Mathematiques, of
Geography, and Hydrography, of other com-
modious experimentes, fit to aduaunce many
valorous actions : and I would vppon mine owne
charges, trauaile into any parte of Europe, to
heare fome pregnant Paradoxes, and certaine
fingular queftions in the / higheft profeffions of
Learning, in Phyfick, in Law, in Diuinity,
efFedually and thoroughly difputed pro^ & contra :
and would thinke my trauaile as aduantageoufly
beftowed to fome purpofes of importance, as they
that haue aduenturoufly difcouered new-found
Landes, or brauely furprized Indies. What con-
ferences, or difputations, what Parliaments, or
Councels, like thofe, that deliberate vpon the beft
gouernement of Commonwealthes, and the beft
difcipline of Churches ; the dubble anchor of the
mighty fhipp, and the two great Luminaries of
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. y]
the world ? Other extrauagant difcourfes, not
materiall, or quarrelous contentions, not auaileable,
are but waftinge of winde, or blotting of paper.
What fhould Exercife, or ftuddy, burne the Sunne
or the candle in vaine? or what fhould I doe
againft my felfe, in fpeakinge for my felfe, '\^
outward refpedes did not inwardly gripe, and a
prefent exigence lay violent handes vpon me?
Though extremity be powerable, yet an vnwilling ' f'
will is excufable. Philofophers, and Lawyers
can beft argue the cafe of inuoluntary adbes : but
what fo forcible, as compulfion : or fo pardonable,
as a pafTiue adlion? Blame him not, or blame him
gently, that would be a little loth, to be dieted at
the racke of the old Afle, or to be bitten of the
young dog. He is no party in the caufe, that
pleadeth thus againft Arifiogiton. Sweet Gentle-
men, imagine it to be a fpeech, addrefTed vnto
your felues. Peraduenture the viper did neuer bite
any of you; and the Gods forbid^ it Jhould euer bite
you: hut when you e/pie any fuch pernicious creature^
you pre/ently dijpatch it : in like manner when you
behold a Sycophant^ and a man of a viperous nature^
looke not till he hath bitten Jome of yoUy but fo foone
as he Jlarteth-vpy pull him downe. And againe in
another place of the fame fententious, and poli-
tique Oration : Hee that j mainetay net h a Sycophant^ <^aln v ^ '^^'^^
is by nature and kinde an ennemy of the good :
K.<X.^ \L
38 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
vnlejfe fome-body imagine, that the fee de and roote of
a naughty Sycophant ought to remaine in the Citty,
as it were for fiore, or good hufhandry. Demofthenes
was as deepely wife, as highly eloquent : and hath
many fuch notable fentences, as it were Caueats, or
_^ Prouifoes, againft the daungerous ennemies of that
( 4UU1 w-ust''*^'' flourifhing Citty, and efpecially againft Calumnia-
tours, whofe viperous fting hee could by no meanes
auoide : albeit otherwife fuch an Oratour, as could
allure heartes with perfwafion, or coniure mindes
with aftonifhment. I would no other Citty loued
figges: or muft an other Citty of necefTity loue figges,
becaufe it is growne an other Athens, a mother
of eloquence, a nurfe of learning, a grandame of
valour, a feat of honor, and as Ariftotle termed
Athens, a garden of Alcinous, wherein one fruite
ripeneth vpon an other, one peare vppon an other,
one grape vpon an other, and one figge vppon an
other. The Sycophant be his owne interpreter :
& if he may be licenfed, or permitted to bee his
owne caruer too, much good may it doe him, and
fweete digeftion geue him ioy of his dainety figg.
I muft haue a little care of one, that canot eafily
brucke vnreafonable fawcinefte : & would be loth
to fee the garden of Alcinous made the garden of
Greene, or Motley. It was wont to be faid by
way of a Prouerbe ; Hee that will be made a
ftieepe, ftiall find wolues inough : but forfooth this
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION, 59
exceeding-wife worlde, is a great Afle-maker : and
he that will fuiFer himfelfe to be proclaimed an
AfTe in printe, fhall bee fare neuer to want loade
and loade inough. Who fo ready to call her
neighbour, a (kold, as the rankeft fkold of the
parifh : or who fo forward to accufe, to debafe, to
reuile, to crow-treade an other, as the arranteft
fellow in a country ? Let his owne mouth / be his U ■ '\i'y\ 4 <^ la
pafport, or his owne penne his warrant: & who ^.-.^
fo leawd as his greateft aduerfary, modefty : or fo
honeft, as his deereft frend, villany : or fo learned,
as his learnedeft counfell, vanity : or fo wife, as
his profoundeft Autor, young Apuleius. What
familiar fpirite of the Ayre, or fire, like the i '^ ^O
glibb, & nimble witt of young Apuleius? or
where is the Eloquence that fhould defcribe the
particular perfections of young Apuleius ? Pru-
dence, may borrow, difcretion : Logique, argu-
ments; Rhetorique, coulours ; Phantafy, conceites;
Steele, an edge ; and Gold, a lufter, of young
Apuleius. O the rare, and queint Inuention, 6
the gallant, and gorgeous Elocution : 6 the braue>
and admirable amplifications : 6 the artificiall, and
fine extenuations : 6 the liuely pourtraitures of
egregious prayfes, and difprayfes : 6 the cunning,
and ftraunge mingle-mangles : 6 the pithy ieftes,
and maruelous girdes of yong Apuleius : the very
prodigality of Art, and Nature. What greater
iV-uCxi
40 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
impoffibility, then to decipher the high, and mighty
ftile of young Apuleius, without a liberall portion
of the fame eleuate fpirite ? Happy the old father,
that begat, and thrife happy the fweete Mufes,
that fuckled, and foftered young Apuleius. Till
Admiration hath found- out a fmoother and trickfier
quill for the purpofe : Defire muft be content to
leaue the fupple and tidy conftitution of his omni-
lufficient Witt, vndifplayed. Onely it becommeth
gentle mindes to yeeld themfelues thanckefull ; and
to tender their bounden duety to that ineftimable
pearle of Eloquence, for this precious glimze of
his incomprehenfible valour ; one fhorte Maxime,
but more worth, then all the Axioms of Ariftotle ;
or the Idees of Plato ; or the Aphorifmes of
Hippocrates ; or the Paragraphes of luftinian.
He knoweth not to manage his penne, that was
not born with an AfTe/in his mouth; a foole in 4 /^
his throate ; and a knaue in his whole body. f/^Uv
Simple men may write againft other, or pleade for
themfelues : but they cannot confute cuttingly,
like a hackfter of Queen- Hith, or bellow luftely,
like the foreman of the Heard. I goe not about
to difcouer an AfTe in an Oxes hide : hee needeth
no other to pull him by the famous eares, that is
fo hafty to defcry, and fo bufy to beftirre his wifeft
partes: but what a notable Afle indeede was I,
that fought the winges of a mounting Pegafus, or
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 41
a ftying Phenix, where I found the head, & feete
of a braying creature ? Some promifes, are des-
perate debtes : and many threatninges, empty
cloudes ; or rather armies fighting in the ayre,
terrible vifions. Simplicity cannot dubble : and
plaine dealing will not difTemble. I looked either
for a fine-witted man, as quicke as quick- filuer,
that with a nimble dexterity of liuely conceite, and
exquifite fecretaryfhip, would out-runne mee many
hundred miles in the courfe of his dainty deuifes ;
a delicate minion : or fome terrible bombarder of
tearmes, as wilde as wild-fire, that at the firft flafh
of his fury, would leaue me thunder-ftricken vpon
the ground, or at the laft volley of his outrage,
would batter me to duft, and afhes. A redoubted
aduerfary. But the trimme filke-worme, I looked
for, (as it were in a proper contempt of common
fineneffe) prooueth but a filly glow-woorme : and
the dreadfuU enginer of phrafes, in fteede of
thunderboltes, (hooteth nothing but dogboltes, and
catboltes, and the homelieft boltes of rude folly.
Such arrant confuting ftufl^e, as neuer print faw
compiled together, till maifter Villany became an
Autor ; and Sir Nafii a gentleman. Printers, take
hede how ye play the Heralds : fome lufty gentle-
men of the maker, can no fooner bare a Goofe-
quill, or a Woodcockes feather in their fhield, but
they / are like the renowmed Lobbelinus, when hee
H. II. 6
42 PIERCES SUFEJREROGATIOA'.
had gotten a new coate : and take vpon them,
without pitty, or mercy, Hke the onely Lordes of
the field. If euer Efquier raued with conceit of
his new Armes, it is Danters gentleman : that
mightily defpifeth, whatfoeuer hee beholdeth from
the high turret of his creaft, and cranckly fpitteth
vppon the heads of fome, that were not greatly
acquaynted with fuch familiar enterteinement. His
beft frende, be his ludge : and I appeale to my worft
ennemy, whether he neuer read a more peftilent
example of proftituted Impudency ? Were hee
not a kinfeman of the forefayd viper, a Dog in
malice, a Calfe in witt, an Oxe in learning, and an " ^
Afle in difcretion : (time fhall cronicle him, as he
is :) was it poffible, that any ma fhould haue
beftowed fome broad, and loud tearmes, as he
hath done ? Who could abide it, without adluall | \ \
reuenge, but hee, that enterteineth fpite with a '^ f^
fmile, maketh a paftime of Straunge Newes ;
turneth choler into fanguine, vineger into wine,
vexation into fport, and hath a falue for a greater
fore.
Come young Sophifters, you that afFe6le raylinge
in your difputations, and with a clamorous howte
would fet the Philolbphy fchooles non plus : come
olde cutters, you that vfe to make dowty frayes in
the ftreetes, and would hack-it terribly : come hee-
and fhee-fcoldes, you that loue to pleade-it-out
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 4 \
inuincibly at the barre of the dunghill, & will
rather loofe your Hues, then the laft word : come
bufy commotioners, you that carry a world of
quarrelous wits, and mutinous tounges in your
heads : come moft-redowted Momus, you thit
will fternely keepe heauen, and earth in awe :
come running heads, and giddy pennes of all
humours, you that daunce attendance vpon oddeft
fafhions : and learne a perfect methode, to pafTe
other, and to excell your / felues : fuch a new-
deuifed modell, as neuer faw Sun before, & may
make the gayeft mold of antiquity to blufh. Old
Archilochus, and Theon, were but botchers in
their rayling faculty : Stefichorus, but a grofe
bungler: Ariftarchus but a curious, and nice foole:
Ariftophanes and Lucian but merry iefters : Ibis
againft Ouid ; Meuius againft Horace ; Carbilius
Pidor againft Virgill ; Lauinius againft Terence ;
Crateua againft Euripides ; Zoilus againft Homer,
but ranke fowters. Saluft did but dally with
Tully : Demades but toy with Demofthenes :
Pericles but fporte with Thucydides, and fo foorth.
For examples are infinite : and no exercife more
auncient, then lambiques amongft Poetes ; In-
uediues amongft Oratours ; Confutations amongft
Philofophers ; Satyres amongft Carpers ; Libels
amongft fad:ioners; Pafquils amongft Malcontentes;
and quarrells amongft all. But the Olde Afte was
44 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
an Infante in Witt, and a Grammer Scholler in Arte :
Lucians Rhetor, neuer fo brauely furnifhed, will
be heard with an Eccho : lulian will rattle Chris-
tendome : Arrius will fhake the Church : Mac-
chiauell will yerke the Commonwealth : Vnico
Aretino will fcourge Princes : and heere is a lufty
ladd of the Caftell, that will binde Beares, and ride
golden Afles to death. Were the pith of courage
loft, it might be founde in his penne : or were
the marrow of conceite to feeke, where fhould witt
looke for witt, but in his Inckebottle ? Arte was
a Dunfe, till Hee was a writer : and the quickeft
Confuter, a drowfy dreamer, till he put a life into
the dead quill, & a flye into the woodden boxe of _
forlorne Pandora. A pointe for the Satyrift, whofe j W i^ ■ *-
conceite is not a Ruffian in folio : and a figg for
the Confuter, that is not a Swafhbucler with his
pen. Old whimwhams haue plodded on, long
enough : frefh inuention from the tapp, muft /
haue his frifkes, & careers an other while : and
what comparable to this fpowte of yarking elo
quence ? Giue me the fellow, that is as Peerelefle,
as Pennylefte ; and can oppofe all the Libraries
in Poules Churchyard, with one wonderfull work
of Supererogation ; fuch an vnmatcheable peece
of Learning, as no bookes can counteruaile, but
his owne ; the onely recordes of the fingularities
of this age. Did I fpeake at a venture. I might
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 45
deceiue, and be decerned : but where Experience
is a witnefTe, and iudgement the ludge, I hope the
errour will not be vnreafonably great.
There was a time, when I floted in a fea of
encountring waues; and deuoured many famous
confutations, with an eager, and infatiable appe-
tite : efpecially Ariftotle againft Plato, and the
old Philofophers : diuers excellent Platoniftes,
indued with rare, & diuine wittes, (of whome
elfewhere at large,) luftinus Martyr, Philoponus,
Valla, Viues, Ramus, againft Ariftotle : oh but
the great maifter of the fchooles, and high Chaun-
cellour of Vniuerfities, could not want pregnant
defence : Perionius, Gallandius, Carpentarius, Sceg-
gius, Lieblerus againft Ramus: what? hath the
royall Profeflbur of Eloquence, and Philofophy,
no fauourites? Talasus, OfTatus, Freigius, Minos,
Rodingus, Scribonius, for Ramus againft them ;
and fo foorth, in that hott contradidory courfe
of Logique, and Philofophy. But alas filly men, /VV' >i-
fimple Ariftotle, more fimple Ramus, moft fimple
the reft, either ye neuer knew, what a ftiarpe-
edged, & cutting Confutation meant: or the date
of your ftale oppofitions is expired; and a new-
found land of confuting commodities difcouered,
by this braue Columbus of tearmes, and this onely
marchant venturer of quarrels ; that detedteth new
Indies of Inuention, & hath the winds of -/Eolus
46 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
at commaundement. Happy, you flourifhinge
youthes, / that follow his incomparable learned
fteps : and vnhappy we old Dunfes, that wanted
fuch a worthy Prefident of all nimble and liuely
dexterities. What fhould I appeale infinite other
to their perpetuall fhame : or fummon fuch, and |
fuch to their foule difgrace ? Erafmus in Latine, !
and Sir Thomas More in Englifh, were fuppofed vAVe/vt
fine, and pleafant Confuters in their time, and were
accordingly embraced of the forwardeft and trim-
meft wittes : but alacke how vnlike this dainty
minion ? Agrippa was reputed a gyant in con-
futation ; a demi-god in omnifufficiency of know-
ledge ; a diuell in the pradlife of horrible Artes :
oh, but Agrippa was an vrcheon, Copernicus a
fhrimpe, Cardan a puppy, Scaliger a baby, Para-
celfus a fcab, Eraftus a patch, Sigonius a toy,
Cuiacius a bable to this Termagant; that fighteth
not with fimple wordes, but with dubble fwordes :
not with the trickling water of Helicon, but with
piercing Aqua fortis : not with the forry powder
of Experience, but with terrible gunpowder : not
with the fmall ihott of contention, but with the
maine ordinaunce of fury. For breuity I ouerfkip
many notable men, and valorous Confuters in their
feuerall vaines : had not affedion otherwhiles
fwinged their reafon, where reafon fhould haue
fwayed their affedlion. But Partiality, was euer
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 47
the bufieft Adour; and PafTion, the whotteft \ tv^^J-'X v cv
Confuter: whatfoeuer plaufible caufe otherwife |-'i > ' '>^
pretended : and hee is rather to bee efteemed an
Angell, then a man, or a man of Heauen, not of
Earth, that tendereth integrity in his hart ; equity
in his tounge ; and reafon in his penne. Flefh,
and bloud are fraile Creatures, and partiall dis-
courfers : but he approacheth neereft vnto God,
& yeeldeth fweeteft fruite of a diuine difpofition,
that is not tranfported with wrath, or any blinde
paflion, but guided with cleere, / and pure Reafon,
the foueraigne principle of found proceeding. It
is not the Affirniatiue, or Negatiue of the writer,
but the trueth of the matter written, that carryeth
meat in the mouth, and vidory in the hande.
There is nothing fo exceeding foolifh, but hath
beene defended by fome wife man : nor any thinge
fo paflinge wife, but hath bene confuted by fome
foole. Mans will, no fafe rule, as Ariftotle fayth : l-j^'-i
good Homer fometime fleepeth : S. Auguftine was
not afhamed of his retradations : S. Barnard faw
not all thinges : and the beft chart may eftfoones
ouerthrow. He that taketh a Confutation in
hand, muft bringe the ftandard of Judgement \u -Ly.,^^--^"'
with him ; & make Wifedome the moderatour of
Wit. But I might afwell haue ouerpafTed the
cenfure, as the perfons : & I haue to do with a
party, that valueth both alike, and can phanfy no
48
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
fa
■^'
Autor, but his owne phanfy. It is neyther reafon,
nor rime, nor witt, nor arte, nor any imitationj that
hee regardeth : hee hath builded towers of Super-
arrogation in his owne head, and they muft ftand,
whofoeuer fall. Howbeit I cannot ouerflipp fome
without manifeft iniury, that deferue to haue their
names enrolled in the firft rancke of valiant Con-
futers : worthy men, but fubiedl to imperfections,
to errour, to mutuall reproofe ; fome more, fome
lefTe, as the manner is. Harding, and lewell, were
our Efchines, and Demofthenes : and fcarfely any
language in the Chriftian world, hath afFoorded a
payre of aduerfaries, equiualent to Harding, and
lewell ; two thundring and lightning Oratours in
diuinity : but now at laft infinitely ouermatched by
this hideous thunderbolt in humanity ; that hath
the onely right tearmes inuediue, and triumpheth
ouer all the fpirites of Contradiction. You that
haue read Luther againft the Pope: Sandolet,
Longolius, Omphalius, Oforius, againft / Luther :
Caluin againft Sadolet: Melanchthon againft Lon-
golius : Sturmius againft Omphalius : Haddon
againft Oforius : Baldwin againfte Caluin : Beza
againfte Baldwin : Eraftus againft Beza : Trauers
againft Eraftus : Sutcliff^ againft Trauers : and fo
foorth : (for there is no ende of endlefTe con-
trouerfies ; nor Bellarmine ftiall euer fatisfye the
Proteftantes : nor Whittaker contente the Papiftes :
t/
riERCES SUPEREROGATION. 49
nor Bancroft appeafe the Precifians: nor any reafon v/ ..» 5^. _ ^--j-g
pacify affedion : nor any authority refolue obfti-
nacy:) you that haue moft diligently read thefe,
and thefe, and fundry other, reputed excellente in
their kindes, caft them all away, and read him j^ A^o^i '<.
alone : that can fchoole them all in their tearmes
inuediue, and teacheth a new-found Arte of con-
futing, his all-onely Arte. Martin himfelfe but
a meacocke : and Papp-hatchet himfelfe but a
milkefop to him: that inditeth with a penne of
fury, and the incke of vengeance ; and hath cart-
loades of paperfhot, and chainfhot at commaunde-
mcnt. Tufh, no man can blafon his Armes,
but himfelfe. Behold the mighty Champion, the
dubble fword-bearer, the redowtable fighter with
both handes, that hath robbed William Conquerour
of his furname, and in the very firft page of his
Straunge Newes, choppeth-ofF the head of foure
Letters at a blow. Hee it is, that hath it rightly
in him indeede ; and can roundly doe the feate,
with a witnefTe. Why, man, he is worth a
thoufand of thefe pidlinge and driblinge Con-
futers, that fitt all day buzzing vpon a blunt
point, or two : and with much adoe drifle out
as many fentences in a weeke, as he will powre-
downe in an howre. It is not long, fmce the
goodlyeft graces of the moft-noble Common-
weal thes vpon Earth, Eloquence in fpeech, and
H. II. 7
u.
50 PIERCES supererogation:
Ciuility in manners, arriued in thefe remote parts
of the world : it was a happy reuolution of the /
heauens, and worthy to be chronicled in an Eng-
lifh Liuy, when Tiberis flowed into the Thames ;
Athens remoued to London ; pure Italy, and fine
Greece planted themfelues in rich England ; Apollo
with his delicate troupe of Mufes, forfooke his old
mountaines, and riuers; and frequented a new
ParnafTus, and an other Helicon, nothinge in-
feriour to the olde, when they were moft folemnely
haunted of diuine wittes, that taught Rhetorique
to fpeake with applaufe, and Poetry to fing with
admiration. But euen fince that flourifhing trans-
plantation of the daintieft, and fweetefl: lerning,
that humanitie euer tailed; Arte did but fpringe
in fuch, as Sir lohn Cheeke, and M. Afcham : &
witt budd in fuch, as Sir Phillip Sidney, & M.
Spencer; which were but the violetes of March,
or the Primerofes of May : till the one begane to
fprowte in M. Robart Greene, as in a fweating
Impe of the euer-greene Laurell ; the other to
bloffome in M. Pierce Pennilefie, as in the riche
garden of pore Adonis: both to growe to per-
fedion, in M. Thomas Nafhe; whofe prime is a
harueft, whofe Arte a mifterie, whofe witt a miracle,
whofe ftile the onely life of the prefle, and the very
hart-blood of the Grape. There was a kind of
fmooth, and clenly, and neate, and fine elegancy
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 51
before : (proper men, handfome giftes :) but alacke,
nothinge liuelie, and mightie, like the braue vino "^^U
de montCj till his frifking penne began to playe the
Sprite of the buttry, and to teach his mother-
tongue fuch lufty gambolds, as may make the
gallanteft French, Italian, or Spanifh gagliards to
blufhe, for extreame fhame of their ideot fim-
plicitie. The difference of wittes is exceeding
ftraung, and almoft incredible. Good lord, how
may one man pafle a thoufand, and a thoufande
not compare with one? Arte may giue out pre- \y,^\- / ^ 1
cepts, and dire(5loryes / in communi forma : but it
is fuperexcellent witt, that is the mother pearle
of precious Inuention ; and the goulden mine of
gorgeous Elocution. Na, it is a certaine pregnant,
and liuely thing without name, but a queint miftery
of mounting conceit, as it were a knacke of dex-
terity, or the nippitaty of the nappieft grape, that
infinitly furpafleth all the Inuention, and Elocution
in the world ; and will bunge Demofthenes owne
mouth with new-fangled figures of the right ftampe,
maugre all the thundering, and lightninge Periodes
of his eloquenteft orations, forlorne creatures. I
haue had fome prettie triall of the fineft Tufcanifme
in graine ; and haue curioufly obferued the cun-
ningeft experiments, and braueft complements of
afpiring emulation : but muft geeue the bell of
fingularity, to the humorous witt; and the gar-
-■•^w. ■• c ( «V' "O-
^K^'..Ay\j,.' \Lq
5* PIERCES SUPEREROGATION'.
land of vidory, to the ■ dominiering Eloquence. I
come not yet to the Praife of the olde Afle : it
is young Apuleius, that feedeth vpon this glory :
and hauing enclofed thefe rancke commons, to
the proper vfe of himfelfe, & the capricious flocke ;
adopteth whom he lifteth, without exception : as
Alexander the great, had a huge intention, to haue
all men his fubied:es, and all his fubiecftes called
Alexanders. It was ftrange newes for fome, to be
fo aflefied : and a worke of Supererogation for
him, fo bountifully to voutchfafe his golden name :
the appropriate cognifance of his noble ftile. God-
night poore Rhetorique of forry bookes: adieu
good old Humanity : gentle Artes, and Liberal]
Sciences content your felues : Farewell my deere
moothers, fometime floorifhing Vniuerfities : fome
that haue long continued your fonnes in Nature ;
your apprentifes in Arte ; your feruauntes in Exer-
cife ; your louers in affedlion ; and your vafTalles
in duety : muft either take their leaues of their
'; fweeteft freendes ; or become / the flaues of that
dominiering eloquence, that knoweth no Art but
) the cutting Arte ; nor acknowledgeth any fchoole,
,' but the Curtifan fchoole. The reft is pure
\ naturall, or wondrous fupernaturall. Would it
were not an infedious bane, or an incroching
j„ pocke. Let me not bee miftaken by finifter con-
ftrudlion, that wreafteth and wrigleth euery fillable
Ujii'
(uNiV ^
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 53
to the worft. I haue no reference to my felfe ;
but to my fuperiours by incomparable degrees. f |m: jj^m^
To be a Ciceronian, is a flowting ftocke : poore
Homer, a wofull wight, may put his finger in a
hole, or in his blind eye : the excellenteft hiftories,
and woorthieft Chronicles, (ineftimable monu-
mentes of wifdome, and valour,) what but ftale
Antickes ? the flowers, and fruites of delicate
humanity, that were wont to be dainetily and
tenderly conferued, now preferued with duft, as
it were with fugar, and with hoare, as it were
with hoony. That frifking wine, & that liuely
knacke in the right capricious veine, the onely
booke, that holdeth-out with a countenance ; and
will be heard, when woorme-toungued Oratours,
duft- footed Poets, and weather wife hiftorians fhall
not bee allowed a woord to caft at a dogg. There
is a fatall Period of whatfoeuer wee terme flourifh-
inge: the worlde runneth on wheeles: and there
muft be a vent for all thinges. The Ciceronian
may fleepe, til the Scogginift hath plaid his part:
One fure Conny-catcher, woorth twenty Philofb-
phers: A phantafticall rimefter, more vendible,
then the notableft Mathematician : no profeflion,
to the faculty of rayling : all harfli, or obfcure,
that tickleth not idle phantafies with wanton
dalliance, or ruffianly ieftes. Robin Good-fellow
the meeteft Autor for Robin Hoodes Library : the
' Cx.-^'C/ ■
54 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Jeflc of Cambridge, or Oxforde, the fitter to
!.i.-.ur , Ia^'t-^ compile woorkes of Supererogation: and wee
that were fimply trayned after the / Athenian, and
,-- Romane eruife, muft bee contente to make roome
for roifters, that know their place, and will take it.
Titles, and tearmes are but woordes of courfe : the
right fellow, that beareth a braine, can knocke
twenty titles on the head, at a ftroke ; and with
a iugling fhift of that fame inuincible knacke,
defende himfelfe manfully at the Paper-barre.
Though I be not greatly employed, yet my
'7 leifure will fcarfely ferue, to moralize Fables of
Aj/-^t^ t'*//o'i z'/^' Beares, Apes, and Foxes: (for fome men can
/ / '-) giue a fhrewd gefle at a courtly allegory :) but
where Lordes in exprefle tearmes are magnifically
contemned, Dodtours in the fame ftile may be
courageoufly confuted. Liberty of Tounge, and
Pen, is no Bondman: nippitaty will not be tied
/'! 1/ l/vJ to a poft : there is a cap of mainetenaunce, called
Impudency : and what fay to him, that in a fuper-
abundaunce of that fame odd capricious humour,
findeth no Juch want in England as of an Aretine^
that might firip thefe golden AJfes out-of their gay
trappingeSj and after he had ridden them to death
with rayling^ leaue them on the dunghill for carrion ?
A frolicke mind, and a braue fpirite to bee em-
ployed with his ftripping inftrument, in fupply
of that onely want of a diuine Aretine, the
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 55
great rider of golden AfTes. Were his penne
as fupererogatory a woorkeman, as his harte ; or
his lines fuch tranfcendentes, as his thoughtes :
Lord, what an egregious Aretine fhould we fhortly
haue : how excefliuely exceeding Aretine himfelfe ;
that beftowed the furmountingeft amplifications at
his pleafure, and was a meere Hyperbole incarnate?
Time may worke an accomplifhment of woonders:
and his graund intentions feeme to prognofticate
no lefle, then the vttermoft poffibilities of capacity,
or fury extended : would God, or could the Diuell,
giue him that vnmeafurable allowance of witt, and . j
Arte, that he extreamely / affedteth, and infinitely ''
wanteth, there were no encounter, but of admira-
tion, and honour. But it may very-well befeeme
me to conceale defed;es : and I were beft to let
him runne out his iolly race, and to attende hys
pleafure at all afTayes, for feare hee degrade mee,
or call mee a Letter-monger. Oh, would that ' tiv i
were the worft. ' Gallant Gentlemen, did you euer
fee the blades of two brandifhed fwordes in the
handes of a Fury ? See them now : and Lo how
the viftorious Duellift ftretcheth-out the armes of
his Proweffe, to runne vppon thofe poore Letters
with a maine carreere. Aut nunc^ aut nunquam : ,
now the deadly ftroke muft be ftricken : now,
now he will furely lay about him, like a lufty
throffher, and beate all to powder, that commeth
56^ PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
in the mighty fwinge of his dubble flayle. But I
know not what aftonifhing terror may bedimm my
fight : and peraduenture the one of thofe vnlawfuU
weapons is no fword, but a fhaken firebrand in the
hand of Aledto. All the worfe : and he twice Wo-
begon poore foule, that is at once afTaulted with
Fier, and Iron, the twoo vnmercifull inflirumentes
(I of Mars enraged. God fhield quiet men from the
' ' handesof fuch cruell Confuters: whofe argumentes
are fwoordes ; whofe fentences, murthering bullets ;
whofe phrafes, crofbarres; whofe tearmes no lefi!e,
then ferpentine powder ; whofe very breath, the
fier of the match: all exceedingly fearefull, faue
his footinge, which may haply giue him the flipp.
Hee'that ftandeth vppon a wheele, let him beware
he fall not. I haue heard of fome feate Strata-
gems, as fly, as the flyeft in Frontine, or Polyen :
& could tell you a pretty Tale of a flippery
grounde, that woulde make fome bodies eares
glow : but hee that reuealeth the fecrete of his
owne aduauntage, may haue fcope enough to
befhrew himfelfe. The ^Egyptian Mercury would
prouide / to plant his foote vpon a fquare ; and
his Image in Athens was quadrangular, whatfoeuer
was the figure of his hatt : and although he were
fometime a Ball of Fortune, (who can afTure him-
felfe of Fortune?) yet was he neuer a wheele of
folly, or an eele of Ely. The glibbeft tunge muft
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 57
confult with his witt ; & the roundeft head with
his feete: or peraduenture hee will not greatly
thanke his tickle deuife. The Wheelewright may
bee as honeft a man, as the Cutler : the Drawer, as
the Cutter : the Deuifer, as the Printer : the worft
of the fix, as the Autor : but fome tooles are falfe
Prophets ; and fome fhoppes fuller of fophiftry,
then Ariftotles Elenches, and if neuer any witty
deuifer did futtelly vndermine himfelfe, good
enough. I can tell you, the Wheele was an
auncient Hieroglyphique of the moft-conning
Egyptians; & figured none of their higheft
myft:eries of triumph, or glory. But when againe
I lift-vp mine eyes, and behold the glorious pidure
of that moft-threatning Slaffiier : is it pofilble, fo
couragious a Confuter, fiiould bee lefl'e terrible,
then the Bafilifke of Orus Apollo, that with his
onely hifling, killed the poore fnakes, his neigh-
bours.'* can any Letters liue, that hee will flay.^
Were not Patience, or Submifiion, or any courfe
better, then farther difcourfe.? what fonder bufi-
nefl'e, then to troble the Printe with Pamphlets,
that cannot poflibly liue, whiles the Bafilifke
hifl'eth death? Was I woont to iefl: at Elder-
tons ballatinge ; Gafcoignes fonnettinge ; Greenes
pamphletting ; Martins libelling : Hollinfheads
engrofing; fome-bodies abridging ; and whatchi-
caltes tranflating : & fhall I now become a fcribling
H. II. 8
58 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Creature with fragmentes of fhame, that might
long fithence haue beene a frefh writer with dis-
courfes of applaufe? The very whole matter,
what but a thinge of nothinge? the Methode,
what but a hotchpot / for a gallimafry ? by the one,
or other, what hope of publike vfe, or priuate
credite? Socrates minde could as lightly digeft
poifon, as Mithridates boddy : and how eafely
haue the greateft ftomackes of all ages, or rather
the valianteft courages of the worlde, concoded the
harfheft, and rankeft iniuries? Politique Philip,
vidorious Alexander, inuincible Scipio, triumphant
Casfar, happy Auguftus, magnificent Titus, and the
flower of the nobleft mindes, that Immortality
honoureth, with a fweete facility gaue many bitter
reprehenfions the flip, and finely ridd their handes
of roughefl; obloquies. Philofophy profefleth more :
and the Philofopher of Emperours, or rather the
Emperour of Philofophers, Marcus Antoninus,
when hee deferued befl:, could with a felicity heare
the woorfl:. Cherrifli an inward contentment in
thy felfe, my minde : and outward occurrences,
, whome they will not make, fliall not marre. It
I is as great a prayfe, to be difcommended of the
diflioneft, as to be commended of the vertuous :
fay, affirme, confirme, approoue, iuftify what you
can, the Captaine-fcolde hath vowed the lafl: word :
none fo bolde to aduenture any thinge, as he that
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 59
hath no good thinge to loofe : let him forge, or
coyne, who will beleeue him ? Lay-open his
vanity, or foolery, who knoweth it not ? yet who
fo eager to defende, or ofFende, with tooth, or
nayle, by hooke or crooke ? The Arte of figges,
hadd euer a dapper witt, a deft conceite, a flicke
forhead, afmugg countenaunce; a ftinginge tongue;
a nippinge hande ; a bytinge penne ; and a
bottomlefTe pitt of Inuention, ftoared with neuer-
fayling fhiftcs of counterfeite cranckes : and my
betters by many degrees, haue bene faine to bee the
Godfonnes of young Apuleius. Diuers excellente
men haue prayfed the old AfTe : giue the young
AfTe leaue to praife himfelfe, / and to praAife his
minion Rhetorique vppon other. There is no
dealinge, where there is no healinge. To ftriue
with dirt, is filthy : to play with edged tooles,
daungerous: to trie mafteries with a defperate
aduerfary, hazardous : to encounter Demofthenes
Viper, or Apolloes Bafiliflce, deadly. To intende
your owne intentions with an inuiolable conftancy,'
and to leuell continually at your owne determined
fcope, without refpede of extrauagant endes, or
cumberfome interruptions : the beft courfe of
proceeding, and onely firme, cheerefull, gallant
and happy refolution. Euery by-way, that ftrayeth
or gaddeth from that dired Path, a wandring
errour : and a perillous or threatninge by-way, a
!, Vu 'li^, I k W-.f'^f
u U'-u
6o PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
y X / forreft of wilde beaftes. Handle, touch not the
^, / ; ranckeling byle ; and throw away the launcing
inftrument.
I could conceiue no lefle, then thus, and thus,
when I beganne firft to furuiew that brauing
Emprefe : and euer me thought, Aut nunc, aut
nunquam, feemed to prognofticate greate tempeftes
at hande, and euen fuch valorous workes of
Supererogation, as would make an employed man
of Florence, or Venice, to breake day with any
other important bufinefle of ftate, or traffique. I
went on, & on, ftill, and ftill loking for thofe
prefaged woondermentes : & thought it Platoes
great yeare, till I hadd runne-thorough the armed
pikes, and felte the whole dinte of the two
vengeable vnlawfull weapons. But I beleeue,
neuer poore man found his Imagination fo hugely
mocked, as this cofuting lugler coofened my
, / expedation without meafure : as if his whole
drift had bene nothinge elfe, but with a pleafurable
Comedy, or a mad Stratagem, (like thofe of
Bacchus, and Pan) queintelye deuifed to defeate
the opinion of his credulous reader, and to furprife
fimple minds with a moft vnlikely / euent. A fine
peece of conueiance in fome pageantes : and a
braue defeigne in fitt place. Arte knoweth the
pageants : and pollicy the place. In erneft, I
expedted nether an Oratour of the Stewes : nor a
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 6i
Poet of Bedlam : nor a knight of the alehowfe :
nor a quean of the Cuckingftole : nor a broker of
baggage ituffe : nor a pedler of ftraunge newes:
nor anye bafe trumperye, or meane matters, when ^
Pierce fhould racke his witt, and Penniles ftretch- ^ ^
out his courage, to the vttermoft extent of his
poflibility. But without more circumlocution,
pryde hath a fall : and as of a A Catt, fo of
Pierce himfelfe, howfoeuer infpired, or enraged,
you can haue but his fkinne, puffed vp with winde,
and bumbafted with vanitye. Euen when he
ftryueth for life, to fhewe himfelfe braueft in the
flaunt-aflaunt of his courage ; and when a man
would verily beleeue he fhould nowe behold the
(lately perfonage of heroicall Eloquence face to
face ; or fee fuch an vnfeene Frame of the
miracles of Arte, as might amaze the heauenly eye
of Aflronomy : holla fir, the fweete Spheres are
not too prodigall of their foueraine influences. ' r
Pardon mee S. Fame. What the firfl pang of his
diuine Furie, but notable Vanitie : what the fecond
fitte, but woorthy vanity } what the thirde career,
but egregious vanity ? what the glory of his
ruffian Rhetorique, and curtifan Philofophy, butj
excellent villany ? That, that is Pierces Superero- .
gation : and were Penniles a perfon of any reckon-
ing, as he is a man of notorious fame, that, that
perhaps, in regard of the outragious fingularity.
62 PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION.
might be fuppofed aTragicall, orHeroicall villany,
if euer any villany were fb intituled. The prefent
confideration of which fingularity, occafioneth me
to bethinke me of One, that this other day very
foberlie commended fome extraordinary giftes in
Nafhe : and when he / had grauelie maintayned,
that in the refoiution of his confcience, he was
fuch a fellowe, as fome wayes had few fellowes;
at laft concluded fomewhat more roundly.
Well^ my maijiers, you may talke your plea/ures
of Tom Na/h ; who yet Jleepeth Jecure^ not without
preiudice tojome, that might be more ielous of their
name : but ajfure your Jelues^ if M. Penniles had
not bene deepely plunged in a profound extafte of
knauery^ M. Pierce had neuer written that famous
worke of Supererogation^ that now flayneth all the
bookes in Paules-churchyard, and Jetteth both the
vniuerfities to fchoole. Till I fee your finefi humanitie
bejlow fuch a liberall exhibition of conceit^ and
courage^ vpon your neateji wittes ; pardon me though
I prefer one fmart Pamflet of knauery^ before ten
blundring volumes of the nine Mujes. Dreaming^
and fmoke amount alike : Life is a gaming^ a
iuglingj a Jcoulding^ a lawing^ a Jkirmifhing, a
warre ; a Comedie^ a Tragedy : the fiurring witt^ a
quintejfence of quickftluer ; and there is noe dead
flefhe in affe^ion^ or courage. You may difcourje of
Hermes ajcending Jpirit ; of Orpheus enc hating
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 63 J^
harpe ; of Homers diuine furie ; of 'Tyrtaus enrag-
ing trumpet ; of Pericles bounftnge thunderclaps ; of
Platos enthuftaflicall rauijhment ; and I wott not
what maruelous egges in moonefhine : but a flye for
all your flying f peculations^ when one good fellow
with his odd iefleSy or one madd knaue with his
awke hibber-gibber^ is able to putt downe twentye of
your fmuggefl artificiall men^ that fimper it fo nicely y
and coy lie in their curious point es. Try, whe you
meane to be difgraced : i^ neuer giue me credit y if
Sanguine witt putt not Melancholy Arte to bedd. 1
had almoft faidy all the figures of Rhetor ique muft
abate me an ace of Pierces Supererogation : and
Penniles hath a certayne nimble and climbinge reach
of Inuentiony as good as a long poky and a hookCy that
neuer fay let h at a pinch. It were vnnaturally as
the Jweete Emperoury Marcus Antoninus faidy that
the fig-tree fhould euer want iuice. / Tou that
purpofe with great Jummes of ftuddyy ^ candles to
pur chafe the worjhipfull names of DunfeSy ^
Dodipoles, may clojely fitty or fokingly ly at your
bookes : but you that intende to be fine companionable
gentlemeny fmirkinge witteSy and whipflers in the
worldy betake yee timely to the liuely pra£fis of the
minion prof efftony and enure your Mercuri all fingers
to frame femblable workes of Supererogation. Certes
other rules are fopperies : and they that will Jeeke
cut the Archmiftery of the bufieft ModernifteSy fhall
64 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Jind it nether more, nor lejjej then a certayne prag-
maticall Jecret^ called Villany, the verie Jcience of
Jciences, and the Familiar Spirit of Pierces Superero-
gation. Coofen not your felues with the gay-nothings
of children, ^ Jchollers : no priuitie of learning, or
infpiration of witt, or reuelation of mijleryes, or
Arte Notary, counter uayle able with Pierces Superero-
gation : which hauing none of them, hath them all,
and can make them all A[fes at his pleafure. The
Book-woorme was neuer but a pick-gooje : it is the
Multiplying f-pir it, not of the Alchimifi, but of the
villanifl, that knocketh the naile one the head, and
Jpurreth cutt farther in a day, then the quickeft
Artifi in a weeke. Whiles other are reading.^
wryting, conferring, arguing, dijcourfing, experimet-
ing, platforminge, mufing, buzzing, or I know not
what : that is the Jpirrit, that with a woondrous
dexterity fhapeth exquijite workes, and atchieueth
puijfant exploites of Supererogation. O my good
f rends, as ye loue the fweete world, or tender your
deare felues, be not vnmindfull what is good for the
aduauncemente of your commendable partes. All is
nothing without aduancement . Though my experilce
be a Cipher in thefe caufes, yet hauing fiudioufly
perufed the newe Arte-notory, that is, the forefaid
fupererogation ; and hauing fhaken Jo many learned
ajfes by the eares, as it were by the hands : I could
Jay no lejfe, and might think more.
V^,4'^^ ^ 1'
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 65
Something elfe was vttered the fame time
by the fame Gentleman, afwell concerning the
prefent ftate of France, which / he termed the
moft vnchriftian kingdome of the moft chriftian
kinge ; as touching certaine other newes of I
wott not what dependence : but my minde was
running on my halfpeny, and my head fo full of
the forefaid round difcourfe, that my hand was
neuer quyet, vntill I had altered the tytle of this
Pamphlet, and newlie chriftened it Pierces Super-
erogation : afwell in remembrance of the faid dis-
courfe, as in honour of the appropriate vertues of
Pierce himfelfe ; who aboue all the writers that
euer I knew, fhall go for my money, where the
curranteft forgery, impudency, arrogancy, phan-
tafticalitie, vanity ; and great ftore of little
difcretion may go for payment ; and the filthieft
corruption of abhominable villany palTe vnlaunced.
His other miraculous perfections are ftill in abey-
ance : and his monftrous excellencyes in the
predicament of Chimera. The birde of Arabia
is longe in hatchinge : and mightye workes of
Supererogation are not plotted, & accompliflied
attonce. It is pittie for fo hyperbolicall a conceite
ouer-hawty for the furmounting rage of Taflb
in his furious agony, fhould be humbled with fo
diminitiue a witt ; bafe enough for Elderton, and
the riffe-raffe of the fcribling rafcality. I haue
H. II. 9
\Ai
66 PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION.
heard of many difparagementes in felowfhip :
but neuer fa we fo great Impudency married to
fo little witt ; or fo huge prefumption allyed to
fo petty performance. I muft not paint, though
r '■ i^ hee dawbe. Pontan decipher thy vauntinge
'^ ' .[ir<Jjj^ Alopantius Aufimarchides anew: and Terence
^ difplay thy boaftinge Thrafo anew : and Plautus
addreffe thy vaine-glorious Pyrgopolinices anew :
heere is a bratt of Arrogancy, a gofling of the
Printing-houfe, that can teach your braggardes to
play their partes in the Printe of woonder, & to
exploit redowtable workes of Supererogation ;
fuch as neuer were atchieued in Latin, or /
Greeke. Which deferue to bee looked-for with
fuch a longing expectation, as the lewes looke
for their kingly MefTias : or as I looke for
Agrippas dreadfull Pyromachy : for Cardans
multiplied matter, that fhall delude the force of
the Canon : for Acontius perfed Arte of forti-
fieng little townes againft the greateft Battery :
for the Iliades of all Courtly Stratagems, that
Antony Riccobonus magnifically promifeth : for
his vniuerfall Repertory of all Pliftories, con-
tayning the memorable a6tes of all ages, all
places, and all perfons : for the new Calepine of
all learned, and vulgar languages, written, or
fpoken, whereof a loud rumour was lately pub-
lifhed at BafiU : for a generall Pandedes of the
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 67
Lawes, and ftatutes of all nations, and common-
wealthes in the worlde, largely promifed by
Dodtor Peter Gregorius, but compendioufly
perfourmed in his Syntagma luris vniuerft : for
fundry fuch famous volumes of hugy miracles in
the cloudes. Do not fuch Arch-woondermentes
of Supernaturall furniture, deferue arch-expeda-
tion ? What fhould the Sonnes of Arte, dreame
of the Philofophers Stone, that like Midas, turneth
into golde, whatfoeuer it toucheth : or of the
foueraine, and diuine Quinteflence, that like Efcu-
lapius reftoreth health to fickneffe ; like Medea,
youth to Olde-age ; like Apollonius, life to death?
No Philofophers Stone, or foueraine Quinteflence,
howfoeuer precioufly precious, equiualent to fuch , » ,6 H
diuine woorkes of fupererogation. O high-minded
Pierce, hadd the traine of your woordes, and
fentences bene aunfwearable to the retinue of
your bragges, and threates, or the robes of your
apparaunce in perfon, futeable to the weedes of
your oflentation in tearmes : I would furely haue
beene the firft, that fliould haue proclaimed you,
the mofli-finguler Secretary of this language,
and / the heauenlieft creature vnder the Spheres.
Sweete M. Afcham, that was a flowing fpring
of humanity, and worthy Sir Phillip Sidney, that
was a florifliing fpring of nobility, muft haue
pardoned me : I would diredly haue difcharged
68 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
my confcience. But you muft giue plaine men
leaue to vtter their opinion without courtinge : I
honor high heads, that ftand vpon low feet ; &
haue no great afFedion to the gay fellowes, that
build vp with their clabring hartes, and pull downe
with their vntoward hands. Giue me the man
that is meeke in fpirit, lofty in zeale : fimple in f M>>
prefumption, gallant in endeuour : poore in pro-
feflion, riche in performance. Some fuch I knowe,
and all fuch I value highly. They glory not of [ b< Li,
the golden Stone, or the youthfull QuintefTence : | 'A
but Induftrie is their goulden Stone ; A6tion their
youthfull QuintefTence ; and Valour their diuine ;
worke of Supererogation. Euerye one may
thinke as he lifteth ; & fpeake as he findeth
occafion : but in my fancy, they are fimply the
fimpleft fellows of al other, that boaft they will
exploite miracles, & come fhort in ordinarie
reckonings. Great matters are no woonders,
when they are menaced, or promifed with big
othes : and fmall thinges are maruels, when they
are not expedled, or fufpe6ted. I wondred to
heare, that Kelly had gotten the Golden Fliece,
and by vertue thereof was fodenly aduaunced
into fo honorable reputation with the Emperours
maieftye ; but would haue woondred more, to haue
feene a woorke of Supererogation from Nafhe :
whofe witt muft not enter the liftes of comparifon
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 69
with Kelleyes Alchimy : howfoeuer he would
feeme to haue the Greene Lion, and the Flying
Eagle in a boxe. But Kelley will bidd him looke
to the fwolne Toade, & the daunfing Foole.
Kelly knoweth his Lutum Sapient i^y and vfeth
his termes of Arte. Silence / is a great mifterye :
and lowde wordes but a Coweherds home. He
that breedeth mountaynes of hope, and with
much adoe begetteth a molehill (fhall I tell
him a newe tale in ould Inglifhe?) beginneth
like a mightie Oxe, & endeth like a fory
AflTe. To atchieue it without oftentation is a '
notable prayfe : but to vaunt it without atcheue- \
ment, or to threaten it without efFede ; is but a
dubble-proofe of a fimple witt. Execution fheweth
the hability of the man : prefumption bewraieth
the vanitie of the mind. The Sunne fayth not ;
I will thus, and thus difplaye my glorious beames,
but fhineth indeede : the fpringe braggeth not of
gallant flowers, but floriflieth indeede: the Harueft
boafteth not of plentifuU fruit, but fruAifieth in-
deede. -^fops fellowes being aflced, what they
could doe, anfwered they could doe any thing ;
but iEfope making a fmall fhowe, could doe much
indeede : the Greeke Sophifters knowing nothinge
in comparifon, (knowledge is a dry water) pro-
feffed a ikill in all thinges ; but Socrates knowing
in a manner all things, (Socrates was a fpringing
a--
70 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
rocke) profefled a fkill in nothinge : Lullius, and
his fe6taryes, haue the fignet of Hermes, and the
admirable Arte of difputinge infinitly de omni
fcibili ; but Agrippa, one of the vniuerfalleft
fchollars, that Europe hath yeelded, and fuch a
one, as fome learned men of Germany, France, &
Italie, intituled The Omnifcious Dodour, Socrati-
callie declameth againft the vanitye of fciences, and
for my comforte penneth the Apology of the
AfTe. Neuer any of thefe prating vagabundes
had the vertuous Elixir, or other important fecret :
(yet who fuch monarches for Phifique, Chirurgery,
Spagirique, Aftrology, Palmaftry, naturall & fuper-
naturall Magique, Necromancy, Familiar-fpiritfhipp,
and all profound cunninge, as fome of thefe arrant
Impoftours ?) / hee is a Pythagorean, and a clofe
fellow of his tongue, & pen, that hath the right
magifierium indeede ; and can difpatch with the
finger of Art, that they promis with the mouth
of cofenage. They that vaunt, do it not ; & they f Aj!>,
that pretend leaft, accomplifh moft. High-fpirited
Pierce doe it indeede, that thou crakeft in vaine ;
and I will honour thy worke, that fcorne thy
worde. When there was no neede, thy breath
was the mouth of i^tna ; & like a Cyclops,
thou didft forge thunder in Mongibello : now the
warringe Planet was expedted in perfon, and the
Fiery Trigon feemed to giue the Alarme ; thcu
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 71
talkeft of Cittes meat^ and Dogges meate enough :
and wilt try it out by the teeth at the figne of
the Dogs-head in the pot. Oh, what a chatering
Monky is here : & oh what a dog-fly, is the dog-
ilarr proued ? Elderton would haue anfwered this
geere out-of-cry : or had I the witt of Scoggin, I
could fay fome thing to it : but I looked for Cattes
meate in aqua fortis^ & Dogs meat in Gunpowder ;
& can no flcill of thefe termes, fteeped in thy
mothers gutter, & thy fathers kennel. Na, if
you will needes ftriks it as dead as a dore naile ;
and run vpon me with the blade of Cattes meate,
& the fierbrond of Dogges meate : I haue doone.
Or in cafe your meaning be, as you ftoutely pro-
teft, to trounce me after twenty in the hundred, and
to haue about with me, with two fiaues, and a pyke,
like a tall fellowe of Cracouia: there is no dealing
for fhort weapons. Young Martin was an ould
hackfter: & had you plaid your maifters prizes
in his time, he peraduenture durfte haue looked
thofe two ftaues in the face, and would haue
defired that pike of fome more acquaintance : but
Truce keepe me out of his handes, that fighteth
furioufly with two ftaues of Cattes meate and a
pyke of Dogges meate : and is refolutely bente,
the be ft blood / of the brothers ftiall pledge him
in vineger. Happy, it is noe worfe, then vineger;
a good fawce for Cattes meate, and Dogges meate.
^2 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Gentlemen, you that thinke prommifTe a bonde,
and vfe to performe more, then you threaten ;
neuer beleeue Braggadocio againe for his fake.
When he hath done his beft, and his worft :
,, truft me, or credit your owne eies, his beft Beft
/j^ \ ^ is but Cattes meate, & his worft Worft but
Doggs meate enough. What ftiould I goe circuit-
ing about the buftie ? He taketh the ftiorteft
cutt to the wood, and difpatcheth all controuerfies
in a fewe fignificant termes : not thofe of Gun-
powder, which would afke fome charging, and
difcharging : but thefe of dogges-meat, which are
vp with a vomit. He that is not fo little, as the
third Cato from heauen, or the eight wifeman vpon
earth, may fpeake with authority ; and chriften me
a Dunje^ a foole^ an ideoty a dolty a goqfe-cappe, an
affe^ and I wot not what, as filthy, as filthy may
be. Dogged Impudecy hath his proper Idiotifme ;
& very darkly fchooleth the eares of Modeftie, to
fpell, Fa-fe-fi-fo-fu. Simple wittes would be dealt
playnly withall : I ftand not vpon coye or nice
poyntes ; but am one of thofe, that would gladlie
learne their owne imperfedlions, errours, and follies,
in JpecialliJJima Jpecie : Be it knowne vnto all
men by thefe prefentes, that Thomas Naftie, from
the top of his witte looking downe vpon fimple
creatures, calleth Gahriell Haruey a Dunfe, a foole,
an ideot, a dolt, a goofe-capp, an afle, and foe
3
^v u^
i\,\/
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 73
fourth : (for fome of the refidue, is not to be '^
fpoken but with his owne manerly mouth) : but
the wife man in printe, fhould haue doone well
in his learned Confutation, to haue fhewed parti-
culerlie, which woords in my Letters, were the
wordes of a Dunfe : which Sentences, the fentences
of a foole : which Arguments, the arguments of/
an Ideot : which Opinions, the opinions of a dolt :
which Judgements, the iudgements of a goofe-cap :
which Conclufions, the conclufions of an Affe.
Eyther this wold be dun, (for I fuppofe, he would
be loth to proue fome AiTes, that in fauour haue
written otherwife, and in reafon are to verify their
owne teftimonies) : qr he muft be fayne himfelfe,
to eate his owne Cattes-meate, & Dogges-meat :
and fwallow-downe a Dunfe, a foole, an ideot, a
dolt, a goofe-cap, an afle in his owne throate ; the
proper cafe of his filthieft excrements, and the
finke of the famous rafcal ; that had rather be a
Poulcatt with a (linking ftur, then a mufk-cat
with gratious fauor. Pardon me gentle Ciuilitie :
if I did not tender you, & difclame impudency, I
could do him fome peecc of right ; & fhew him
his well fauored face in a Criftall, as true as
Gafcoignes fteele-glas. But truft him not for a ;^y
dodkin (it is his owne requeft) // euer I did my V-
Do£iors ASies : which a thowfand heard in Oxforde; %
and fome knew to be done with as little premedita-
H. II. 10
a
,»^^
74 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
tion, as euer fuch ades were done : (for I anfwered
'^ vpon the queftions, that were giuen me by Dodor
Cathedrae, but two dayes before ; and read my
Curfory Ledture with a dayes warning :) or if I be
not A Fawne-gueft MeJJenger betweene M. Chris-
topher Bird, in whofe company, I neuer dined,
or fupped thefe fix yeares, and M. Emmanuell
'Demetrius, with whom I neuer dranke to this day.
Other matters, touching her HighneJJe affahilite
toward Schollers, (fo her Maiefties fauour towards
mee muft bee interpreted :) the Priuy watch-word
of honourable men in their Letters Commendatory,
euen in the higheft degree of prayfing, (fo our high
Chauncellours commendation muft bee quallified :)
Nafhes graue Cenfure of Publicke Inue^iues, and
Satyres, (fo Harueyes flight opinion of contentious,
and feditious Libels muft / be crofl^itten :) his
teftimony of Ciceroes conjolation ad Dolabellam,
which he will needes father vpon me in re-
proch, though his betters will neuer pen fuch a
peec of Latin, whofoeuer wer the Stepp-Tully :)
his derifion of the moft profitable, and valorous
Mathematical Arts, (whofe induftrie hath atcheeued
woonders of mightier puifi^ance, then the labours of
Hercules :) his contempt of the worthiefi perfons
in euery faculty, (which he alwayes cenfureth as
his punyes, and vnderlinges :) his palpable Atheijme,
and drinkinge a cupp of Lammejwool to the Lambe
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 75
of God : his gibinge at Heauen^ (the hauen, where '
my deceafed brother is arriued,) with a deepe cut j /
out-of his Gramer rules ; AJlra petit difertus : the
very ftarres, are fcarres, where he lifteth : and a
hundred fuch, and fuch Particularities ; that re-
quier fum larger Difcourfe; fhew him to be a
youngman of the greeneft fpringe, as beardles in
iudgement, as in face ; and as Penniles in witt, as
in purfe. It is the leaft of his famous aduentures, '
that hee vndertaketh to be Greenes aduocate : as i? t.jWArJ-
diuine Plato afTayed to defend Socrates at the
Bar : and I knowe not whether it be the leaft of
his dowtye exploites, that he falueth his frendes
credit, as that excellent difciple faued his maifters
life. He may declare his deere affedtion to his
Paramour : or his pure honeftye to the world ; or
his conftant zeale to play the Diuels Oratour : but
noe Apology of Greene, like Greenes grotes-worth
of witt : and when Nafh will indeede accomplifh
a worke of Supererogation, let him publifh, Nafties
Penniworth of Difcretion. If he be learneder, or
wifer then other, in fo large an afTife, as (hould
appeare by the reporte of his owne mouth ; it is
the better for him : but it were not amifle, he
fliould fumtime looke-backe to the budget of
Ignorance, and Folly, that hangeth behind him ;
as otherwhiles he condefcendeth to glaunce / at the
fatchell of his grammar bookes. Calumny & her
76
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
1'^ u
/aAvi.'^^
C', rsfM(XM
w >
coofen-german Impudency, wil not alwaies hould-
out rubbers : and they neede not greatlie bragge
of their harueft, that make Phantafie the roote,
Vanity the ftalke, Follye the eare, Penury the cropp,
and Shame the whole fubftance of their ftuddies.
To be ouer-bould with one, or two, is fomething :
to be fawcy with many, is much : to fpare fewe,
or none, is odious : to be impudent with all, is
I intollerable. There were fayre playe enough,
though foule play were debarred : but Boyes,
fooles, and knaues, take all in fnuffe, when the
variance might be debated in the language of
Curtefie : and nothing but horfeplay will ferue,
where the colt is difpofed to play the iade. Did I
lift to perfecute him in his owne vaine, or were
I not reftrained with refpedtiue termes of diuine,
and ciuill moderation : 6 Aretin, how pleafurably
might I canuas the bawling cur, in a toffing ftieete
of paper : or 6 Gryfon, who could more eafilie
difcouer a new Arte of riding a headftrong beafte ?
But that which Nafhe accounteth the brauery of
his witt, and the dubble creaft of his ftyle, I am in
difcretion to cut-of : and in modefty yeeld it his
onely glorye, to haue the fowleft mouth, that I
euer fawe, and the ftrongeft breath, that I euer
fealt. When witty girding faileth, as it pitifully
fayleth in euery page of that Superarrogatory
worke : Lord, what odious baggage, what rafcal
^-nd^i
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. ;;
ftufFe, what villanous trumpery filleth-vpp the
leafe : and howe egregioufly would he playe the
vengeable Sycophant, if the conueiance of his Arte,
or witt, were in anye meafure of proportion,
correfpondent to his peftilent ftomacke ? But in
the felleft fitt of his Furye, euen when he runneth
vpon me with opened mouth, & his Spite hke a
poyfonous toade, fwelleth in the full : as if fome
huge timpany / of witt would prefentlye pofTefTe
his braine ; or fome horrible Fiery Spright would
flye in my face, and blaft me to nothing : then
good Dick Tarleton is dead, & nothing aliue but
Cattes-meat, & Dogges-meat enough. Na, were 1 '/X'- '-l^
it not, that hee hadd dealt polltiquely, in prouiding '
himfelfe an autenticall fuerty, or rather a mighty
prote(5lour at a pinch, fuch a deuoted freend, and
infeparable companion, as ^neas was to Achates,
Pylades to Oreftes, Diomedes to VlyfTes, Achilles
to Patroclus, and Hercules to Thefeus : doubtlefle
he had beene vtterly vndone. Compare old, and
new hiftories, of farr, & neere countries: and you
fhall finde the late manner of Sworne Brothers^ to
be no new fafhion, but an auncient guife, and
heroicall order ; deuifed for neceffity, continued
for fecurity, and mainetayned for proffite, and
pleafure. In braueft adtions, in weightieft nego-
tiations, in hardeft diftrefTes, in how many cafes.
One man, no-boddy ; and a dayly frend, as neces-
78 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
fary, as our dayly bread. No treafure, more pre-
cious : no bonde, more indefefible : no caftle, more
impregnable : no force, more inuincible : no trueth,
more infallible : no element, more needefull ; then
an entire, & afTured aflbciate ; euer preft, afwell in
calamity to comfort, or in aduerfity to relieue, as
in profperity to congratulate, or in aduauncemente
to honour. Life is fweet, but not without fweete
focietie : & an inward affedlionate frend, (as it
were an other 'The fame, or a Jecond Selfe^ the
very life of life, and the fweet-harte of the hart.
Nafhe is learned, & knoweth his Leripup. Where
was Euryalus, there was Nifus: where Damon,
there Pythias : where Scipio, there Laelius : where
Apollonius, there Damides : where Proclus, there
Archiadas: where Pyrocles, there Mufidorus:
where Nafhe, there his Nifus, his Pythias, his
Laelius, his Dami/des, his Archiadas, his Mufi-
dorus ; his indiuifible companion, with whofe
puifTant helpe hee conquereth, wherefoeuer he
raungeth. Na, Homer not fuch an author for
Alexander : nor Xenophon for Scipio : nor Virgil
for Auguftus : nor luftin for Marcus Aurelius :
nor Liuy for Theodofius Magnus : nor Casfar for
Selymus : nor Philip de Comines for Charles the
fift: nor Macchiauell for fome late princes: nor
Aretin for fome late Curtefans ; as his Authour
for him ; the fole authour of renowned vidlorie.
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 79
Maruel not, that Erafmus hath penned the En-
comium of Folly ; or that fo many fingular learned
men haue laboured the commendation of the AfTe :
he it is, that is the godfather of writers, the fuper-
intendent of the prefTe, the mufter-maifter of in-
numerable bands, the Generall of the great feilde :
hee, and Nafhe will confute the world. And wher
is the iEgles quill, that can fufficiently aduance the
firfl: fpoiles of their new conqueftes ? Whift fory
pen, and be aduifed how thou prefume aboue the
higheft pitch of thy poflibility. Hee that hath
chriftened fo many notable authours ; cenfured fo
many eloquent pennes ; enrowled fo many worthy
garrifones ; & encamped fo many noble, and reue-
rend Lordes, may be bould with me. If I be an
AfTe, I haue company enough : and if I be no
AfTe, I haue fauour to be enftalled in fuch com-
panye. The name will fhortly grow in requeft, as
it fomtime floriftied in glorious Roome : and who
then will not fue, to be free of that honorable
Company? Whiles they are ridden, I defire not
to be fpared : when the hott-fpurr is aweary with
tyring them, he wil fcarfly troble himfelf with a
fkin. Or if he do, I may chance acquaint him
with a fecret indiftillation ; He that drinketh Oyle
of prickes, fhall haue much adooe to voide fyrup
of rofes; and he that eateth nettles for pro-
uander, / hath a priuiledge to pifle vpon Lilly es
^y
8o PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
for litter. Poules wharfe honour the memorye
of oulde lohn Hefter, that would not fticke with
his frende for twentye fuch experimentes ; & would
often tell me of A Magifiral Vnguent for all fores.
Who knoweth not that Magiftrall vnguent, knoweth
nothing: and who hath that magiftral vnguent,
Ifeareth no gunfhott. The Confuter meant to be
{famous, like Poggius, that altobe-afTed Valla,
'1^ ,^l 7) ; Trapezuntius, and their defendantes, many learned
! Italians : or might haue giuen a gelTe at fome
poflible afterclaps, as good as a prognoftication
of an after-winter. Though Pierce Penniles, for
a fpurt were a ranke rider, and like an arrant
knight ouerran nations with a carreer ; yet Thomas
Nafhe might haue beene aduifed, and in pollicy
haue fpared them, that in compaiTion fauoured /, V j
him ; and were vnfaynedlye fory, to finde his ' '
miferable eftate, afwell in his ftyle, as in his
purfe, and in his wit, as in his fortune. Some
complexions haue much adooe to alter their
nature : & Nafhe wil carrie a tache of Pierce
to his graue, (we haue worfe prouerbes in eng-
lifhe:) yet who feeith not, what apparent good,
my Letters haue done him, that before ouer-
crowed all commers, and goers with like difcre-
tion, but nowe forfooth hath learned fome fewe
handfome termes of refpedle, and verye manerly
beclaweth a fewe, that he might the more
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 8i ,
licentioufly befmeere one. S. Fame giue him
ioye of his blacke, and his white chalke.
Who is not limed with Tome default ; or who
reddier to confefle his own imperfections, then
mifelfe ? but when in profefied hatred, like a
mortal feudift, he hath vttered his very vttermoft
fpite, & wholy difgorged his racorous ftomacke :
yet can he not, fo much as deuife any particular
adtion of trefpas, or obie6l any certaine vice againft
me, but onely / one greuous crime, called Pumps,
& Patofles, (which indeede I haue worne, euer
fince I knewe Cambridge,) & his owne deereft
hart-root, Pride : which I proteft before God, and
man, my foule in indgment as much detefteth, as
my body in nature lotheth poyfon ; or anything
abhorreth his deadlye enemy, euen amongft thofe J(j u^^ ')'ti'^
creatures, which are found fatally contrary by
naturall Antipathy. It is not excefle, but defedle
of pride, that hath broken the head of fbme mens
preferment. Afpiring mindes can fbare aloft : and
Selfe-conceit, with the countenaunce of Audacity, /. //
the tongue of Impudency, & the hand of Dexterity,
preafeth bouldly into the forwarded throng of the
fhouldring ranke : whiles Difcretion hath leafure
to difcourfe, whether fomedeale of Modefty were
meeter for manye, that prefume aboue their con-
dition ; and fome deale of Selfe-liking fitter for
fome, that haue fealt no greater want, then want
H. II. II
82 TIERCES SUPEREROGATION. ^
of Pride. It may feeme a rude difpofition, that AA/i/ ^ A^, t
rf./i'H"''^'^^
forteth not with the quaUty of the age : & Pollicy
deemeth that vertue a vice, that modefty, fimplicity,
that refolutenes, difTolutenes, that conformeth not ^ v
it felfe, with a fupple & deft correfpodence to the
prefent time : but no fuch oxe in my mind, as
Tarquinius Superbus : no fuch calfe, as Spurius 5
Maslius : no fuch colt, as Publius Clodius ; no
fuch Ape, as Lucians Rhetorician, or the Diuels /J||//?A'^^i^
Oratour. BHnd ambition, a noble bayarde : proud
arrogancy, a goulden AfTe : vaine conceit, a gaudy
Peacocke : all brauery, that is not efFeduall, a gay
nothing. He vpbraideth me with his own good
nature : but where fuch an infolent braggard, or
fuch a puffing thing, as himfelfe ? that in magnify-
ing his owne bable, & debafing me, reuileth them,
whofe bookes, or pantofles he is not worthy to
beare. If I be an AfTe, what affes were thofe
curteous frendes, thofe excellent learned men,/
thofe worfhipfull, & honorable perfonages, whofe
Letters of vndeferued, but fingular comendation ' / ^
may be fhewen? What an affe was thifelfe, whe ^ ■"' ^1*^^''
thou didft publifh my praife amongfl the notablefl
writers of this realme ? or what an AfTe art thifelf,
that in the fpitefullefl outrage of thy maddefl
Confutatio, dofl: otherwhiles enterlace fome remem-
brances of more account, then I can acknow-
ledge without vanity, or deiier without ambition .?
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION', 83
The truth is, I ftande as little vpon others
commendation, or mine owne titles, as any man
in England whofoeuer ; if there be nothing els to
folicite my caufe : but being fo fhamefully and
intollerably prouoked in the moft villanous termes . .^
of reproch, I were indeede a notorious infenfate /'''■'*^
afle, in cafe I fhould eyther fottifhly negled: the
reputation of foe worthy fauorers, or vtterly abando
mine owne credit. Sweet Gentlemen, renowned
knightes, and honorable Lordes, be not afhamed
of your Letters, vnprinted, or written : if I liue,
feeing I muft eyther liue in tenebris with obloquy,
or in luce with proofe ; by the leaue of God, I
will prooue mifelfe no Affe. I fpeake not onely
to M. Bird, M. Spencer, or Monfieur Bodin,
whom he nothinge regardeth : (yet I would his
owne learning, or iudgmente were anye way
matchable with the worft of the three :) but
amongft a number of fundrie other learned, and
gallant Gentleme, to M. Thomas Watfon, a notable
Poet ; to M. Thomas Hatcher, a rare Antiquary ;
to M. Daniel Rogers of the Court ; to Doctor
Griffin Floyd, the Queenes profeflbur of lawe at /
Oxforde ; to DoAor Peter Baro a profeflbur of
diuinity in Cambridge ; to Dodlor Bartholmew
Clark, late Deane of the Arches ; to Dodor
William Lewen, ludge of the prerogatiue Court ;
to Dodor lohn Thomas Freigius, a famous writer
^<'V
h^<4jn
><f ^-.^
84 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
of Germany : to Sir Philip Sidney ; to / M. Secre-
tary Wilfon ; to Sir Thomas Smith ; to Sir Walter
Mildmay ; to milord the bifhop of Rochefter ; to
milord Treafurer ; to milord the Earle of Leicefter:
Vnto whofe worfhipfuU and honorable fauours I
haue bene exceedingly beholding for letters of
extraordinary commendation ; fuch, as fome of
good experience haue doubted, whether they euer
voutfafed the like vnto any of either vniuerfity. I
befeech God, I may deferue the leaft parte of their
good opinion, eyther in effedluall proofe, or in
dutifull thankefullnefTe : but how little foeuer I
prefume of mine owne fufficiency, (he that knoweth
himfelfe, hath fma] caufe to conceiue any high hope
of low meanes :) as in reafon I was not to flatter
mifelfe with their bountifull commendation : So
in iudgement I am not to agreeue mifelfe with the
odious detraftion of this peftilent libeller, or any
like defpiteous flanderer : but in patience am to
digeft the one with moderation, as in temperance
I qualified the other with modefty. Some would
fay, what is the peeuifhe grudge of one beggarly
rakehell, to fo honorable liking of fo many
excellet, & fome Angular me ? but god in heaue,
teach me to take good by my aduerfaries inuediue; i?'-Kf'^
and no harme by my fauourers approbation. It '
is neither the one, nor the other, that deferueth
euill, or well ; but the thing it felfe, that edifieth ; .
d /l(^^^
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 85
without which, praife is fmoke ; and with which,
difpraife is fyer. Let me enioy that eflential point:
& hauke, or hunt, or fifhe after praife, you that
lift. Many contumelious, and more glorious re-
ports haue pafled from Enemies, & Frends,
without caufe, or vpon fmal occafion : that is the
onely infamy, that cannot acquit it felfe from guilti-
nefte ; & that the only honor, that is grounded
vpo defert. Other winds of difFamation, want
matter to vpholde it ; and other fhadowes of glory,
lacke / a body to fupport it. In vnhappincfte they
are happy, of whofe bad amounteth good ; & in
happinefle they vnhappy, whofe good prooueth
bad : as glory eftfoones followeth them, that fly
from it, & flyeth from them, that followe it
There is a Terme Probatory, that wil not ly : and
commendations are neuer autenticall, vntill they bee
figned with the feale of approoued Defert, the
only infallible Teftimoniall. Defert, (maugre Enuy,
the companion of Vertue) Socrates high way e to
Honour ; & the totall fumme of Oforius De
Gloria. I will not enter into Macchiauels dis-
courfes, louius Elogyes, Cardas natiuities, Cofmopo-
lites Dialogues, or later Hiftories in dyuers
languages : but fome worthelye continue honorable,
whom they make difhonorable, & contrariwife.
Reafon hath an euen hande, and difpenfeth to
euerye one his right : Arte amplifieth, or extenu-
->\ i
86 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
ateth at occafion : the refidue, is the liberality of
the pen, or the poyfon of the inke : in Logique,
Sophiftrie ; in law, iniury ; in hiftorie, a fable ; in
diuinity, a lye. Horace, a fharpe, and fententious
Poet, after his pithy manner, comprizeth much in
fewe wordes :
Falfus honor iuuaty & mendax infamia terret.
Quern nift mendacem^ ^ mendojum ?
For mine owne part, I am reafonably refolute
both wayes, & ftand afFraide of phantafticall dis-
credit, as I efteeme imaginatiue credit, or a
contemplatiue banquett. It fitteth not with the
profeflion of a Philofopher, or the conftancie of a
man, to carrye the minde of a childe, or an youth,
or a woman, or a flaue, or a tyrant, or a beaft.
That refteth not in my power, to reforme, or
alter, I were very vnwife if I fhould not endure
with patience, mittigate with reafon, & contemne
with pleafure. Onely I can be content in certain
behoouefull refpe6ts, to yeeld a peece of a fatis-
fadtion vnto fome, that / requier it in affedtionate
termes : and what honeft minde, in cafe of mor-
talitie, hath not a care, how the pofterity may be
informed of him ? Other reafons I haue elfwhere
afligned : and am here to prefent a vowe to
Humilitie, in deteftatio of that, which my difpofi-
tion abhorreth.
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 87
As for his lewd fuppofals, & imputations of
counterfait prayfes, without anye probabiUty of '^
circumftance, or the leaft fufpition, but in his
owne vengeable mahtious head, the common forge
of peftilent furmyzes, and arrant flaunders ; they
are like my imprifonment in the Fleete of his
ftrong Fantafie, and doe but intimate his owne
ikill in falfifying of euidence, and fuborning ofl
witnefles to his purpofe : he mufeth, as he vfeth ; 1 Ij^^
& the goodwife her mother would neuer haue '
fought her daughter in the Oouen, if herfelfe had
not beene well acquainted with fuch fhiftes of
cunninge conueiance. He was neuer a non pro-
ficient in good matters ; and hath not ftudied his
fellowes Arte of Cunnycatching for nothinge.
Examine the Printers gentle Preamble before the |
Supplication to the Diuell : and tell me in good
footh, by the verdidle of the Tuchftone, whether
Pierce Penniles commende Pierce Penniles, or
no ; and whether that fory praife of the Authour
Thomas Nafhe, be not lothfome from the mouthe
of the Printer Thomas Nafhe. In coniedural
caufes I am not to auouch any thinge; and I
mentioned not anye fuch fuppofition before : but
the tenour of the ftyle, & as it were the identitye
of the phrafe, togither with this newe defcant of
his profound infight into forgery, may after a fort
tel tales out of the tytle De Secretis non reuelandis ;
^^\>
88 PIERCES SUPEREROGATIO^N.
& yeld a certain ftrong fauour of a vehement
prefumption. There is pregnant euidence enough,
though I leaue probable coiedbures, & violent pre-
fumptions wher I found them. His Life daily
feedeth his Stile ; and his Stile notorioufly be-
wraieth his Life. But / what is that to me, or the
world, ho we Nafhe liueth ; or ho we the poore
fellowe his father hath put him to his foifting, and
fcribling fhiftes ; his onely gloria patri, when all
is done. Rule thy defperate infamous penne ; &
bee the fbnne of a mule, or the Printers Gentle-
man, or what thou wilt for me. If thou v/ilt
needs deriue thy pettigree fr5 the noble blood of
the Kilprickes, and Childeberds, kinges of France :
what commiflion haue I to fitt vpo Genealogies,
or to call nobilitie in queftion ? If thou beift
difpofed to fpeake as thou liueft, & to Hue like
Tonofconcoleros, the famous Babilonian king : in
curtefy, or in pollicy forbeare one, that is not
ouer-hafty to troble himfelfe with trobling other.
What I haue heard credibly reported, I can yet be i}i-u~W\
cotent to fmother in filence : & nether threaten
thee with Tiburne, nor Newgate, nor Ouldgate,
nor Counter, nor Fleete, nor any publique penance ;
but wifhe thy amendment : and dare not be too-
fawcy with your good qualities, les[t] you confute
my Maifterfhip of Arte, as you haue done my
Dodlorfhip of Lawe. Neuer poore Dodtorfhip
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 89
was fo confuted. The beft is, I dote not vpon
it ; and would rather be adually degraded, then
any way difparage the degree, or derogate from
them, that are worthier of it. Reft you quiet ;
and I will not onely not ftruggle with you for
a tytle ; but offer here to renounce the whole
aduantage of a late inquifition, vpon a clamorous
denunciation of S. Fame herfelfe : who prefumed
fhe might be as bould to play the blab with you,
as you were to play the flouen with her. Or if
your pen be fo ranke, that it cannot ftande vpon
any ground, but the foile of Calumny, in the
muck-yard of Impudency : or your tongue foe
laxatiue, that it muft vtterly vtter a great horrible
deale more then all ; whuift a while : and for
your inftrudion, til fome pregnanter / lefTons come
abrode, I wil breefely tell you in your eare, A
certaine familiar hiftory, of more then one or two
breakefaftes, wherein fome eight or nine eggs, &
a pound of butter for your pore part, with Gods
plenty of other viduals, & wine enough, powred-
in by quartes, and pottels, was a fcant pittance
for an inuincible ftomack, two houres before his
ordinary. I haue readd of Apicius, and Epicures
Philofophy : but I perceaue you meane not to be
accounted a Pythagorean, or a Stoique. What?
gorge vpon gorge, egges vpon egges, & fack vpo
facke at thefe yeares ? Berlady, Sir Kilpricke, you
H. II. 12
90 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
muft prouide for a hott kitchin againfte you growe
ould ; if you purpofe to Hue Dodlor Pernes, or
Do(5tor Kenols yeares. Such egging and whitling
may happen bring you acquainted with the
triumphant chariot of rotten egges ; if you take
not the better order in tyme, with one, or two of
the feue deadly finnes. I will not offend your
ftomacke with the nice and queint regiment of
the dainty Platoniftes, or pure Pythagoreans : fine
Theurgy, too-gant and meager a do6lrine for the
Diuels Oratour : if the Arte Notory, cannot be
gotten without failing, and praying, muchgo-
ditch-them that haue it: let phantafticall, or
fuperftitious Abftinence, daunce in the aier, like
Ariftophanes clowdes, or Apuleius witches: your
owne method of thofe deadly finnes, be your
Cafliell of Health. No remedy, you muft be
dieted ; & lett-blood in the Cephalica veine of
Afles, fooles, doltes, ideots, Dunfes, dodipoules,
and fo foorth infinitly : & neuer truft me, if you
be not as tame-tonged, and barren-witted, as other
honeft men of Lumbardy, & the Low-Cuntries.
Tufhe man, I fee deeper into thee, then thou feeift
into thyfelfe: thou haft a fuperficiall tange of fome
little fomethinge, as good as nothing ; and a runing
witt, as fifking as any fifgig, but / as ihallow as
Trumpington foorde, and as flight as the newe
workemanfliip of guegawes to pleafe children, or
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 91
of toys to mocke apes, or of trinketts to conquer
fauages. Only in that fingular veine of afTes, thou
art incomparable ; and fuch an egregious arrant
foole-munger, as liueth not againe. She knew
what fhe faid, that intituled Pierce, the hoggefhead
of witt : Penniles, the tofpot of eloquence : &
Nafhe, the verye inuentor of AfTes. She it is,
that muft broach the barrell of thy frifking con-
ceite, and canonife the Patriarke of newe writers.
I will not heere decipher thy vnprinted packet
of bawdye, and filthy Rymes, in the naftieft kind :
there is a fitter place for that difcouery of thy
fouleft fhame, & the whole ruffianifme of thy
brothell Mufe, if fhe flill proflitute her obfcene
ballatts, and will needes be a young Curtifan of
ould knauery. Yet better a Confuter of Letters,
then a counfounder of manners : and better the
dogges-meate of Agrippa, or Cattes-meat of Pog-
gius, then the fwines-meate of Martial, or goates-
meate of Arretine. Cannot an Italian ribald, vomit-
out the infeftious poyfon of the world, but an
Inglifh horrel-lorrel mufl licke it vp for a reftora-
\'{y<Ai^^i ^j^jg . ^^^ attempt to putrify gentle mindes, with
^j^c*^'- the vileft impoflumes of lewde corruption.? Phy
on impure Ganimeds, Hermaphrodits, Neronifls,
MefTalinifts, Dodecomechanifls, Capricians, Inuen-
tours of newe, or reuiuers of old leacheries, and
the whole brood of venereous Libertines, that
^ (AA'
92 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION,
knowe no reafon, but appetite, no Lawe but
Lufte, no humanitie, but villanye, noe diuinity
but Atheifme. Such riotous, and inceftuous
humours would be launced, not feafted: the
Diuell is eloquent enough, to play his owne
Oratour: his Damme an old bawde, wanteth
not the broccage of a young Poet: Wanton
fprites / were alwayes bufie, & Duke Allocer on
his luftye Cocke-horfe, is a whot Familiar: the
fonnes of Adam, & the daughters of Eue, haue
noe neede of the Serpentes carowfe to fet them
agogg : Sodome ftill burneth ; and although fier
from heauen fpare Gomorra, yet Gomorra ftil
confumeth itfelfe. Euen amorous Sonnets, in the
gallantefl and fweeteft ciuill veine, are but dain-
tyes of a pleafurable witt, or iunkets of a wanton
liuer, or buddes of an idle head : whatfoeuer
fprowteth farther, would be lopped. Petrarckes
Inuention, is pure Loue it felfe ; and Petrarckes
Elocution, pure Bewty it felfe : His Laura was
the Daphne of Apollo, not the Thifbe of Pyramus :
a delitious Sappho, not a lafciuious Lais ; a fauing
Hefter, not a deftroying Helena; a nimph of
Diana, not a Curtifan of Venus. Aretines mufe
was an egregious bawd, & a haggifhe witch of
ThefTalia : but Petrarcks verfe, a fine loouer, that
learneth of Mercury, to exercife his fayreft giftes
in a faire fubiedt ; & teacjieth Wit to be inamored
^^^ >-^
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 93
vpon Beautye : as Quickfiluer embrafeth gold ;
or as vertue afFedeth honour ; or as Aftronomy
gazeth vpon heauen ; to make Arte more excellent
by contemplation of excellenteft Nature. Petrarck
was a delicate man, and with an elegant iudge-
ment gratioufly confined Loue within the limits of
Honour ; Witt within the boundes of Difcretion ;
Eloquence within the termes of Ciuility : as not
many yeares fithence, an Inglifhe Petrarck did,
a fingular Gentleman, and a fweete Poet ; whofe
verfe fingeth, as valour might fpeake ; and whofe
ditty, is an Image of the Sun, voutfafing to repre-
fent his glorious face in a clowde. What fpeake
I of one, or two Inglifh Paragons ? or what fhould
I blafon the gallant, and braue meeters of Ariofto,
and TafTo, alwayes notable, fometimes admirable?
All the nobleft Italian, French, and Spanifh Poets,
haue in their feuerall / Veines Petrarchifed, that is,
looued wittily, not grofely, liued ciuilly, not lewdly,
and written delicioufly, not wantonly. And it is
no difhonour for the daintyeft, or diuineft Mufe,
to be his fcholler, whom the amiableft Inuen-
tion, and bewtifulleft Elocution acknowledge
their mafter. All pofterity honour Petrarck,
that was the harmony of heauen ; the lyfe of
Poetry; the grace of Arte; a precious tablet of
rare conceits, & a curious frame of exquifite
workemanfhip ; / nothing but neate Witt, and re-
!>
^94 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
fined Eloquence. Were the amorous mufe of my
enemy, fuch a liuely Spring of fweeteft flowres, &
fuch a liuing Harueft of ripeft fruits ; I would
abandon other loues, to dote vpon that moft-louely
mufe, and would debafe the Dyamant in com-
parifon of that moft Dyamant mufe. But out-
vpon ranke, & lothfome ribaldry, that putrifieth, ^-y. '^"^ "
where it fhould purify, and prefumeth to deflowre
the mofte florifhinge wittes, with whom it con-
forteth, eyther in familiarity, or by fauour. One
Ouid was too-much for Roome ; and one Greene
too-much for London : but one Nafhe more intol-
lerable then both: not bicaufe his witt is anye tncc; Z^-
thinge comparable, but bicaufe his will is more .-^rAj,
outragious. Ferraria could fcarcely brooke Ma-
nardus, a poyfonous Phifitian : Mantua hardly
beare Pomponatius, a poyfonous Philofopher :
Florence more hardly tollerate Macchiauel, a
poyfonous politician : Venice moft hardly endure
Arretine, a poyfonous ribald : had they liued in
abfolute Monarchies, they would haue feemed
vtterly infupportable. Germany, Denmarke,
Sweden, Polony, Boemia, Hungary, Mofcouy,
are no foiles of any fuch wittes: but neither
Fraunce, nor Spaine, nor Turky, nor any puiflant
kingdom, in one, or other Monarchy of the old,
or new world, could euer abide any fuch per-
nicious writers, deprauers of comon difcipline.
-vi
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 95
Ingland, fince it was Inglad, neuer bred more
honorable mindes, more aduenturous hartes, more j
valorous handes, or more excellent wittes, then of-
late : it is enough for Filly-folly to intoxicate it
felfe, though it be not fufFered to defyle the lande,
which the water enuironeth, the Earth enritcheth,
the aier enfweeteneth, and the Heauen blefleth.
The bounteous graces of God are fowen thicke,
but come vp thin : corruption had little need to [IrH, ( >^ '^- /
be / foftred : wantonnefTe wilbe a nurfe, a bawde,
a Poet, a Legend to itfelfe: vertue hath much-
adoe to hold-out inuiolably her purpofed courfe :
Refolution is a forward fellow, and Valour a braue
man ; but affeAions are infedious, and appetite
muft fometime haue his fwinge. Were Appetite
a loyall fubiedl to Reafon, and Will an afFedionate
feruant to Wifdom ; as Labour is a dutifull vafTal
to Commodity, and Trauail a flying pofl: to
Honour; 6 heauens, what exploites of worth,
or rather what miracles of excellency, might be
atcheeued in an age of Pollicy, & a world of
Induilry. The date of idle vanityes is expired:
awaye with thefe fcribling paltryes: there is
another Sparta in hande, that indeede requireth
Spartan Temperance, Spartan Frugality, Spartan
exercife. Spartan valiancye. Spartan perfeuerance.
Spartan inuincibility : and hath no wanton leafure
for the Comedyes of Athens; nor anye bawdy 0-\a 6 -
96 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
howers for the fonges of Priapus, or the rymes
of Nafhe. Had he begun to Aretinize, when]
Elderton began to ballat, Gafcoine to fonnet, j
Turberuille to madrigal, Drant to verfify, or I
Tarleton to extemporife ; fome parte of his phan- | ~
tafticall bibble-bables, and capricious panges, might \ '^'^''^ ^'^
haue bene tollerated in a greene, and wild youth : ■
but the winde is chaunged, & there is a bufier
pageant vpon the ftage. M. Afchams Toxophilus j
long fithence fhot at a fairer marke: and M.
Gafcoigne himfelfe, after fome riper experience, I
was glad to trye other conclufions in the Lowe
Countryes ; and beftowed an honorable com-
mendation vpon Sir Humfrye Gilbertes gallant
difcourfe, of a difcouery for a newe pafTage to y,.r.. w
the Eaft Indyes. But read the report of the
worthy Wefterne difcoueries, by the faid Sir
Humfry Gilbert: the report of the braue Weft-
Indian voyage by the condudion of Sir Frauncis
Drake : the report / of the horrible Septentrionall
difcoueries by the trauail of Sir Martin Forbiflier :
the report of the politique difcouery of Virginia,
by the Colony of Sir Walter Raleigh : the report
of fundry other famous difcoueryes, & aduentures,
publifhed by M. Rychard Hackluit in one volume,
a worke of importance : the report of the hoatt
wellcom of the terrible Spanifhe Armada to the
coaft of Inglande, that came in glory, and went in
A, ^r?
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 97
difhonour: the report of the redoubted voyage
into Spaine, and Portugal 1, whence the braue Earle
of EfTex, and the twoo valorous Generals, Sir lohn
Norris, and Sir Frauncis Drake returned with
honour: the report of the refolute encounter ^/
about the lies Azores, betwixt the Reuenge of
Ingland, and an Armada of Spaine ; in which
encounter braue Sir Richard Grinuile moft vigor-
oufly & impetuoufly attempted the extreameft
poflibilities of valour and fury : for breuity I
ouerfkipp many excellent Traids of the fame, or
the like nature : but reade thefe, and M. William
Borrowghes notable difcourfe of the variation of
the compas, or magneticall needle ; annexed to
the new Attradiue of Robert Norman Hydro-
grapher : vnto which two, Ingland in fbme re-
fpedes is as much beholding, as Spayne vnto
Martin Cortes, & Peter de Medina, for the Arte
of Nauigation : and when you haue obferued the
courfe of Induftry ; examined the antecedents,
and confequents of Trauail ; compared Inglifh,
and Spanifh valour ; meafured the Forces of both
parties ; weighed euery circumftance of Aduantage :
confidered the Meanes of our afTurance : and
finally found proffit to be our pleafure, prouifion
our fecurity, labour our honour, warfare our wel- A
fare : who of reckoning, can fpare anye lewde, or
vaine tyme for corrupt pamphlets ; or who of
H. II. 13
^-
98 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
iudgment, will not cry ? away with thefe paultringe
fidle-fadles. / When Alexander in his conquerous
expeditions vifited the ruines of Troy, and reuolued , ' ^jj^U^h
in his minde the valiant ades of the Heroicall
Woorthies there atchieued ; One offered to bring
his Maiefty, the Harpe of Paris: Let it alone,
quoth hee, it is the Harpe of Achilles, that muft
ferue my turne. Paris vppon his harpe, fang
voluptuous, & lafciuious Carols : Achilles harpe
was an inftrument of glory, and a quier of diuine
Hymnes, confecrated to the honour of valorous
Captaines, and mighty Conquerours, He regarded
not the dainety Lydian, Ionian, or iEolian Melody :
but the braue Dorian, and impetuous Phrygian
Mufique : and waged Zenophantus to enflame
and enrage his courage with the furious notes of
Battail. One Alexander was a thoufand Examples
of Proweffe : but Pyrrhus, the redoubted king of
the Epirots, was an other Alexander in tempeftuous
execution : and in a moft-noble refolution con-
temned the Vanities of vnnoble Paftimes: in fo
much that, when one of his Barons afked his
Maieftie, whether of the twoo Mufitians, Charifius,
or Python, pleafed his Highnefle better : Whether
of the two, quoth Pyrrhus : marry Polyfperces
fhall go for my money. He was a braue Captaine
for the eie, & a fitt Mufitian for the eare of
Pyrrhus. Happy Polyfperces, that ferued fuch a
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 99
mafter: and happy Pyrrhus that commaunded
fuch a feruaunt. Were fome demaunded, whether
Greenes, or Nafhes Pamflets, were better penned :
I beleeue they would aunfweare ; Sir Roger
Williams Difcourfe of War for Militare Dodrine
in Efle ; and M. Thomas Digges Stratioticos, for
Militare Difcipline in Effe. And whiles I re-
member the Princely care of Gelo, a famous
Tyrant of Sicill, (many tyrants of Sicill were very
politique) that commaunded his great horfe to be
brought into the banquetting houfe, where other /
Lordes called for the Harpe, other Knights for
the Waites : I cannot forget the gallant difcourfe
of Horfemanfhip, penned by a rare gentleman,
M. lohn Aftely of the Court : whom I dare intitle
our Inglifh Xenophon ; and maruell not, that
Pietro Bizzaro, a learned Italian, propofeth him
for a perfed Patterne of Caftilios Courtier. And
thinking vpon worthy M. Aftely, I cannot ouer-
pafle the likelabourof good M.Thomas Blundeuil,
without due commendation : whofe painefull, and
{killfull bookes of Horfemanftiip, deferue alfo to
be regiftred in the Catalogue of Xenophon tian
woorkes. What (hould I fpeake of the two braue
Knightes, Mufidorus, and Pyrocles, combined in
one excellent knight. Sir Philip Sidney; at the
remembrance of whofe woorthy, and fweete
Vertues, my hart melteth ? Will you needes haue
100 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
a written Pallace of Pleafure, or rather a printed
Court of Honour? Read the CountefTe of
Pembrookes Arcadia, a gallant Legendary, full
of pleafurable accidents, and proffitable difcourfes ; ,
for three thinges efpecially, very notable ; for j
amorous Courting, (he was young in yeeres ;) for \
fage counfelling, (he was ripe in iudgement ;) and
for valorous fighting, (his foueraine profeflion was
Armes :) and delightfull paftime by way of
Paftorall exercifes, may pafle for the fourth. He
that will Looue, let him learne to looue of him,
that will teach him -to Liue ; & furnifh him with
many pithy, and eifeduall inftrudiions, dele6lably
interlaced by way of proper defcriptions of excel-
lent Perfonages, and common narrations of other
notable occurrences ; in the veine of Saluft, Liuy, ,
Cornelius Tacitus, luftine, Eutropius, Philip de ^jV. / u' -^
Comines, Guicciardine, and the moft fententious
Hiftorians, that haue powdred their ftile with the
fait of difcretion, and feafoned their iudgement with
the leauen / of experience. There want not fome
futtle Stratagems of importance, and fome politique
Secretes of priuitie : and he that would ikillfully,
and brauely manage his weapon with a cunning
Fury, may finde liuely Precepts in the gallant
Examples of his valianteft Duellifts ; efpecially of
Palladius, and Daiphantus; Zelmane. and Am-
phialus ; Phalantus, and Amphialus : but chiefly
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. loi
of Argalus, and Amphialus ; Pyrocles, and Anaxius;
Mufidorus, and Amphialus, whofe lufty combats,
may feeme Heroicall Monomachies. And that
the valour of fuch redoubted men, may appeere
the more confpicuous, and admirable, by compari-
fon, and interview of their contraries ; fmile at
the ridiculous encounters of Dametas, & Dorus;
of Dametas, and Clinias ; and euer when you
thinke vpon Dametas, remember the Confuting
Champion, more furquidrous then Anaxius, and
more abfurd then Dametas: and if I fhould al-
wayes hereafter call him Dametas, I fhould fitt him
with a name, as naturally proper vnto him, as his
owne. Gallant Gentlemen, you that honor Vertue,
and would enkindle a noble courage in your , i ^jl
mindes to euery excellent purpofe ; if Homer
be not at hand, (whome I haue often tearmed
the Prince of Poets, and the Poet of Princes)
you may read his furious Iliads, & cunning
Odyfles in the braue aduentures of Pyrocles, and
Mufidorus : where Pyrocles playeth the dowty
fighter, like Hedor, or Achilles ; Mufidorus, the
valiant Captaine, like Pandarus, or Diomedes ;
both, the famous errant Knightes, like iEneas, or
VlyfTes. Lord, what would himfelfe haue prooued
in fine, that was the gentleman of Curtefy, the
Efquier of Induflry, and the Knight of Valour at
thofe yeeres ? Liue euer fweete Booke ; the filuer
'^'VJ/^
/02 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Image of his gentle witt, and the golden Pillar of
his noble courage : and euer notify vnto / the
worlde, that thy Writer, was the Secretary of
Eloquence ; the breath of the Mufes ; the hooney-
bee of the dayntieft flowers of Witt, and Arte; the
. Pith of morall, & intelleduall Vertues; the arme
of Bellona in the field ; the toung of Suada in the
chaber ; the fpirite of Pradlife in efl*e ; and the
Paragon of Excellency in Print. And now whiles
I confider, what a Trompet of Honour, Homer
hath bene to fturre-vp many woorthy Princes ; I
cannot forget the woorthy Prince, that is a Homer
, to himfelfe, a Golden fpurre to Nobility, a Scepter
^^ to Vertue, a Verdure to the Spring, a Sunne to
'^t^\\jl.^j-\ the day; and hath not onely tranflated the two
diuine Poems of Saluftius du Bartas, his heauenly
Vrany, and his helliih Furies : but hath readd a
moft valorous Martial Lefture vnto himfelfe in
his owne vidorious Lepanto, a fliort, but heroicall
worke, in meeter, but royal meeter, fitt for a
Dauids harpe. Lepanto, firfkthe glory of Chriften-
dome againfl the Turke ; and now the garland of
a foueraine crowne. When young Kings haue fuch
a care of their flourifhing Prime; and like Cato,
are ready to render an accompt of their vacant
bowers ; as if Aprill were their luly, and May their
Auguft : how fhould gentlemen of yeeres, employ
the golden talent of their Indufl:i;y, and trauaile ?
/^
K ur(\.'-
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 103
with what feruency ; with what vigour ; with
what zeale, with what inceflant, and indefatigable
endeuour ? Phy vpon fooleries : there be honour-
able woorkes to doe ; and notable workes to read.
The afore-named Bartas, (whome elfewhere I haue
ftiled the Treafurer of Humanity, and the leweller
of Diuinity) for the highnefTe of his fubiedl, and
the maiefty of his verfe, nothing inferiour vnto
Dante, (whome fome Italians preferre before Virgil,
or Homer,) a right infpired and enrauifhed Poet ;
full of chofen, graue, profound, venerable, and
ftately matter ; euen / in the next Degree to the
facred, and reuerend ftile of heauenly Diuinity it
felfe. In a manner the onely Poet, whom Vrany
hath voutfafed to Laureate with her owne heauenly
hand : and worthy to bee alleadged of Diuines,
and Counfellours, as Homer is quoted of Philofo-
phers, & Oratours. Many of his folemne verfes,
are oracles: & one Bartas, that is, one French
Salomo, more weighty in ftem, and mighty
counfell, then the Seauen Sages of Greece. Neuer
more beauty in vulgar Languages : but his ftile
addeth fauour, and grace to beauty ; and in a
goodly Boddy reprefenteth a puiftant Soule. How
few verfes carry fuch a perfonage of ftate ? or how
few argumentes, fuch a fpirite of maiefty ? Or
where is the diuine inftindle, that can fufficiently
commend fuch a volume of celeftiall infpiration ?
104 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
What a iudgement hath the noble youth, the
harueft of the Spring, the fapp of Apollos tree, the
diademe of the Mufes, that leaueth the enticingeft
flowers of dehte, to reape the matureft fruites of
wifedome? Happy plants, that fpeedily fhew-
foorth their generous nature : and a foueraigne
good poflefTeth thofe worthy mindes, that fuffer
not their afFedlions to be inueigled, or entangled
with any vnworthy thought. Great Exercifes
become great perfonages : as the Magnes ap-
prooueth his Nobility in commaunding Iron, and
taming the Sea : bafer, or meaner paftimes belong
vntb meaner Perfons ; as lett difcouereth his
gentry, in drawing chaffe, haires, and fuch trifles.
A meete qualitie for lett, or a pretty feate for
Amber, to iuggle chaff^e, fefl;ues, or the like
weighty burdens : but excellent mindes are em-
ployed, like the noble Magnes, and euer conuerfant
either in eff^eding, or in perufing, or in penning
excellent workes. It were an impoffible attempte,
to do right vnto the great Captaine, Monfieur de
la Noe, and the / braue foldiour, the French King
himfelfe, two terrible thunderboltes of warre, and
two impetuous whirlewinds of the Field : whofe
writinges are like their adions, refolute, efl^edtuall,
valiant, politique, vigorous, full of aery, & fiery
fpirite, honourable, renowned wherefoeuer Valour
hath a mouth, or Vertue a pen. Could the Warlie
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 105
Horfe fpeake, as he can runne, and fight, he would
tell them, they are hoat Knightes : and could the
bluddy Sword write, as it can fheare, it would
dedicate a volume of Fury vnto the one, and a
monument of Vidtory vnto the other. Albeit men
fhould be malitious, or forgetfull, (Spite is malitious,
and Ingratitude forgetfull) yet ProwefTe hath a
Clouen Tounge ; and teacheth Admiration in a
fiery language to pleade the glorious honour of
emproued valiancy.
Some accufe their deftiny ; but blefled Key^
that openeth fuch lock.es : and lucky, moft lucky
fortune, that yeeldeth fuch vertue. Braue Chiualry^
a continuall witnefle of their valour and terribility
in warre : and gallant Induftry the dayly bread of
their life, in peace, or truce. Report fhining
Sunne, the dayes-worke of the King : and burning
Candle, relate his Nightes-ftuddy : and both ridd
me of an endlefle labour. For who euer prayfed
the wonders of Heauen }
And what an infinite courfe were it, to runne-
thorough the particular commendations of the
famous redoubted adours, or the notable pregnant
writers of this age, euen in the moft-puiflant
Heroicall, and Argonauticall kinde.?
'Nimhle Entelechy hath beene a ftraunger in fome ^^ / f
Countries : albeit a renowned Citifen of Greece ; ^ l-^ J \ P ■ f/-*-
and a free Denifen of Italy, Spaine, Fraunce, and
H. II. 14
io6 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Germany : but wellcome the moft-naturall inhabit-
ant of the world ; the faile of the fhip, the flight
of the bowe, the fhott of the gunne, the / wing
of the Eagle, the quintefTence of the minde, the
courfe of the funne, the motion of the heauens,
the influence of the ftarres, the heate of the fire,
the lightnefle of the Ayer, the fwiftnefle of the
winde, the flireame of the water, the frutefulneflli
of the Earth, the fingularitie of this age : and
thanke thy moft-vigorous felfe for fo many
precious workes of diuine furie, and powerable
confequence ; refpedtiuely comparable with the
richeft Treafuries, and brauefl: armories of Anti-
quitie. Thrife-happie, or rather a thoufand times-
happie Creature, that with mofl: aduantage of all
honorable opportunities, & with the extremeft
poflibilitie of his whole powers, inward, or out-
ward, emploieth the moft-excellent excellencie of
humane, or diuine Nature. Other Secretes of
Nature, and Arte, deferue an high reputation in
their feuerall degrees, and may challenge a fouerain
interteinement in their fpeciall kinds: but Ente-
lechy is the myfterie of myfteries vnder heauen,
and the head-fpring of the powerfullefl: Vertues,
that diuinitic infufeth, humanitie imbraceth, Philo-
fophie admireth, wifedome pradifeth, Induflirie
emproueth, valour extendeth ; or he conceiued,
that conceiuing the wonderfuU faculties of the
J (.J
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 107
mind, & aftonifhed with the incredible force of a
rauiihed, & enthuflafticall fpirite ; in a profound
contemplation of that eleuate, and tranfcendent
capacitie, (as it were in a deepe ecftafie, or Sera-
phicall vifion,) moft-pathetically cryed-out ; 6
magnum miraculum Homo. No maruel, 6 great
miracle, & 6 moft powerful Entelechy, though
thou feemift A Pilgrim to Dametas, that art the
Familiar Spirite of Mufidorus: & what woder,
though he empeach thy eftimation, that defpifeth
the graces of God, flowteth the conftellations of
heaue, frumpeth the operations of nature, mocketh
the effedtuallefl: & auayllableft Arts, difdayneth / the
name of Induftrie, or Honefty, fcorneth whatfoeuer
may appeare Vertuous, fawneth onely vpon his
owne conceits, claweth only his owne fauorits, and
quippeth, bourdeth, girdeth, affeth the excelleteft "^v/ c-^ "^"-f
writers of whatfoeuer note, that tickle not his
waton fenfe. Nothing memorable, or remarkable
with him, that feafteth not the riotous appetite of
the ribald, or the humorous conceit of the phataft.
It is his S. Fame, to be the infamy of learning :
his reformati5, to be the corruption of his reader :
his felicitie, to be the miferie of youth : his health,
to be the fcurfe of the Citie, the fcabbe of the
Vniuerfitie, the bile of the Realme : his faluation,
to be the damnation of whatfoeuer is termed good,
or accounted honeft. Sweet Gentlemen, and florifh-
io8
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION.
ing youthes, euer aime at the right line of Arte
and Vertue, of the one for knowledge, of the other ,
for valour : and let the crooked redlifie itfelfe.
Refolution wandreth not, like an ignorant Traueller,
but in euery enterprife, in euery affaire, in euery
ftuddie, in euery cogitation leuelleth at fome cer-
taintie ; and alwayes hath an eye to Vfe, an eare
to good report, a regard to worth, a refpe6t to
affurance, and a reference to the end. He that
erreth, erreth againft Truth, and himfelfe : and he
that finneth, finneth againft God, and himfelfe:
he is none of my charge : it fuffifeth me to be the
Curate of myne owne a6tions, the mafter of mine
owne paffions, the frend of my frends, the pittyer
of my enemies, the loouer of good witts, and
honeft mindes, the affedtionate feruant of Artes,
& Vertues, the humble Oratour of noble Valour,
the Commender of the forefaid honorable writinges,
or any commendable workes. Reafon is no mans
tyrant : & Dutie euery mans vaffall, that deferueth
well. Would this pen were worthy to be the flaue
of the worthieft adlours, or the bondman of the /
aboue mentioned, and the-like important Autours.
Such Mercuriall, and Martial) Difcourfes, in the
adtiue, and chiualrous veine, pleade their owne
eternall honour : and write euerlafting fhame in
the forhead of a thoufand friuolous, & ten
thoufand phantafticall Pamflets. I would to Chrift,
ili^'
yv-i;
u^
IM\^
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 109
fome of them were but idle toyes, or vayne trifles :
but impuritie neuer prefumed fomuch of impunitie :
and licentious follie by priuiledge, lewd ribaldrie
by permiffion, and rank villanie by conniuance, ^•j -'K
are become famous Autours : not in a popular
ftate, or a petty-principalitie, but in a (buerain
Monarchie, that tendereth politique gouernment,
& is to fortifie itfelfe againft forein hoftilitie. If
Wifedome fay not, Phie for fhame ; & Autoritie
take not other order in conuenient time : who can
tell, what generall plague may enfue of a fpeciall
infection? or when the kinges-euill is pad cure,
who can fay, we will now heale it? The baddeft
weed groweth faileft : and no Gangrene fo preg-
nantly difpreddeth itfelfe, as riott. And what riott
fo peftiferous, as that, which in fugred baites
prefenteth mofl: poifonous hookes ? Sir Skelton,
and Maflier Scoggin, were but Innocents to Signior
Capricio, and Monfieur Madneffe : whofe peftilent
canker fcorneth all the Medicine of Earth, or
heauen.
My writing, is but a priuate note for the publiquc
aduertifemet of fome fewe : whofe youth aflceth
inftrudlion, & whofe frailtie needeth admonition.
In the cure of a canker, it is a generall rule with
Surgeos : It neuer perfedly healeth, vnlefle the
rootes and all be vtterly extirped ; and the fleflie
regenerate. But the foundeft Principle is : Prin-
Uix%.
no PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
cipijs obfta : & it goeth beft with them, that neuer
knewe, what a canker, or leper meant.
I ftill hoped for fome graffes of better fruite :
but this graund / Confuter of my Letters, and all '^ '^•' ^
honeftie, ftill proceedeth from worfe to worfe, from -t4p -^
the wilding-tree to the withie, from the dogge to
the goate, from the catt to the fwine, from Prime-
rofe hill to Colman hedge : and is fo rooted in
deepe Vanitie, that there is no ende of his profound
follie. Which deferueth a more famous Encomi-
afticall Oration, then Erafmus renowned Follie :
and more glorioufly difdaineth any cure, then the
Goute. I may anfwer his hoat rauing in cold
termes : and conuince him of what notorious falfe-
hood, or villanie I can : but fee the frake fpirite of
a full ftomack : & who euer was fb parloufly
matched? Were not my fimplicitie, or his omni- I />^:
fuficiencie exceeding great ; I had neuer bene thus
terriblie ouer-challeged. Gabriel^ if there be any
-^l^ witt^ or induftrie in thee^ now I will dare it to the
vttermofi : write of what thou wilt^ in what language
thou wilt, and I will confute it, and anfwere it.
Take Truthes part, &' I will prooue truth to be no
truth, marching out of thy doung-voiding mouth : &
fo forth in the brauing tenour of the fame redoubt-
able ftile. Good Gentlemen, you fee the fweet ] f^'^'
difpofitio of the man ; & neede no other window ^ri.p^M--
into the clofet of his cofcience, but his owne Gloflc
7^ .- ,^-h/
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. in
vpon his owne Text. Whatfoeuer poore I fay, in
any matter, or in any language, albeit Truth auerr
and iuftifie the fame, he will flatly denie, and
confute, euen bicaufe I fay it; & onely bicaufe
in a frolick and dowtie iollitie, he will haue the
laft word of me. His Grammer, is his Catechifme ;
Si ais^ nego : his ftomack, his Dictionarie in any
language : and his quarrell, his Logique in any
argument : Lucian^ Julian, AretiUy I proteji were ^^ -ii
you ought elfe but abhominable Atheifts, that I
would obftinatly defende you, onely bicaufe Laureate
Gabriel articles againft you. Were there not other-
wife a maruelous oddes, and incomprehensible
difference betwixt our habi / lities, he would neuer
dare me, like a bold Pandare, with fuch ftout
challenges, and glorious protefl;ations : but fingular
wittes haue a great aduantage of Ample men : and
cunning Falfehood is a mightie confuter of plaine
Truth. No fuch champion, as he that fighteth
obflinatly with the target of Confidence, and the
long-fword of Impudence. If any thing extra-
ordinarily emprooueth valour, it is Confidence :
and if any thing miraculoufly fingularizeth witt,
it is Impudence. Diilruft, is a naturall foole :
and Modeftie, an artificiall foole : he that will
exploit wodermentes, and karrie all before him,
like a fweepe-fl:ake, muft haue a hart of Iron, a
forhead of Braffe, and a toung of Adamant.
^^c^
'L C
■V^-
U-
1^ c
1^~'
i-u a. (
/ tc.^
'J dr
112 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Pelting circumftances, marre braue executions :
looke into the proceedinges of the greateft doers ;
and what haue they more then other men, but
Audacitie, and Fortune?
Audendum eft aliquid, Vinclis, i^ carcere d'tgnum^
Si vis ejfe aliquid. SimpHcitie may haue a gefTe
at the Principles of the world : and Nafhe affedleth
tv 5 1 X to feeme a compound of fuch Elementes ; as bold,
as aeger, and as aeger, as a madd dogge. He will
confute me, bicaufe he will : and he can conquer
me, bicaufe he can. If I come vpon him with a
gentle reply, he will welcome me with a fierce
reioynder : for any my briefe Triplication, he will
prouide a Quadruplication at-large : & fo forth
in infinitUy with an vndauntable courage : for he
fweareth, he will neuer leaue me as long as he is
hahle to lift a -penne. Twentie fuch famous depo-
fitions proclaime his dowtie refolution, and inde-
fatigable hand at a pight fielde. Were I to begin
agayne, or cold I handfomely deuife to giue him
the cleanly flipp, I would neuer deale with a fprite
of Coleman hedge, or a May-Lord of Primerofe
hill ; that hath all humours / in his liuerie, & can
put confcience in a Vices coate. Na, hee will
atchieue impoflibilities ; and in contempt of my
fimplicitie, prooue Truth a counterfaidt, and him-
felfe a true witnefle of falfeft lyes. But Lord, that
fo inuincible a Gentleman fhould make fo folemne
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 1 13
Aa^pl-
account, of confuting, and reconfuting a perfon of
fo litle worth in his valuation ? Sweet man, what
(hould you thinke of troubling your-felfe with fo
tedious a courfe, when you might fo blithly haue
taken a quicker order, and may yet proceede more
compendioufly ? It had bene a worthy exploit,
and befeeming a witt of fupererogation, to haue
dipped a fopp in a goblet of rennijii wine ; and
naming it Gabriel, (for you are now growne into
great familiaritie with that name) to haue de-
uoured him vpp at one bit: or taking a 'pickle
herring by the throte, and chriftening it Richard
(for you ca chriften him at your pleafure) to haue
fwallowed him downe with a ftomack. Did you
neuer heare of deteftable lewes, that made a picture l-r" ^-*^^ ^ •* ^
of Chrift ; and then buffetted, cuggelled, fcourged, >,.<. ')^
crucified, ftabbed, pierced, and mangled the-fame
moft vnmercifully ? Now you haue a patterne, I
doubt not but you can with a dexteritie, chopp-of
the head of a dead hoony bee, and boaft you haue
ftricken lohn, as dead as a doore-nayle. Other
fpoyle, or vidlorie (by the leaue of the forefaid
redoubted daring) will prooue a bufie peece of
worke for the fonne of a mule, a rawe Gram-
marian, a brabling Sophifter, a counterfaidt cranke,
a ftale rakehell, a piperly rymer, a ftump-worne >^, ^'/^6
railer, a dodkin autor: whofe two fwordes, are
like the homes of an hodmandod ; whofe courage,
H. II. 15
V-L i/l I
ir4 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
like the furie of a gad-bee ; and whofe furmount-
ing brauerie, like the wings of a butterfly. I take
A no pleafure to call thee an Afle ; but thou prooueft
thi-felfe a Haddock : and although I fay not, /
Thou art a foole, yet thou wilt needs bewray thy
diet, and difgorge thy ftomack of the Lobfter, and
coddefhed, wherewith thou didft englutt thifelfe,
fince thy notorious furfett of pikle herring, and
dogfifh. Thou art neither Dorbell, nor Duns, nor
Thomas of Aquine : they were three fharp-edged,
and quickfented fchoolemen, full of nimble witt,
and intricate quiddities in their arguing kinde,
efpecially Duns, and Thomas : but by fome of thy
cauilling Ergos, thou fhouldfl: feeme to be the
fpawne of lauell, or Tartaret : & as very a crab-
fifh at an Ergo, as euer crawled-ouer Carters
Logique, or the Pojieriorums of Johannes de
Lapide. When I looke vpo thy firfl: page (as
I daily behold that terrible Emprefe for a recrea-
i r A^ ( , ' ^ tion) flill methinkes there fhould come flufhing-
' ' ^ ^ out the great Atlas of Logique, and Aflronomie,
that fupported the orbes of the heauens by Art :
or the mightie Hercules of Rhetorique and Poetrie,
that with certaine maruelous fine, and delicate
chaines, drewe after him the vafTals of [the] world
by the eares. But examin his futtellieft Ergos, &
taft his nappiefl Inuention, or daintiefl: Elocution,
(he that hath nothing elfe to do, may hold him-
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 1 1 5
felfe occupied) : and Art will foone finde the huge
Behemoth of Conceit, to be the fprat of a pickle
herring ; and the hideous Leuiathan of Vainglorie,
to be a fhrimpe in Witt, a periwinkle in Art, a
dandiprat in Induftrie, a dodkin in Valu ; and
fuch a toy of toyes, as euery right Schollar hifleth
at in iudgement, and euery fine Gentleman maketh ^
the Obied: of his fcorne. He can raile : (what j'Ia- '--^
mad Bedlam cannot raile ?) but the fauour of his
railing, is grofely fell, and fmelleth noyfomly of
the pumpe, or a naftier thing. His gayeft
floorifhes, are but Gafcoignes weedes, or Tarletons ^
trickes, or Greenes crankes, or Marlowes brauados :
his ieftes, but the dregges of comon fcurrilitie, the /
fhreds of the theater, or the of-fcouring of new
Pamflets : his frefheft nippitatie, but the froth of
ftale inuentios, long-fince lothfome to quick taftes :
his fhrouing ware, but lenten ftuff, like the old
pickle herring : his luftieft verdure, but ranke
ordure, not to be named in Ciuilitie, or Rhetorique:
his only Art, & the vengeable drift of his whole
cunning, to mangle my fentences, hack my argu-
ments, chopp and change iny phrafes, wrinch my
wordes, and hale euery fiUable moft extremely ;
euen to the difioynting, and maiming of my
whole meaning. O times : 6 paftimes : 6 moftrous
knauerie. The refidue whatfoeuer, hath nothing
more in it, then is vfuallie in euery ruffianly
'' 4.
/ ^
1x6 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Copefmate, that hath bene a Gramar fchollar,
readeth riotous bookes, hanteth roifterly companie,
delighteth in rude fcoffing, & karrieth a defperate
minde. Let him be thorowly perufed by any
indifferent reader whomfoeuer, that can iudicioufly
difcerne, what is what ; and will vprightly cenfure
him according to his fkill, without partialitie fro^
or contra : and I dare vndertake, he will affirme
no lefle, vpon the credit of his iudgement ; but
will definitiuely pronounce him, the very Baggage
of new writers. I could nominate the perfon, that
vnder his hand-writing hath ftiled him, The cockifh
challenger, the lewd fcribler, the oifal of corrupteft
mouthes, the draff of filthieft pennes, the bag-
pudding of fooles, & the very pudding-pittes of
the wife, or honefl. He might haue read of foure
notable thinges, which many a iollie man weeneth
he hath at will, when he hath nothing leffe : much
knowledge ; found wifedome ; great power ; &
many frends. And he might haue heard of other
foure fpeciall thinges, that worke the deftrudion,
or confufion of the forwardelt practitioners : a
headlong defire to know much haftily ; a greedie
thirft to haue much fud / dainly ; an ouerweening
conceit of themfelues; and a furly contempt of
other. I could peradueture arread him his fortune
in a fatall booke, as verifiable, as peremptorie : but
I looue not to infult vpo miferie ; ^ & Deflinie is a
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 1 1 7
ludge, whofe fentence needeth no other execution,
but itfelfe. No preuention, but deepe repentance ;
an impoflible remedy, where deepe Obftinacie is
grounded, and high Prefumption afpireth aboue
the Moone. Hawtie minds may flie aloft, and
haften their owne ouer-throw ; but it is not the
wainfcott forhead of a Rudhuddibras, that can
arreare fuch an huge opinion, as himfelfe in a
ftrong conceit of a mighty conception, feemeth to
trauaill withall : as it were with a flying Bladude,
attempting wonderments in the Ayre, or a Simon
Magus, experimenting impoflibilities, from the top
of the Capitoll. He muft either accompHfh fome
greater worke of Supererogation, with a6lual at-
chieuement, (that is now a principall point) : or
immortahze himfelfe the prowdeft Vaine fott, that
euer abufed the world with foppifh oftentation ;
not in one, or two pages, but in the firfl, the laft,
& euery leafe of his Strange Newes. For the end
is like the beginning ; the midfl: like both ; and
euery part like the whole. Railing, railing, railing :
bragging, bragging, bragging : and nothing elfe,
but fowle railing vpon railing, and vayne bragging
vpon bragging ; as rudely, grofely, odioufly, filthily,
beaftly, as euer fhamed Print. Vnlefle he meant
to fett-vpp a Railing fchoole, and to read a pub-
like Ledlure of bragging, as the onely regall
profeflbur of that, and that facultie, now other
ko in
ii8 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
fhiftes begin to fayle. I wonder, his owne mouth
can abide it without a phah. You haue heard
fome worthie Premifles : behold a braue conclu-
l^ fion :
Oiu-'''^
Aw ait e the world^ the 'Tragedy of Wrath :
JVhat I next I painty Jhall tread no common Path :
with an other doubble Aut, for a gallant Embleme,
or a glorious Farewell; Aut nunquam tentes^ aut
perfice, Subfcribed with his owne hande ; Thomas
Najh. Not expedt, or attend, but a wait : not
fome few, or the Citty, or the Vniuerfity, or this
Land, or Europe, i^ut the World : not a Comedy,
or a Declamation, or an Inuedliue, or a Satire, or
any like Elendlicall difcourfe : but a Tragedy^ and
the very Tragedy of Wrath ; that fhall dafh the
direfulleft Tragedies of Seneca, Euripides, or
Sophocles, out of Conceit. The next peece, not of
his Rhetorique, or Poetry, but of his Painture,
fhall not treade the way to Poules, or Weftminfter,
or the Royall Exchange ; but at leaft fhall perfedl
the Venus face of Apelles, or fett the world an
euerlafting Sample of inimitable artificiality. Other
^ * mens writing in profe, or verfe, may plodd-on, as
before; but his Painting will now tread A rare
Path\ and by the way bellow A new LefTon
vppon Rhetorique, how to continue a metaphor,
or vphold an Allegory with aduauntage. The tread-
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 119
ing of that rare Path^ by that exquifite Paintings
(his woorkes are miracles ; and his Paintings can
treade^ like his dauncing, or friflcing, no common
but a proper Path) who expedeth not with an
attentiue, a feruiceable, a coouetous, a longing
expectation ? A wait world : and Apelles tender
thy moft afFedlionate deuotion, to learne a wonder-
full peece of curious workemanfhip, when it fhall
pleafe his next Painting to tread the path of his moft
fingular fingularity. Meanewhile it hath pleafed
foome fweete wittes of my acquaintaunce, (whome
Heauen hath baptized the Spirites of harmony, and
the Mufes haue enterteyned for their Paramours)
to reacquite Sonnets with Sonnets, and to fnibb the
Thrafonicall rimefter with Angelical meeter, that
may haply / appeare in fitt place : and finely
difcouer young Apuleius in his ramping roabe ;
the fourth Furie in his Tragicall Pageant; the
new Sprite in his proper haunt, or buttry ; and
the confuting Diuell in the horologe. One She,
& two He's haue vowed, they will pumpe his
Railing Inkhorne as dry, as euer was Holborne
Conduit : and fquife his Craking ^uill to as emptie
a fpunge, as any in Hofier Lane. Which of you,
gallat Gentleme, hath not ftripped his ftale lejies
into their thredbare ragges ; or fo feldome as an
hundred times pittied his creaft-falne ftile, & his
focket-worne inuention ? Who would haue thought,
-IX
<X:<
120 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
or could haue imagined, to haue found the witt
of Pierce, fo ftarued and clunged : the conceit of
an aduerfarie, fo weather-beaten, and tired: the
learning of a fchollar, fo pore-blind, and lame : the
elocutio of the Diuels Oratour, fo lanke, fo wan,
fo meager, fo blunt, fo dull, fo fordead, fb gaftly,
where the mafculine Furie meant to play his
griflieft, and horribleft part ? Welfare a good
vifage in a bad caufe : or farwell Hope, the
kindeft coofener of forlorne harts. The defperate
minde, that affayeth impoflibilities in nature, or
vndertaketh incredibilities in Art, muft be cotent
to fpeed thereafter. When euery attempt faileth
in performance, and euery extremitie foileth the
enterprifer, at-laft euen Impudencie it felfe muft
be faine to giue-ouer in the plaine fielde : and
neuer yeeld credit to the word of that moft
credible Gentlewoman, if the very brafen buckler
prooue not finally a notorious Dafh-Nafh. He
fummed all in a briefe, but materiall Summe ; that
called the old AJfe^ the great A, and the eft Amen
of the new Supererogation. And were I here
copelled to difpatch abruptly, (as I am prefently
called to a more commodious exercife) ftiould I
not fufficietly haue difcharged my tafke ; and
plentifully haue comended / that famous crea-
ture^ whofe prayfe the Title of this Pamflet pro-
feffeth? He that would honor Alexander, may
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION, 121
crowne him the great A. of puiflance : but Pyrrhus,
Hanniball, Scipio, Pompey, Caefar, diuers other
mightie Conquerours, & eue fom moderne Worthies
would difdaine, to haue him fceptred the eft-Amen
of Valour. What a braue, and incomparable
Alexander, is that great A that is alfo the eft-
Amen of Supererogatio ; a more miraculous and
impoflible peece of worke, the the dowtieft puis-
fance, or worthieft valour in the old, or new world ?
Shall 1 fay, blefled, or peerelefTe young Apuleius,
that from the fwathing bandes of his infancie in
Print, was fuckled of the fweeteft nurfes, lulled of
the deereft groomes, cockered of the fineft minios,
cowled of the daintieft paramours, hugged of the en-
ticingeft darlinges, and more then tenderly tendered
of the moft delitious Mufes, the moft-amiable
Graces, and the moft-powerfull Vertues of the
faid vnmatchable great A. the graund founder
of Supererogatio, and fole Patron of fuch merito-
rious clients. As for other remarkable Particulars
in the Straunge Newes ; Ink is fo like Ink, fpite fo
like fpite, impudencie fo like impudencie, brocage
fo like brocage, and Tom-Penniles now, fo like!
Papp-hatchet, when the time was ; that I neede
but ouerrun an old cenfure of the One, by way
of new application to the Other. The notes of
Martinifme appertaine vnto thofe, whom they
concerne. Pierce would laugh, to be charged with
H. II. " 16
VI '^1
122 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Martinifme, or any Religion : though Martin
himfelfe for a challenging, rufling, and railing ttile,
not fuch a Martin. Two contraries ; but two
fuch contraries, as can teach Extremities to play
the contraries, and to confound themfelues.
Papp-hatchet, defirous for his benefit, to currie
fauour with / a noble Earle ; and in defefte of
other meanes of Commendatio, labouring to in-
finuate himfelfe by fmooth glofing, & couterfait
fuggeftios, (it is a Courtly feate, to fnatch the leaft
occafionet of aduantage, with a nimble dexteritie) ;
fome yeares fince prouoked me, to make the
beft of it, inconfideratly ; to fpeake like a frend,
vnfrendly ; to fay, as it was, intolerably ; without
priuate caufe, or any reafon in the world : (for in
truth I looued him, in hope prayfed him ; many
wayes fauored him, and neuer any way offended
him) : and notwithftanding that fpitefull prouoca-
tio, and euen that odious threatening of ten yeares
prouifion, he had euer pafTed vntouched with any
fillable of reuenge in Print, had not Greene, and
this dog-fifh, abhominably mifufed the verbe pas-
fiue ; as fhould appeare, by his procurement, or
encouragement, afTuredly moft vndeferued, and
moft iniurious. For what other quarrel, could
Greene, or this dogge-fifh euer picke with me :
whom I neuer fo much as twitched by the fleeue,
before I founde mifelfe, and my deareft frendes.
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 123
vnfufFerably quipped in moft contumelious, and
opprobrious termes. But nowe there is no
remedie, haue amongeft you, blind Harpers of
the Printing houfe : for I feare not fix hundred
Crowders, were all your wittes afTembled in one '
capp of Vanitie, or all your galles vnited in one
bladder of choler. I haue loft more labour, then
the tranfcripting of this Cenfure : which I dedicate
neither to Lord, nor Lady, but to Truth, and
i^quitie; on whofe fouerain Patronage I relye.
An j Jduertifement for Papp-hatchstty and Martin
Mar-prelate.
'App-hatchett (for the name of thy good
nature is pittyfully growen out-of re-
queft) thy olde acquaintance in the
Sauoy, when young Euphues hatched
the egges, that his elder freendes laide, (furely
Euphues was fomeway a pretty fellow : would
God Lilly had alwaies bene Euphues, and neuer
Pap-hatchet;) that old acquaintance, now fome-
what ftraungely faluted with a new remembrance,
is neither lubbabied with thy fweete Papp, nor
fcarre-crowed with thy fower hatchet. And al-
though in felfe-conceit thou knoweft not thy felfe,
yet in experience, thou mighteft haue knowen him,
that can Vnbutton thy vanity, and Vnlafe thy
folly : but in pitty fpareth thy childifh fimplicity,
that in iudgement fcorneth thy roifterly brauery ;
and neuer thought fo bafely of thee, as fince thou
began'ft to difguife thy witt, and difgrace thy arte
with ruffianly foolery. He winneth not moft
PIERCES SUPEREHIDGATION.
abroad that weeneth moft at-home : and in my
poore fancy, it were not greatly amifle, euen for
the perteft, and gayeft companions, (notwithftand-
ing whatfoeuer courtly holly-water, or plaufible
hopes of preferment) to deigne their olde familiars
the continuance of their former courtefies, without
contempt of the barraineft giftes, or empeachment
of the meaneft perfons. The fimplift man in a
parifh, is a fhrewd / foble ; and Humanity an
Image of Diuinity ; that pulleth-downe the hawty,
and fetteth-vp the meeke. Euphues, it is good to
beg merry : and Lilly, it is good to bee wife : and
Papp-hatchet, it is better to loofe a new ieft, then
an old frend ; that can cramme the capon with his
owne Papp, and hew-downe the woodcocke with
his owne hatchet. Bolde men, and marchant
Venturers haue fometime good lucke: but happ-
hazard hath oftentimes good leaue to befhrow his
owne pate ; and to imbarke the hardy foole in the
famous Shipp of wifemen. I cannot ftand nofing
of Candleftickes, or euphuing of Similes, alia
Sauoica : it might happly be done with a trice :
but euery man hath not the guift of Albertus
Magnus : rare birds are dainty ; and they are
queint creatures, that are priuiledged to create new
creatures. When I haue a mint of precious ftones;
& ftraunge Foules, beaftes, and fifhes of mine owne
coyning, (I could name the party, that in com-
126 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
parifon of his owne naturall Inuentions, tearmed
Pliny a barraine woombe ;) I may peraduenture
blefle you with your owne crofles, & pay you
with the vfury of your owne coyne. In the meane
while beare with a plaine man, as plaine as old
Accurfius, or Barthol de Saxo ferrato ; that wil
make his Cenfure good vpon the carrion of thy
vnfauory, and ftincking Pamflett; a fitt booke to
be ioyned with Scoggins woorkes, or the French
Mirrour of Madnefle. The very Title dis-
couereth the wifedome of the young-man : as
an olde Fox not long fince bewrayed himfelfe
by a flap of his taile; and a Lion, they fay, is
foone defcried by his pawe ; a Cocke by his
combe ; a Goat by his bearde ; an Afle by his
eare; a wife-man by his tale ; an artift by his
tearmes.
Fap-p with an hatchet: aliaSy a Figg for my God-Jonne
or J Cracke me this nutt : or^ a Country Cuffe,
that I is J A found hoxe of the eare, ^ cetera.
Written by one^ that dares call a Dog a Dog.
Imprinted by lohnAnoke^ and lohn Afiilejor theBaily
of Withernam^ Cum priuilegio perennitatis :
And are to be fold at the figne of the Crabbtree Cudgell
in 1'hwack-coate Lane.
What deuife of Martin, or what inuention of
any other, could haue fett a fairer Orientall Starre
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 127
vpon the forhead of that foule libell ? Now you
fee the brande, and know the Blackamore by his
face, turne ouer the leafe ; and by the wittinefTe
of his firft fentence, aime at the reft. Milke is
like milke : hoony like hoony : Papp like papp :
and hee like himfelfe ; in the whole, a notable
ruffler, and in euery part a dowty braggard.
Roome for a roijier : Jo thats well /aid : itch a
little further for a good fellow : now haue at you
alii ^y g^ff^s of the ray ling religion : tis /, that
mufi take you a pegg lower. He make Juch ajplinter
runne into your wittes : and fo foorth in the fame
lufty tenour. A very artificiall beginning, to
mooue attention, or to procure good-liking in
the reader : vnleiTe he wrote onely to roifter-
doifters, & hackfters, or at-leaft to iefters and
vices. Oh, but in his Preamble to the indifferent
reader, he approueth himfelfe a maruellous difcreet,
and modeft man of the fobereft fort, were he not
prouoked in confcience, to aunfweare contrary to
his nature, and manner. You may fee, how graue
men may be made light, to defend the Church.
I perceiue, they were wife, that at riotous times,
when youth was wantonneft, and knauery luftieft,
as in Chriftmas, at Shrofetide, in May, at the
ende of Harueft, and by fuch wild fittes, created
a certaine extraordinary Officer, called a Lord of
Mifrule, as a needefuU gouernour, or Didtatour,
ia8 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
to fet thinges in order, and to rule vnruly people ;
with whome otherwife / there were no Ho. So,
when Reuell-rout beginneth to be a current Autour ;
or Hurly-burly a bufy Promotour : roome for a
roifteVy that will bore them thorough the nofes
with a cufhion ; that will bung-vp their mouthes
with a Collyrium of all the ftale ieftes in a country ;
that will fufFer none to play the Rex, but himfelfe.
For that is the very depth of his plot: and who
euer began with more roifterly tearmes; or pro-
ceeded with more ruffianly fcoffes ; or concluded
with more haire brain'd trickes ; or tired himfelfe
with more weather-beaten cranckes ? What fcholler,
or gentleman, can reade fuch alehoufe and tinkerly
ftuffe without blufhing ? They were much deceiued
in him, at Oxford, and in the Sauoy, when Mafter
Abfolon liued ; that tooke him onely for a dapper
& deft companion, or a pert-conceited youth, that
had gathered-togither a fewe prettie fentences,
and could handfomly helpe young Euphues to
an old Simile : & neuer thought him any fuch
mighty doer at the fharpe. But Ik, Ile^ lie, is a
parlous fellow at a hatchett : heje like Death : hele
/pare none : hele Jhowe them an Irijh tricke : hele
make them weepe Iri/h : heJe good at the flicking
blow : his Pojie, what care I? Vie ft abbes, good
Ecclefiafticall learning in his Apologie ; and good
Christian charitie in his Homilie. Mufter his
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 129
arrant braueries togither : and where fuch a terrible
killcowe, or fuch a vengeable bull-beggar to deal
withall ? O dreadfull dubble V. that carrieft the
dubble ftoccado in thy penne, what a dubble
ftabber woldeft thou be, were thy hand as tall a
fellow, as thy hart, or thy witt as luftie a ladd, as
thy minde ? Other good fellowes may tell Tales
of Gawin : thou art Sir Gawin reuiued, or rather
Terrour in perfon. Yet fhall I putt a beane into
Gawins ratling fcull : and tell thee, where thy
flafhing / Long-fword commeth fliort? Thou
profefleft Railing; and emprooueft thifelfe in
very deede an egregious Railer, as difdaining to
yeelde vnto any He, or She Scolde of this age :
but what faith my particular Analyfis ? Dubble V.
is old-excellent at his Cornu copia ; and I warrant
you, neuer to feeke in his Horne-booke : but
debarre thoffame horefon Tales of a tubb ; and
put him befide his Horning, Gaming, Fooling,
and Knauing : and he is no boddy, but a fewe
pilfred Similes ; a little Pedanticall Latin ; and the
higheft pitch of his witt, Bulles motion, alias the
hangmans apron. His Ryme, foreftalled by Elder-
ton, that hath Ballats lying a fteepe in ale : his
Reafon, by a Cambrige wagg, a twigging Sophifter,
that will Ergo Martin into an ague, and concludeth
peremptorily, Therfore Tiburne muft be furr'd
with Martins : nothing left for the Third difputer,
H. II. 17
130 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
but Railing thorough all the moodes, and figures
of knauerie, as they come frefli, and frefh to his
hand. All three iumpe in eodem tertio : nothing
but a certaine exercife, termed hanging, will ferue
their turne : (if it be his deftinie, what remedie ?)
they muft draw cuttes, who fhall play the Hange-
man : and that is the argument of the Tragedie,
and the very papp of the hatchet. Thefe are yet
all the common-places of his great Paper-boke, &
the whole Inuentarie of his witt : though in time
he may haply learne to play at ninehole-nidgets ;
or to canuas a liuerie flowt thorough all the
Predicaments of the fower, & twentie orders.
When I firft tooke a glancing vewe of Ile^ He, He,
& durft fcarfely, be fo hardy, to looke the hatchet
in the face ; methought his Imagination, was
hedded like a Saracen ; his ftomack bellyed, like
the great Globe of Orontius ; & his breath, like
the blaft of Boreas in the great Mapp of Mer-
cator. But when we began to renue our old
acquain / tance, and to fhake the handes of dis-
continued familiaritie, alas good Gentleman ; his
mandillion was ouer-cropped ; his witt paunched,
like his wiues fpindle ; his art fhanked, like a lath ;
his conceit as lank, as a fhotten herring ; and that
fame bluftering eloquence, as bleake, and wan, as
the Pi6ture of a forlorne Loouer. Nothing, but
pure Mammaday, and a fewe morfels of fly-blowne
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 131
Euphuifme, fomewhat nicely minced for puling
ftomackes. But there be Painters enough, though
I goe roundly to worke : and it is my onely
purpofe, to fpeake to the purpofe. I long fithence
founde by experience, how Dranting of Verfes,
and Euphuing of fentences did edifie. But had I
confulted with the Prognoftication of lohn Securis,
I might peraduenture haue faued fome loofe endes
for after clapps. Now his nephew Hatchet muft
be content to accept of fuch (pare intertainement,
as he findeth.
It was Martins folly, to begin that cutting
vaine : fome others ouerfight, to continue it : and
doubble V! triumph, to fet it agogg. If the world
fhould applaude to fuch roifllerdoifterly Vanity,
(as Impudency hath beene prettily fufFered to
fett-vpp the creaft of his vaineglory :) what good
could grow out of it, but to make euery man
madbrayned, and defperate ; but a generall con-
tempt of all good order, in Saying, or Dooing ;
but an Vniuerfall Topfy-tur[v]y ? He were a
very fimple Oratour, a more fimple politician, and
a moft-fimple Deuine, that fhould fauour Martin-
izing : but had I bene Martin, (as for a time I
was vainely fufpeded by fuch madd Copefmates,
that can furmize any thing for their purpofe,
howfoeuer vnlikely, or monftrous :) I would haue
beene fb farre from being mooued by fuch a fan-
I3« PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
tafticall Confuter, that it ihould haue beene one
of my May-games, or Auguft triumphes, to haue
driuen /Officials, CommifTaries, Archdeacons, Deanes,
Chauncellors, Suffraganes, Bifhops, and Archbifhops,
(fo Martin would haue florifhed at the leaft) to
entertaine fuch an odd, light-headded fellow for
their defence ; a profefled iefter, a Hick-fcorner,
a fcoff-maifter, a playmunger, an Interluder ; once
the foile of Oxford, now the ftale of London, and
euer the Apefclogg of the prefTe, Cum Priuilegio
perennitatis. Had it not bene a better courfe, to
haue followed Ariftotles do6lrine : and to haue
confuted leuity with grauity, vanity with difcre-
tion, rafhnes with aduife, madnefTe with fobriety,
fier with water, ridiculous Martin with reuerend
Cooper? Efpecially in Ecclefiafticall caufes : where
it goeth hard, when Scoggin, the louiall foole, or
Skelton, the Malancholy foole, or Elderton, the
bibbing foole, or Will Sommer the chollericke
foole, muft play the feate ; and Church-matters
cannot bee difcufTed without rancke fcurrility,
and as it were a Synode of Diapafon fooles.
Some few haue a ciuill pleafant vaine, and a
dainety fplene without fcandale : fome fuch per-
cafe might haue repayed the Marr-prelate home
to good purpofe : other obfcenity, or vanity con-
futeth itfelfe, and impeacheth the caufe. As good
forbeare an irregular foole, as beare a foole hetero-
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 133
clitall : and better abide a comparitiue knaue, that
pretendeth religion, then fufFer a knaue fuperlatiue,
that fetteth cocke on hoope. Serious matters
would be handeled ferioufly, not vpon fimplicity,
but vppon choice ; not to flefh, or animate, but
to difgrace, and fhame Leuity. A glicking Pro^
and a frumping Contra^ fhall haue much-adoe to
fhake handes in the Ergo. There is no ende of
girdes, & bobbes : it is found Argumentes, and
grounded Authorities, that muft ftrike the defini-
tiue ftroke, and decide the controuerfy, with
mutuall fatisfadlion. Martin bee wife, though /
Browne were a foole : and Papp-hatchet be
honeft, though Barrow be a knaue : it is not
your heauing, or hoifing coile, that buildeth-vpp
the walles of the Temple. Alas poore miferable
defolate moft-woefull Church, had it no other
builders, but fuch architefts of their owne fan-
tafies, and fuch maifons of infinite contradidlion.
Time, informed by fecrete intelligence, or refolued
by curious difcouery, fpareth no coft, or trauaile,
to preuent Mifchiefe : but employeth her two
woorthy Generals, Knowledge, & Induftry, to
cleere the coaft of vagarant errours in Dodrine ;
and to fcoure the fea of rouing corruptions in
Difcipline. Roome was not reared-vpp in one
day ; nor cannot be pulled downe in one day.
A perfed Ecclefiafticall Difcipline, or autentique
134 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Pollicy of the Church, (that may auowe, I haue
neither more, nor lefTe, then enough ; but iuft
the nomber, weight, and meafure of exa6t gouerne-
ment) is not the worke of One man whofoeuer,
or of one age whatfoeuer : it requireth an in-
credible-great iudgement : exceeding-much reading
in Ecclefiafticall hiftories, Councels, Decrees, Lawes :
long, and ripe pradtife in Church-caufes. Plat-
formes offer themfelues to euery working conceit ;
and a few Tables, or Abridgements are foone
difpatched : but, whatfoeuer pretext may coulerably
bee alledged, vndoubtedly they attempt, they know
not what, and enterprife aboue the pofTibility of
their reach, that imagine they can in a Pamflet, or
two, contriue fuch an omnifufficient, and incorrup-
tible Method of Ecclefiafticall gouernement, as
could not by any priuate meditation, or publike
occafion be found-out, with the ftuddy, or pradtife
of fifteene hundred yeeres. I am not to difpute,
as a profefTed Deuine ; or to determine, as a
feuere Cenfour : but a fcholler may deliuer his
opinion with reafon : and a frend may lend / his
aduife at occafion: efpecially when hee is vrged
to fpeake, or fufpedted for filence. They muft
licence mee to difTent from them, that autorife
thefelues to difagree from fo many notable, and
woorthy men, in the common reputation of fo
long a fpace. They condemne fuperftitious, &
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 135
credulous fimplicity: it were a fond fimplicity
to defende it, where it fwarueth from the Trueth,
or ftrayeth out-of the way: but difcretion can as
little commend opiniotiue and preiudicate afler-
tions, that ftriue for a needelefTe, and daungerous
Innouation. It is neither the Excefle, nor the
Defed, but the Meane, that edifyeth. Plato com-
paring Ariftotle, and Xenocrates togither ; Xeno-
crates, quoth he, needeth a fpurre : Ariftotle a
Bridle. And if Princes, or Parlaments want a
goade, may not Subiedts, or Admonitions want
a fnaffle? Is there pretence, for Libertie to
aduife the wifeft, or for Zeale to pricke-forward
the higheft : and no reafon for Prudence to curbe
RafhnefTe, or for Autoritie to reane Licentious-
nefle? May ludgement be whoodwinked with
friuolous traditions : and cannot Phantafie be en-
ueigled with newfangled conceites ? Superftition,
and Credulitie, are fimple Creatures : but what are
Contempt, and Tumult ? What is the principall
caufe of this whole Numantine Warre, but affedla-
tion of Nouelty, without ground ? If all without
exception, from the very fchollers of the Primitiue,
and heroical fchoole, wanted knowledge, or zeale :
how rare, and Angular are their bleffinges, that haue
both, in fo plentifull, and incomparable meafure ?
Afluredly there were many excellent witts, illumi-
nate minds, and deuout foules before them : if
136 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
nothing matchable with them, what greater
Maruell in this age ? Or if they were not rightly
difciplined, that liued fo Vertuoufly, and Chriftianly
togither ; what an ineftimable treafure is founde,
& what a cleere fountaine of holy life ? Where
are godly minds become, that they embrace not
that facred focietie ? What aile Religious handes
that they ftay from building-vpp the Cittie of
God ? Can Platos Republique, and Mores Vtopia
winne hartes : and cannot the heauenly Hierufalem
conquer foules ? Can there be a greater impietie,
then to hinder the rearing-vp of thofe celeftiall
walks ? why forgetteth the grofe Church, that it ^
ought to be the pure kingdome of heauen ? To
zeale, euen fpeede is delay ; / and a yeare, an age.
But how maturely, and iudicioufly fome bufie
motions haue bene confidered-vpon, by their hoat
follicitours, it would not pafle vnexamined. A
ftrong Difcipline ftandeth not vpon feeble feete :
and a weake foundation will neuer beare the
weight of a mightie Hierufalem. The great
fhoulders of Atlas oftentimes fhrinke and faint
vnder the great burden of heauen. The Taber-
nacle of Mofes ; the Temple of Salomon ; the
Golden Age of the Primitiue Church ; and the
filuer regiment of Conftantine, would be looked-
into, with a fharper, and cleerer eye. The
difference of Commonwealthes, or regiments, re-
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 137
quireth a difference of lawes, and orders : and
thofe lawes, and orders are moft fouerain, that
are moft agreable to the regiment, and beft
proportioned to the Commonwealth. The matter
of Ele(5lions, and offices, is a principall matter in
queftion : and how many not onely ignorant, or
curious, but learned, and confederate wits, haue
loft themfelues, and founde errour, in the difcourfe
of that fubied ? But how compendioufly might
it be concluded, that is fo infinitly argued ; or how
quietly decided, that is fo tumultuoufly debated ?
I relye not vpon the vncertaintie of difputable
rules ; or the fubtilitie of intricate arguments ; or
the ambiguitie of doubtfull allegations; or the
cafualtie of fallible experiments : but grounde my
refolution vpon the afturance of fuch politique,
and Ecclefiafticall Principles, as in my opinion can
neither be deceiued grofely, nor deceiue danger-
oufly. Popular Eledions, and offices, afwell in
Churches, as in Commonwealthes, are for popular
ftates : Monarchies, and Ariftocraties, are to cele-
brate their eledions, and offices, according to their
forme of gouernement, and the beft correspondence
of their ftates, Ciuill, and Ecclefiafticall : and may
iuftifie their / good proceeding by good diuinitie.
As they grauely, and religioufly prooued, that in
the floriftiing propagation, and mightie encreafe
of the Catholique Church vnder Princes, before,
H. II. 18
133 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
in, and after the Empire of Conftatine, were driuen
to varie from fome primitiue Exaples : not by
vnlawfull corruptio, as is ignoratly furmifed ; but
by lawful] prouifio, according to the exigence of
occafions, & neceffitie of alteration in thofe ouer-
ruling cafes : as appeareth by pregnant euidence
of Ecclefiafticall hiftories, and Canons ; wherewith
they are to confult, that affed a deepe infight in
the decifio of fuch controuerfies ; & not to leape at
all aduentures, before they haue looked about the,
afwell backward, as forward, & afwell of the
one iide, as of the other. Confideration is a good
Counfellour : & Reading, no badd Remebrancer ;
efpecially, in the moft elTentiall Common-places
of Do6lrine, and the moft important matters of
Gouernement. Ignorance may fome way be the
father of Zeale, as it was wont to be termed the
moother of Deuotion : but blind men fwallow-downe
many flyes ; and none more, then many of them,
that imagin they know all, and conceit an abfolute
omnifufficiencie in their owne platformes, with an
vniuerfall contempt of whatfoeuer contradidlion,
fpeciall, or generall, moderne, or auncient : when
vndoubtedly they are to feeke in a thoufand points
of requifite, and neceflarie confideration. Lord,
that men fhould fo pleafe, and flatter themfelues in
their owne deuifes : as if none had eyes, but they.
God neuer beftowed his diuine giftes in vayne :
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 139
they are not fo lightly to be reieded, that fo grauely
demeaned themfelues, inftrufted their brethren,
reclaimed infidels, conquered countryes, planted
Churches, confounded Heretiques, and inceflantly
trauailed in Gods caufes, with the whole deuotion
of/ their foules : howfoeuer fome can be content to
thinke, that fince the Apoftles, none euer had the
fpirit of Vnderftanding, or the mindes of fincerity,
but themfelues. Pardon me, pure intelligences, and
incorruptible mindes. The auncient Fathers, and
Dodors of the Church, wanted neither learning,
nor iudgement, nor confcience, nor zeale : as fome
of their Greeke, and Latin woorkes very notably
declare : (if they were blinde, happy men that
fee :) and what wifer Senates, or hollyer Congrega-
tions, or any way more reuerent afTemblies, then
fome Generall, and fome Prouinciall Councels?
Where they to a fuperficiall opinion, feeme to fett-
vpp a GlofTe, againft, or befide the Text ; it would
bee confidered, what their confiderations were;
and whether it can appeare, that they diredtly, or
indiredly proceeded without a refpediue regard
of the Commowealth, or a tender care of the
Church, or a reuerend examination of that Text.
For I pray God, we loue the Text no worfe, from
the bottome of our hartes, then fome of them did.
They are not the fimpleft, or difToluteft men, that
thinke, Difcretion might haue leaue to cutt his
140 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
coate according to his cloth ; and commend their
humility, patience, wifdome, and whole conforinity,
that were ready to accept any requifite order not
vnlawfull, and to admitt any decent, or feemely
rites of indifferent nature. Put the cafe, iuft as
it was then, and in thofe countries ; and what if
fome fuppofe, that euen M. Caluin, M. Beza,
M. Meluin, or M. Cartwright, (notwithftanding
their new defeignementes) being in the fame eftate,
wherein they were then, and in thofe countries,
would haue refolued no otherwife in effeft, then
they determined. Or if they did not fo perfedly
well, I pray God we may. Howbeit none fo fitt
to reconcile contradi6tions, or to accord differ-
ences, as hee that / diftinguifheth Times, Places,
Occafions, and other fwaying Circumftances ; high
pointes in gouernement, either Ciuill, or Ecclefiafti-
call. As in the doubtfull Paragraphs, and Canons
of the Law of man ; fo in the myflicall oracles of
the Law of God ; ^ui hem dijiinguit, bene docet :
in the one, when hee vfeth no diftindion but of
the Law, or fome reafon equipollent to the Law :
in the other, when he interpreteth the Scripture
by the Scripture, either exprefly by conference of
Text with Text, or colledtiuely by the rule of
Analogy. In cafes indifferent, or arbitrary, what
fo equall in generall, as Indifferency : or fo requifite
in fpeciall, as conformity to the pofitiue Lawe, to
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 141
the cuftome of the Countrey, or to the prefent
occafion ? To be peruerfe, or obftinate without
neceflary caufe, is a peeuifh folly : when by fuch
a duetyfull, and iuftifiable order of proceeding,
as by a facred League, fo infinite Variances, and
contentions may be compounded. To the cleane,
all thinges are cleane. S. Paule, that layed his
foundation like a wife archited:, and was a An-
gular frame of diuinity, (omnifufficientJy furnifhed
to be a Dodlour of the Nations, & a Conuertour
of People) became all vnto all, and as it were a
Chriftian Mercury, to winne fome. Oh, that his
Knowledge, or Zeale were as rife, as his Name:
and I would to God, fome could learne to behaue
themfelues toward Princes, and Magiftrates, as
Paul demeaned himfelfe, not onely before the
King Agrippa, but alfo before the twoo Romane
Procuratours of that Prouince, Felix, and Feftus :
whome he entreated in honourable termes, albeit
ethnicke gouernours. Were none more fcrupu-
lous, then S. Paul, how eafily, and gratioufly might
diuers Confutations bee reconciled, that now rage,
like Ciuill Warres ? The chiefeft matter in ques-
tion, is no article of beliefe, but a point of pollicy, /
or gouernement : wherin a ludiciall Equity being
duely obferued, what letteth but the particular
Lawes, Ordinances, Iniundlions, and whole manner
of lurifdidlion, may reft in the difpofition of Soue-
142 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
raine Autoritie? Whofe immediate, or mediate
aftes, are to be reuerenced with Obedience, not
countermaunded with fedition, or controled with
contention. He is a bold fubied, that attempteth
to binde the handes of facred Maiefty : and they
loue controuerfies well, I trow, that call their Princes
proceedinges into Controuerfie. Altercations, and
Paradoxes, afwell in Difcipline, as in Doctrine, were
neuer fo curioufly curious, or fo infinitely infinite :
but when all is done, and when Innouation hath
fett the beft countenance of proofe, or perfuafion,
vpon the matter ; Kingdomes will ftand, and Free-
Citties muft be content. Their Courts, are no
Prefidents for Royall Courts : their Councels, no
inftru6lions for the Councels of Kings, orQueenes:
their Confiftories, that would mafter Princes, no
informations for the Confiftories vnder Princes :
their Difcipline, no Canon, or platforme for foue-
raine gouernement, either in Caufes Temporall or
Spirituall. And can you blame them, that maruell,
how of all other Tribunals, or benches, that lewifh
Synedrion, or Pontificall Confiftory fhould fo
exceedingly grow in requeft, that put Chrift him-
felfe to death, and was a whipp for his deereft
Apoftles ? I am loth to enter the liftes of argu-
mentation, or difcourfe, with any obftinate minde,
or violent witt, that weeneth his owne Conceit, a
cleere Sunne without Eclipfe, or a full Moone
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 143
without wanes: but fith Importunacy will neuer
linne molefting Parliaments, and Princes, with
Admonitions, Aduertifements, Motions, Petitions,
Repetitions, Sollicitations, Declamations, Difcourfes,
Methods, Flatteries, Menaces, and / all poflible
inftant meanes of enforcing, and extorting the
prefent Pradife of their incorruptible Theorie ; it
would be fom-bodies tafke, to holde them a little
occupied, till a greater Refolution begin to fut)-
fcribe, & a furer Prouifion to execute. May it
therefore pleafe the bufieft of thofe, that debarre
Ecclefiafticall perfons of all Ciuill iurifdidion, or
temporal! fundion, to confider; how euery pettie
Parijhy in England, to the number of about 5200.
more, or lefle, may be made a lerufalem, or
Metropolitan Sea, like the nobleft Cittie of the
Orient, (for fo Pliny calleth lerufalem) : how euery
Minifter of the fayd Parifhes, may be promoted
to be an high Prieft, and to haue a Pontifical]
Confiftorie : how euery AJfifiant of that Confiftorie,
may emprooue himfelfe an honorable, or worfhip-
full Senior, according to his reuerend calling :
(for not onely the Princes of Families, or the
Princes of Tribes, but the Princes of Citties, or
ludges, the Decurions, the Quinquagenarians, the
Centurians, the Chiliarkes, were inferiour Officiers
to the Seniors) : how a Princely and Capitall Court^
and euen the high Councell of Parlament, or
144 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
fupreme Tribunall of a Royall Cittie, (for there
was no Seniorie in ludaea, but at lerufalem ; fauing
when the Proconful Gabinius, in a Romane Pollicy
deuided that nation into iiue parts, and appointed
foure other Confiftories), how fuch a Princely, and
ftately Court, fhould be the patterne of a Prejhitery
in a poore Pari/fi : how the PrincipaHtie or Poti-
ficalitie of a Minifier according to the degenerate
Sanedrim, fhould be fett-vpp, when the Lord/hip
of a Bifhop^ or Archbifhop, according to their
pofition, is to be puUed-downe : finally how the
Jupremacie ouer Kings, and Emperours fhould be
taken from the higheft Priefl, or Pope, to be
beflowed vpon an ordinarie Minifier, or Curate :
and how / that Minifier fhould difpenfe with
Ariflotles Law of infirumets, €VKpo<; ev : or be-
come more mighty then Hercules, that could not
encounter two charges att once: or at leafl how
that Ciuil Court, that meere Ciuill Court, for fo it
was ; before it declined fro the firfl inflitutio ;
euen as meerly ciuill, as the Romane Senate)
fhould be transformed into a Court meerly
Ecclefiaflicall. When thefe points are confidered ;
if withall it be determined by euidet demoflration,
as cleere as the Sunne, and as inuincible as
Gods-word, that whatfoeuer the Apoflles did for
their time, is immutably perpetuall, and necefTarie
for all times : and that nothing by way of fpeciall
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 145
refped, or prefent occafio, is left to the ordinaunce,
difpofitio, or prouifio of the Church, but the ftrift
and precife pradtife of their Primitiue Difcipline,
according to fome Precepts in S. Paules Epiftles,
and a few Examples in the A6les of the Apoftles :
So be ify muft be the fufFrage of vs, that haue no
Voyce in the Sanedrim. All is concluded in a
fewe pregnant proportions : we fhall not neede to
trouble, or entangle our wittes with many Articles,
Iniundions, Statutes, or other ordinances : the
Generall, Prouinciall, and Epifcopall Councels, loft
much good labour in their Canons, Decrees, and
whatfoeuer Ecclefiafticall Conftitutions : the workes
of the fathers, and Dodours, howfoeuer auncient,
learned, or Orthodoxall, are little, or nothing
worth: infinite ftuddies, writings, commentaries,
treatifes, conferences, confultations, difputations,
diftindions, conclufions of the moft- notable Schol-
lers in Chriftendome, altogither fuperfluous. Well-
worth a fewe refolute Aphorifmes; that difpatch
more in a word, then could be boulted-out in
fiften hundred yeares ; and roundly determine all
with an f^p/y-downe. No reformation without an
Vpfy-downe. In deede that is one of Ma/chiauels
Pofitions : and feeing it is prooued a peece of
found dodrine, it muft not be gain-fayd. Euery
head, that hath a hand, pull-downe the pride of
Biftiops, and fet vp the humilitie of Minifters.
H. II. 19
146 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Diogenes treade vpon Platos pompe. An vniuer-
fall reformation be proclaimed with the founde of
a lewes-trumpe : let the Pontificall Confiftorie be
eredled in euery Parifh : let the high Prieft, or
Archbifhop of euery Parifh, be enftalled in Mofes
Chaier, (it was Mofes, not Aarons Chayer, that
they challenge in their Senate : & he muft be
greater then Hercules, that can fulfill both) : let
the Miniflerie be a Royall Priefthood ; and the
dominio of his Segniorie, raigne like a Prefbiter
lohn : let it euerlaftingly be recorded for a foue-
rain Rule, as deare as a lewes eye, that lofephus
alledgeth out-of the Law ; Nihil agat Rex, fine
Pontijicisj ^ Seniorum Jententia. Onely let the
fayd Pontife beware, he prooue not a great Pope
in a little Roome ; or difcouer not the humour of
afpiring Stukely, that would rather be the king of
a moulhill, then the fecond in Ireland, or England.
Some Stoiques, and melancholie perfons haue a
fpice of ambition by themfelues : and euen lunius
Brutus the firft, was fomway a kinde of Tar-
quinius Superbus : and lunius Brutus the fecond,
is not altogither a mortified Creature, but be-
wrayeth as it were fome reliques of flefhe, and
bloud, afwell as his inwardefl frend Eujebius
Philadelphus. I dare come no neerer : yet Green-
wood, and Barrow begin already to complaine of
furly, and folemne brethren : and God knoweth
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 147
how that Pontificall chayer of eftate, might worke
in man, as he is man. Mercuric fublimed, is
fomewhat a coy, and ftout fellow : and I beleeue,
thofe high, and mighty Peeres, would not fticlce,
to looke for a low, and humble legge. Euery/
man muft haue his due in his place : and honour
aliably belongeth to redoubted Seniours. That is
their proper title at Geneua. Now if it feeme as
cleere a cafe in PoUicie, as in Diuinitie ; that one,
and the fame Difcipline may ferue diuers, and con-
trarie formes of regiment, and be as fitt for the
head of England, as for the foote of Geneua : The
worft is, Ariftotles Politiques muft be burned for
heretiques. But how happie is the age, that in
ftead of a thoufand Pofitiue Lawes, and Lefbian
Canons, hath founde one ftanding Canon of Poly-
cletus, an immutable Law of facred gouernement ?
And what a bliflefull deftinie had the Common-
wealth, that muft be the Modell of all other
Commonwealthes, and the very Center of the
Chriftian world? Let it be fo for euer, and
euer, if that Pamflet of the Lawes^ and Statutes
of Geneua^ afwell concerning the Ecclefiafticall
Difcipline, as Ciuill regiment ; deferue any fuch
fmgular, or extraordinarie eftimation, either for
the one, or for the other. If not ; are they not
bufie men, that will needes beare a rule, and ftrike
a maine ftroke, where they haue nothing to doe.
148 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
or are to be ruled ? It were a good hearing in
my eare, that fome of them could gouerne them-
felueSj but in reafonable wife fort, that are fo for-
ward to fwey kingdomes, and to fwing Churches
after their new fafhion ; and can ftande vpon no
grounde, but their owne. If certaine of them be
godlyer, or learneder, then many other, (according
to their fauorableft reputation,) it is the better for
them : I would alfo, they were wifer, then fome of
them, whom they impugne. Surely I feare, they
will be founde more peremptorie in Cenfure, then
founde in ludgement ; and more fmart in reproofe,
then fharpe in proofe. And may it not be a pro-
bable doubt, how they haue compared togither the
Law of Gods people, and the Go/pell / of Chriftes
Church in the Bible : or how they haue ftuddied
IqfephuSj Philo^ & Egejippus of the lewifh affaires ;
or Sigonius of the Hebrue Commonwealth; or
Freigius his Mofaicus ; or their owne Bonauentura
of the ludaicall Pollicy; that fetch their luris-
didion from the Sanedrim corrupted; and ground
their Reformation vpon the lewes Thalmud, the
next neighbour to the Turkes Alcoran. Had
Ramus Treatife of Difcipline come to light, they
would long-ere-this haue beene afhamed of their
Sanedrim, and haue blufhed to foift-in the Thai-
mud, in fteede of the Bible. God helpe poore
Difcipline, if the water bee hke the Conduit, the
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 1 49
Oile like the Lampe, and the Plant like the Tree.
Abraham was the beginning : Dauid the middeft :
and Chrift the ende of the Hebrue hiftory : his
Gofpell, not his ennemies Thalmud, the pure
fountaine of reformation, and the onely cieere
refplendifhing Sunne, that giueth light to the
ftarres of heauen, & earth; vnto which the
Church, his moft deere and fweete fpoufe, is
more deepely, and more incomprehenfibly bounden,
then the day vnto the Sunne, that fhineth from
his gliftering chariot. It is not for a Pontificall
Seniory or a Mechanicall Elder/hip, to ftopp the
courfe of any riuer, that fuccefliuely floweth from
that liquid fountaine : or to putt-out any Candle,
that was originally lighted at that inextinguible
Lampe. The Church hath fmall caufe, to dote
vppon the Coofen-germane of Tyranny : and the
Commonwealth hath no great affedion to the
Sworn-brother of Anarchy. Certainely States
neede not long to interteine tumultuous, and
neuer-fatisfied Innouation. And I hope he was
not greatly vnaduifed, that being demaunded his
opinion of the Elderfhip in queftion ; anfwered,
he conceiued of the Elder/hip^ (as it is intended,
and motioned in England) as he thought of the
Elder-tree^ that whatfoeuer it appeared in fhewe,
it would in triall prooue frutelefTe, feedelefle, bitter,
fraile, troublous, and a friend to furging waues.
150" PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
and tempeftuous ftormes. And being further/
prefled touching the forward Zeale of dowtiel i ^ Jr- "
Martin Seniour, liuely Martin luniour, pert Penry^j ' ^' '
lufty Barrow, and fome other bragge Reformiftes:\
(for that rowling ftone of Innouation was neuer foj .
turled and tumbled, as fince thofe bufie limmes- Wivi)*/^ ''
began to rowfe, and befturre them, more then
all the Pragmatiques in Europe) : when young
Phaeton, quoth he, in a prefumptuous refolution
would needes rule the Chariot of the Sunne,
as it might be the Temple of Apollo, or the
Church of S. Paule, or fome greater Prouince
(for the greater Prouince, Commonwealth, or
Monarchy, the fitter for Phaetons reformation) :
his fuddaine ruine miniftred matter of moft
lamentable teares, to his deare mother, and louing
Sifters : in fomuch, that they were pittifully
chaunged, as fome write, into Elder-trees^ as
fome, into Poplars. Sic fleuit Clymene: Jic ^
Clymeneides alt a : as it might be the mourne-
full Church and her wailing members, wofully
tranfmewed into Elders, or Poplars. Good my
Mafters, either make it an euident, and infallible
cafe, without fophifticall wrangling, or perfonall
brawling ; that your vnexperienced Difcipline, not
the order approoued, is the pure / well of that
diuine Spring, and the cleere light of that heauenly
Sunne : or I befeech you, pacific yourfelues, and
1 JjiJ : ri
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
furceafe to endaunger kingdomes with vnneedefull
vprores. Crooked proceedings would be reftified
by a right, not a crooked line : and Abufes re-
formed, not by abufing the perfons, but by well-
vfing the things thefelues. I fpare my auncients,
afwell at home as abroade : yet Beza might haue
bene good to fome Dodours of the Church ; and
better then he is, to RamuSy Erajius, KemnitiuSy
and fundry other excellent men of this age :
(neither can it fufficiently appeare, that the two
famous Lawyers, Grihaldus^ and Baldwinus^ were
fuch monftrous Apoftataes, or poyfonous Here-
tiques, as he reporteth) : and whither fome other,
neerer hand, haue not bene too-familiarly bold
with their Superiours, of approoued learning, and
wifedome, meete for their reuerend, and honorable
calling ; my betters ludge.
Modefty is a Ciuil Vertue, and Humility a | \/'(/^v.m>
Chriftian quality : Surely Martin is too too-mala- \
pert to be difcreet ; and Barrow too too-hoat, to j
bee wife: if they be godly, God helpe Charity :
but in my opinio they little wot, what a Chaos of
diforders, confufions, & abfurdities they breed, that j
fweat to build a reformation in a monarchy, vpon'
a popular foundation, or a mechanicall plott ; &
will needes be as fiery in execution, euen to
wring the Clubb out- of Hercules hand, as they
were aery in refolution. Alas, that wife men, and
152 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
. Y. reformers of ftates (I know not a weightier Pro-
>^ p'^>^v!|/^- uince) fhould once imagine, to finde it a matter of
as light confequence, to feniorife in a realme, ouer
the greateft Lordes, and euen ouer the highneffe
, of Maieftie ; as in a towne, ouer a company of
meane marchantes, and meaner artificers. I will
not fticke, to make the beft of it. M. Caluin, /
the founder of the plott, (whome Beza ftileth the
great Caluin) had reafon to eftablifh his miniftery
againft Inconftancy, and to fortify himfelfe againft
Fa6tion (as he could beft deuife, and compaffe
with the affiftance of his French party, and other
fauorites) by encroaching vpon a mechanicall,
and mutinous people, from whofe variable and
fickle mutability he could no otherwife aflecure
himfelfe. As he fenfibly found not onely by
dayly experiences of their giddy and fadlious
nature, but alfo by his owne expulfion, and
banifhment : whome after a little triall, (as it were
for a dainety nouelty, or fly experiment) they
could be content to vfe as kindly, and loyally,
as they had vfed the old Bifhopp, their lawful!
Prince. Could M. Cartwright, or M. Trauerfe
feaze vpon fuch a Citty, or any like popular
towne, Heluetian or other, where Democraty
ruleth the roft : they fhould haue fome-bodies
good leaue to prouide for their owne fecurity ;
and to take their beft aduauntage vppon tickle
PIERCES S UPERER O GA TION. 1 53
Cantons. Some one peraduenture in time would pi*>/U,
canton them well-enough ; and giue a fhrewd pull
at a Metropolitan Sea, as foueraine, as the old
Birtioprike of Geneua. It were not the firft time,
that a Democraty by degrees hath prooued an
Ariftocraty ; an Ariftocraty degenerated into an
Oligarchy ; an Oligarchy amounted to a Tyranny,
or Principality. No Rhetorique Climax fo arti-
ficiall, as that Politique Gradation. But in a iuft
kingdome, where is other good afluraunce for
Minifters, and meeter Councels For Princes, then
fuch fwarmes of imperious Elderfhips ; it is not
for fubiedes to vfurpe, as Commaunders may
tirannife in a fmall territory. VnlefTe they meane
to fett-vp a generall Deformation, in lieu of an
Vniuerfall Reformation ; and to bring-in an order,
that would foone prooue a diluge of diforder ; an
ouerflow of Anarchy ; / and an open Fludgate, to
drowne Pollicy with licentioufnes, nobility with
obfcurity, and the honour of realmes with the
bafenefle of Cantons. They that long for the '\
bane, and plague of their Country, pray for that
many-hedded, and Cantonifh reformation: in iflue
good for none, but the high Judges of the Con-
fiftory, and their appropriate Creatures : as I will
iuftify at large, in cafe I be euer particularly
challenged. I am no pleader for the regiment of
the feete ouer the head, or the gouernement of the
H. II. 20
^ ris,
K
\/\}:^
154 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
\ I ftomacke over the hart : furely nothing can bee
I more pernitious in pradlife, or more miferable
in conclufion, then a commaunding autority in
them, that are borne to obey, ordained to Hue
in priuate condition, made to follow their occu-
pations, and bound to homage. You that be
fchollars, moderate your inuention with iudgement :
and you that be reafonable gentlemen, pacify
your felues with reafon. If it be an iniury, to ^
enclofe Commons ; what iuftice is it, to lay open -^^ *^
enclofures ? and "if Monarchies muft fufFer popular 1
ftates to enioy their free liberties, and ampleft
fraunchifes, without the leaft infringment, or
abridgment : is there no congruence of reafon,
that popular ftates jfhould giue Monarchies leaue,
to vfe their Pofitiue lawes, eftablifhed orders, and
Royall Prerogatiues, without difturbance, or con-
futation ? Bicaufe meaner Minifters, then Lordes,
may become a popular Cittie, or territorie ; muft
it therefore be an abfurditie in the maiefty of a
kingdome, to haue fome Lordes fpirituall amongft
fo many temporall : afwell for the fitter corres-
pondence and combination of both degrees ; their
more reuerend priuate direction in matters of
confcience ; their weightier publique Counfell in
Parlaments and Synods ; the firmer aflurance of
the Clergie in their caufes ; and the more honor-
able efti / mation of Religion in all refpedes ; as
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION.
'55
for the folemner vifitation of their Dioces, & other
competent lurifdidlion. It is Tyrannie, or vain-
glorie, not reuerend Lordfhip, that the Scripture
condemneth. There were Bifhops, or as fome
will haue them termed, Superintendents, with
Epifcopall fuperioritie, and iurifdidion ; in the
golden age of the Apoftles : Timothie of Ephefus ;
Titus of Crete ; Marke of Alexandria ; lames of
lerufalem ; Philemon of Gaza; the eloquent Apollos
of Caefarea : Euodius of Antioche ; Sojipater of
Iconium, according to Dorotheus, of ThefTalonica,
according to Origene ; Tychicus of Chalcedon ;
Ananias of Damafcus : and fo forth. Diuers of
the auncient Fathers, and Dodours, afwell of the
Orientall, as of the Occidentall Churches, were
Bifhops, reuerend Fathers in Chrift, and fpirituall
Lordes. The fame ftile, or title of reuerence, hath
fuccefliuely continued to this age, without any
empeachment of value, or contradiction of note ;
fauing that of the angrie Malcontent, and prowd
heretique Aerius, fcarfely worth the naming. What
cruell outrage hath it lately committed, or what
haynous indignitie hath it newly admitted, (more
then other aduauncementes of Vertue, or ftiles of
honour,) that it fhould now be cancelled, or aban-
doned in all haft ? Would God, fome were no
ftouter, or hawtier without the title, then fome are
with it ? Many temporall Lordes, Dukes, Princes,
r
.ri/(
; <ij2-
UNiVEHssrrx
156 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Kinges, and Emperours, haue fhowen very-notable
effedluall examples of Chriftian humilitie : and
may not fpirituall Lordes carrie fpirituall mindes ?
I hope, they do : I know, fome doe : I am fuer,
all may ; notwithftanding their ordinarie title, or
an hundred plaufible Epithits. I would the Lord-
ihip, or pompe of Bifhops, were the greateft abufe
in Commonwealthes, or Churches. I fear me, I
fhall neuer liue to / fee fo happie a world vpon
the Earth, that aduifed Reformation fhould haue
nothing worfe to complaine-off, then that Lordfhip,
or pompe. What may be, or is amifTe, in any
degree ; I defend not : (the delid: of fome one,
or two Prelates, were it manifeft, ought not to
redounde to the damage, or detriment of the
Church) : what may ftande with the honour of
the realme ; with the benefite of the Church : with
the approbation of antiquitie, and with the Canon | i
of the Scripture, I haue no reafon to impugne, or
abridge. I haue more caufe to fufpedl that fome
earned dealers might be perfuaded to difpenfe with
the name of Lordfhip in Bifhops, on condition
themfelues might be the parties : that would not
fecularlie abufe the title to any priuate pompe, or
vanitie, but religiouflie applie it to the publique
adminiflration of the Churche, according to the
firft inflitution. Were dalliance fafe in fuch cafes;
I could wifhe the experiment in a perfon, or
M '•1
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 157 ^
two, in whofe complexions I haue fome infight.
Dodour Humfry of Oxford, and Dodour Fulke
of Cambridge, two of their ftandard-bearers a
long time, grew conformable in the end, as they
grew riper in experience, and fager in iudgement :
and why may not fuch, and fuch, in the like, or
weightier refpedles, condefcend to a like toleration
of matters Adiaphorall ? Sith it will be no other-
wife (maugre all Admonitions, or whatfoeuer
zealous Motiues) better relent with fauour, then
refift in vayne. Were any fayre offer of prefermet,
handfomely tendered vnto fome, that gape not
greedily after promotion, nor can-away with this-
fame feruile waiting, or plaufible courting for
liuing : I doubt not but wife men would fee
what were good for themfelues, commodious for
their frendes, and conuenient for the Church. If
they fhould obftinatly refufe / Deaneryes, and
Bifhoprickes ; I fhould verely beleeue, they are
mooued with flronger arguments, and pregnanter
autorities, then any, they haue yet publifhed in
Print, or vttered in difputation : and I would be
very glad to conferre with them, for my inflruc-
tion. Sound reafons, & autenticall quotations
may preuayle much : & no fuch inuincible de- \fiJ\
fence, as the armour of Proofe. In the mean time,
the caufe may be remembred, that incenfed the \aa^''
forefayd fadious malcontent, Aerius, to maintaine
{f^ ■s^'^''^ 158 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
the equalitie of Bifhops, and other Prieftes, when
himfelfe failed in his ambitious fuite for a Bifhop-
ricke : and all refteth vpon a cafe of confcience,
as nice and fqueamifh a fcruple with fome zealous
Marr-prelates, as whither the Fox in fome good
refpedls, might be woon to eate grapes. They
that would pregnantly try Conclufions, might
peraduenture finde fuch a temptation, the material-
left and learnedeft Confutation, that hath yet bene
Imprinted. Melancholic is deepely wife ; and
Choler refolutely ftout : they muft perfuade them
eflentialiy, and feelingly, that will mooue them
effedlually. Were they entreated to yeelde, other
arguments would fubfcribe of their owne gentle
accord ; and ingenuoufly confefle, that Opinion
is not to preiudice the Truth, or Fadlion to dero-
gate from Autoritie. Pofleflion was euer a ftrong
defendant : and a iuft title maketh a puifTant
aduerfarie. Bifhops will goouerne with reputa-
tation, when Marr-Prelats muft obey with
reuerence, or refift with contumacie. Errours
in dodlrine ; corruptions in manners ; and abufes
in offices, would be reformed: but degrees of
fuperioritie, and orders of obedience are needefull
in all eftates: and efpecially in the Clergie as
neceftarie, as the Sunne in the day, or the Moone
in the night : or Cock-on-hoope, with a hundred/
thoufand Curates in the world, would prooue a
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 159
mad Difcipline. Let Order be the golden rule \ _'/ /ll<\n^'C"
of proportion ; & I am as forward an Admoni- / r {j\ ;^a
tioner, as any Precifian in Ingland. If diforder
muft be the Difcipline, and confufion the Refor- \ ^^ ; ^, , ,
matio, (as without difference of degrees, it muft I
needes) I craue pardon. Anarchie^ was neuer yet I r^
a good States-man : and Ataxic^ will euer be a
badd Church-man. That fame luftie Downefal!,
is too-hoat a Pollicie for my learning. They were
beft, to be content to let Bifhopricks ftande, that
would be loth to fee Religion fall, or the Clergie
troden vnder foote. He conceiueth little, that
perceiueth not, what bondes hold the world in
order, and what tenures maintaine an aflurance
in eftates. Were Minifters Stipendiaries, or
Penfionars, (which hath alfo bene a wife motion)
and all without diftindtion, alike efteemed, that
is, all without regard, alike contemned, & abieded,
(which would be the ifllie of vnequal Equallity) ;
woe to the poore Miniftery : and the cunningeft
practife of the confiftorie, fhould haue much-adoe,
to ftopp thofe gapps, and recure thofe fores.
Neuer a more fuccourleffe Orphan ; or a more
defolate widdow ; or a more diftreffed Pilgrim ;
then fuch a Miniftery: vntill in a thirfty, &
hungry zeale, it ftiould eftfoones retire to former
prouifions, & recoouer that aunciet Oeconomy
Ecclefiafticall. The fureft reuenue, & honorableft
i6o ■ PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
\
ialary of that coate ; much-better iwis, the the '\
fouldiours pay, or the Seruing-mas wages. Equality, ■
in things equall, is a iuft Law : but a refpedtiue
valuation of perfons, is the rule of Equity : & ;
they little know, into what incogruities, & ab-
Ifurdities they runne headlong, that are weary of
Geometricall proportion^ or diftributiue luftice, in
the collation of publique fundtions, offices, or
promotions, ciuile, or fpirituall. God beftoweth
his bleffings with difference; / and teacheth his
Lieutenant the Prince, to eftimate, and preferre
his fubiedes accordingly. When better Autors
are alledged for equalitie in perfons Vnequall ; 1 '
will Hue, and dye in defence of that equalitie ;
and honour Arithmetic all Proportion^ as the onely
ballance of luftice, and fole ftandard of gouerne- !\
ment. Meane-while, they that will-be wifer, then
God, and their Prince, may continue a peeuifh
fcrupulofitie in fubfcribing to their ordinances ;
and nurrifh a rebellious Contumacie, in refufing
their orders. I wifh vnto my frendes, as vnto
mifelfe : and recommende Learning to difcretion,
conceit to iudgment, zeale to knowledge, dutie
to obedience, confufion to order, Vncertaintie
to aflurance, and Vnlawfull noueltie to lawfull <y/i/ .
Vniformitie : the fweeteft repofe, that the Com- ,;'^-f^
mon-wealth, or Church can enioy. Regnum
diuijum^ a fouerain Text ; and what notabler
■' ■'I./yif-'
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. i6i
Glofle vpon a thoufand Texts? Or what more
cordial! reftoratiue of Boddy, or Soule, then, Ecce
quam bonum^ £s? quam iucundum} Sweet my
mafters, be fweet : and without the lead bitter-
nefTe of vnneceflarie ftrife, tender your afFec-
tionateft deuotios of Zeale, and Honour, to the
beft contentment of your frends, your Patrons,
your Prince, the Comonwealth, the Church, the
Almightie : which fo dearely looue, fo bountifully ^ .^. ^
maintaine, fo mightily proted, fo gratioufly fauour, '^ ' ^ ^iC..'^^
and fo indulgentially tender you. Confounde not
yourfelues : and what people this day more
blefled, or what nation more floorifhing ? Some
feruent, and many counterfait loouers, adore their
miftreffes ; and commit Idolatrie to the lead of
their bewties : oh, that we knew what a Sacrifice,
Obedience were ; and what a lewell of lewells
he ofFereth, that prefenteth Charitie. Without
which, we may talke of Dodrine, and difcourfe
of Difcipline : but Dodrine is a Parrat ; / Dis-
cipline an Eccho ; Reformation a fhaddow ;
Sandification a dreame without Charitie : in
whofe fweet boofome Reconciliation harboureth;
the deareft frend of the Church, and the only Eft
Amen of fo infinite Controuerfies. That Recon-
ciliation fettle itfelfe to examine matters barely,
• without their veales, or habiliments, according to
the counfell of Marcus Aurelius : and to define
H, II. 21
i62 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
thinges fimply, without any colours, or embel-
lifhments, according to the preceptes ofAriftotle,
and the examples of Ramus : and the moft-
endlefTe altercations ; being generally rather
Verbal, then reall, and more circumftantiall,
then fubftantiall : will foone grow to an ende.
Which end humanitie haften, if there be any
fpice of humanitie ; diuinitie difpatch, if there be
any remnant of diuinitie ; heauen accomplifh, if
the graces of heauen be not locked-vpp ; and
Earth embrace, if reconciliation hath not forfaken
the Earth. If Falfhood be weake, as it is weake,
why fhould it longer hold-vpp head : and if Truth
^j^ be truth, that is, great and mightie, why fhould
^ j it not preuayle ? Moft-excellent Truth, fhow
[;4vv'^3mi/\ thifelfe in thy vidlorious Maieftie ; and mauger
j whatfoeuer encounter of witt, learning, or furie,
preuayle puifTantly.
; Thefe Notes, if they happen to fee light, are
efpecially intended to the particular Vfe of a fewe,
whom in affedlionate good-will I would wifh to
ftay their wifedomes. Did I not entirely pittie
their cafe, and extraordinarily fauour fome com-
mendable partes in them, they fhould not eafely
haue coft me halfe thus many lines ; euery one
/ worfe beftowed, then other, if conftancie in errour,
M K''» m k, / ^^ ^ creddit ; in difobedience, a bonde ; in vice, a
vertue; in miferie, a felicitie. He that writt the
( y^^-'
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 1 63
premifTes, affedieth Truth, as precifely, as any
Precifian in Cambrige, or Oxford ; and hateth /
euen Looue itfelfe, in comparifon of Truth, which
he is euer to tender with a curious deuotion : but
a man may be as blinde in ouerfeeing, as in feeing
nothing : and he may fhoote farther from the
marke, that ouerfhooteth, then he that fhooteth
fhort, or wide : as alwayes fome motefpying
heades haue fo fcrupuloufly ordered the matter,
Vt intelligendo nihil intelligerent. I would be
loth to fall into the handes of any fuch captious,
and mutinous witts : but if it be my fortune, to
light vpon hard interteinement, what remedie? I
haue had fome little tampering with a kinde of
Extortioners, and barratours in my time : and
feare not greatly any bugges, but in charitie, or r^
in dutie. 1 Wrong him not, that would gladly be , /
well-taken, where he meaneth-well ; and once for __
all protefteth, he looueth humanitie with his hart,
and reuerenceth diuinitie with his foule : as he
would rather declare indeede, then profefTe in
worde. If he erreth, it is for want of know- » j,
ledge, not for want of Zeale. Howbeit for his (p^*-"'''^'^
fuller contentment, he hath alfo done his endeuour,
to know fomething on both fides ; and laying-afide
Partialitie to the perfons, hath priuately made the
moft equall & fincere Analyfis of their feuerall
allegations, and proofes, that his Logique, and
I'A/l
i64 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION,
diuinitie could fett-downe. For other Analyfes
he ouer-pafTed, as impertinent, or not fpecially
materiall. After fuch examination of their auto-
rities, and argumentes, not with a rigorous Cenfure
of either, but with a fauorable Conftrudlion of
both : Pardon him, though he prefume to dehuer
fome part of his animaduerfions in fuch termes, as
the inftant occafion prefenteth : not for any con-
tentious, or fmifter purpofe (the world is too-full
of litigious, and barratous pennes) but for the
fatisfadion of thofe, that defire them, & the
aduertifement of thofe, that regard them. Who /
according to any indifferent, or reafonable Analyfis,
fhall finde the iharpeft Inuentions, & weightieft
ludgementes of their leaders, nothing fo autenticall,
or current, as was preiudicatly expected. It is no
peece of my intention, to inftru<5t, where I may
learne : or to controwle any fuperiour of qualitie,
that in confcience may afFedl, or in Pollicie feeme
to countenance that fide. With Martin, and his
applauders; Browne, and his adherents; Barrow,
and his complices ; Kett, and his fedlaries ; or
whatfoeuer Commotioners of like difpofition, (for
neuer fuch a flufh of fcifmatique heads, or here-
tique witts), that like the notorious H. N. or the
prefumptuous Dauid Gorge, or that execrable
Seruetus, or other turbulent rebells in Religion,
would be Turkefing, and innouating they wott
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 165
not what; I hope it may become me, to be
allmoft as bold; as they haue bene with Judges,
Bifhops, Archbifhops, Princes, and with whom
not? howToeuer learned, wife, vertuous, reuerend,
honorable, or fouerain. Or if my coole dealing
with them, be infupportable : I beleeue their hoat
pradifing with Lordes, and Princes, was not
greatly tolerable. Be, as it may : that is done
on both fides, cannot be vndone : and if they
weene, they may ofFende outragioufly without in-
iurie ; other are fuer, they may defend moderately
with iuftice. When that feuen-fold Sheild faileth,
my plea is at an ende ; albeit my making, or
marring were the Client. Whiles the feuen-fold
Sheild holdeth-out, he can doe little, that cannot
hold it vpp. A ftrong Apologie, enhableth a ! ■*■"''" f. , _,
weake hand ; and a good caufe is the beft | "yy^J^ -^
Aduocate. Some fleepe not to all : and I watch
not to euery-one. If I be vnderftood with effed,
where I wifh at-leaft a demurrer with flayed
aduifement, & confultation ; I haue my defier,
& wil not tedioufly importune other. I doubt >/
not of many / cotrary inftigatios, & fome bold
1 ^vaT examples of turbulet fpirits : but heat is not
y ih-^ th^ meeteft ludge on the bench, or the founded
Jrj^'t Diuine in difputation : & in matters of gouern-
ment, but efpecially in motions of altercatio, that
runne their heads againft a ftrong wall ; Take
^y^X
I
(,^/'f:
iV)
i66 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
heede is a fayre thing. Were there no other
Jm^J'A '- ri;^'«(/j. Confiderations ; the Place, and the Time, are
\ i j t V* 'K^y ^^ two weightie, and mightie Circumftances. It is
a very-nimble feather, that will needes out-runne
}' the wing of the Time; and leaue the fayles of
regiment behinde. Men are men, and euer had,
C/M-f cv/ ''■^^ ^^^^ "^^^1 haue their imperfedtions : Paradife
tailed of imperfeAions : the golden age, when-
fr\a.r^U foeuer it was moft golden, had fome drofTe of
imperfecflios : the Patriarkes fealt fome fits of
imperfections : Mofes tabernacle was made ac-
quainted with imperfedlios ; Salomos Temple could
not cleere itfelfe fro imperfedlions : the Primitiue
Church wanted not imperfeftions : Conftantines
deuotion founde imperfedtions : what Reformatio
could euer fay ? I haue no imperfedlios : or will
they, that dubb themfelues the little flocke, and
the onely remnant of Ifrael ; fay ? we haue no
imperfe6tios. Had they none, as none haue more,
then fome of thofe Luciferian fpirits; it is an
vnkinde Birde, that defileth his kinde neaft ; and
a prowd hufband-man, that can abide no tares
amogft wheate, or vpbraideth the Corne with the
Cockle. There is a God aboue, that heareth
prayers : a Prince beneath, that tendereth fuppli-
cations : Lordes on both fides, that Patronife good
caufes : learned men, that defire Conference : time,
to confider vpon effentiall pointes : Knowledge,
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 167
that loueth zeale, as zeale muft reuerence know-
ledge : Trueth, that difplayeth, & inuefteth itfelfe :
Confcience, that is a thoufand witnefles, euen againft
it felfe. When the queftion is de Re\ to difpute
de Homine is fophifticall : / or when the matter
dependeth in controuerfie, to cauill at the forme
is captious : the abufe of the one, were it proued,
abolifheth not the vfe of the other : what fhould
impertinent fecrecies be reuealed ; or needles
quarrels picked; or euery propofition wrinched
to the harfheft fenfe? What fhould honeft
mindes, and excellent wittes, be taunted, and
bourded, without rime, or reafon? What fhould
infolent, and monftrous Phantaflicality extoll, and
glorify itfelfe aboue the cloudes, without caufe,
or effed? When, where, and how fhould Mar-
tin Junior be purified ; Martin Senior faintified ;
Browne Euangeliflified ; Barrow Apoflolified ; Kett
Angelified ; or the Patriarke of the loouely Fami-
lifles, H. N. deified, more then all the world
befide? Were it poflible, that this age fhould
affoord a diuine and miraculous Elias : yet, when
Elias himfelfe deemed himfelfe moft defolate, and
complained hee was left all-alone ; there remained
thoufandes liuing, that neuer bowed their knees
vnto Baal. But Fadion, is as fure a Keeper of
Counfell, as a fiue : Spite, as clofe a Secretary, as
a fkummer : Innouation, at the leafl a bright
'^0 ^
i68 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Angell from heauen: & the forefaid abftrades
of pure diuinity, will needes know, why Junius
Brutus, or Eufebius Philadelphus fhould rather
be Pafquils incarnate, then they. If there be one
Abraham in Vr; one Lot in Sodome; one Daniell
in Babilon ; one lonas in Niniue ; one lob in Huz ;
or if there bee one Dauid in the Court of Saule ;
one Obadia in the Court of Achab ; one leremy in
the Court of Zedechias ; one Zorobabel in the
Court of Nabuchodonofor ; one Nehemias in the
Court of Artaxerxes ; or any fingular blefled One
\ in any good, or bad Court, Citty, State, Kingdome,
7f 1/ I or Nation ; it muft be one of them : all other of
whatfoeuer dignity, or defeyt, what but reprobates,
"/j f^'o apoftataes, monfters, tyrants, / pharifes, hypocrites,
falfe prophets, belly-gods, worldlinges, rauenous
f\ woolues, crafty foxes, dogs to their vomite, a
generation of vipers, limmes of Sathan, Diuels
incarnate, or fuch like. For Erafmus poore
Copia Verborunij and Omphalius fory furniture
of inuedliue and declamatory phrafes muft come-
fhorte in this comparifon of the rayling faculty.
I know no remedy, but the prayer of Charitie,
and the order of Autority : whome it concerneth
to deale with libels, as with thornes ; with
phanfies, as with weedes ; and with herefies, or
fcifmes, as with Hydras heads. It hath bene
alwayes one of my obferuations, but efpecially
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 169
of later yeares, fince thefe Numantine fkir-
mifhes : The better fchollar indeede, the colder
fcifmatique ; & the hotter fcifmatique, the worfe
fchollar. What an hideous and incredible opinion
did Dauid Gorge conceiue of himfelf ? H. N.
was not afFraide to infult ouer al the Fathers,
Do(5lors, fchooleme, & new-writers, euer fince the
Euagelifts, & Apoftles : Browne challeged all the
Dodiours, & other notableft graduats of Cambridge,
and Oxford : Kett, though fomething in Aftrology,
and Phyficke, yet a rawe Deuine, how obftinate,
and vntradable in his fantafticke aflertions?
Barrow taketh vpon him, not onely aboue Luther,
Zuinglius, Oecolampadius, Brentius, and all the
vehementeft Germane Proteftants ; but alfb aboue
Caluin, Viret, Beza, Marlorat, Knox, Meluin,
Cartwright, Trauerfe, Fenner, Penry, and all our
importunateft follicitours of reformation; howfo-
euer qualified with giftes, or reputed amongft their
fauorits. Illuminate Vnderftanding, is the rare
byrd of the Church; and graund intendimentes
come by a certaine extraordinarie, and fuper-
naturall reuelation. One Vnlearned Singularift
hath more in him, then ten learned Precifians :
giue me the braue fellow, that can carrie / a
Dragons tayle after him. Tufh, Vniuerfitie-learn-
ing is a Dunfe : and Schoole-diuinitie a Sorbonift.
It is not Art, or Modefty, that maketh a Rabi
H. II. 22
Ivt'^ i;o PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Alphes, or a ringleader of multitudes. Dauid
Gorge the Archprophet of the world : H. N. the
Archeuangelift of Chrift: and Barrow the Arch-
apoftle of the Church. Superhappy Creatures,
that haue illuminate vnderftanding, and graund
intendiments at the beft hand. Miraculous Barrow,
that fo hugely exceedeth his auncients in the pure
arte of Reformation. But vndoubtedly his King-
dome cannot flourifh long : as he hath blefled his
Seniors, fo he muft be annointed of his luniors :
me thinkes I fee an other, and an other headd,
fuddainely ftarting-vpp vpon Hydras fhouldiers:
farewell H. N. and welcome Barrow : adieu Barrow,
and All-haile thou Angelicall fpirite of the Gofpell,
whofe face I fee in a Chriftall, more pure, then
Purity it felfe : the depreffion of one, the exalta-
tion of another : the corruption of one, the genera-
tion of an other : no feede fo fertile, or rancke, as
the feede of fcifme, and the fperme of herefy.
Chrift aide his aflaulted fort ; and blifTe the feede
of Abraham : and in honor of excellent Arts, and
worthy Profeflions, be it euer faide ; The beft-
learned, are beft-aduifed. Euen Cardinall Sadolet,
Cardinall Poole, and Omphalius, commended the
milde, and difcreete difpofition of Melandthon,
Bucer, and Sturmius, when they firft ftirred in
Germany : the Queene Moother of Fraunce, and
the Cardinall of Lorraine prayfed Ramus, albeit
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 1 7 1
hee was knowen to fauourife the Prince of Condy :
louius prayfed Reuclin, and Camerarius, as Peucer
prayfed louius, and Bembus : Oforius prayfed
Afcham, as Afcham prayfed Watfon : and who
prayfed not Sir lohn Cheeke ; how exceedingly
did Cardan praife him ? Sir Thomas Smith, her /
Maiefties AqibafTadour in France, in the raignes
of Henry the Second, Francis the Second, and
Charles the Ninth ; was honored of none more,
then of fome French, and Italian Cardinals, and
Bifhops : the Kinges fonnes fauored his fonne,
afwell after, as before their Coronation. Neander
in his late Chronicle, and later Geographie, praifeth
here, & there certaine Papiftes: and did not
Agrippa, Erafmus, Duarene, and Bodine occafion-
ally prayfe as many Proteftants ? It was a fweet,
and diuine Vertue, that ftirred-vp looue, & admira-
tion in fuch aduerfaries : & doubtleffe they carried
an honeft, & honorable mynde, that forgot them-
felues, and their frendes, to doe their enemies
reafon, and Vertue right, A vertue, that I often
feeke, feldome finde ; wifh-for in many, hope-for
in fome, looke-for in few; reuerence in a Superiour,
honour in an inferiour ; admire in a frend, looue
in a foe ; ioy, to fee, or heare, in one, or other.
Peruerfe natures are forward to difguife themfelues,
and to condemne not onely Curtefie, or humanitie,
but euen humilitie, & charitie it felfe, with a nick-
,1A
'P
172 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION'.
name of Newtralitie, or Ambidexteritie : terme it,
what you lift, and mifcall it at your pleafure :
certes it is an excellent and fouerain qualitie, that
in a firme refolution neuer to abandon Vertue, or
to betray the Truth, ftealeth interteinement from
difpleafure, fauour from offence, looue from
^ I /, enmitie, grace from indignation ; and not like
Homers Syren, but like Homers Minerua, traineth
Partialitie to a liking of the aduerfe Partie ; diften-
fion to a commendation of his Contrarie ; errour
to an embracement of truth ; and euen Corruption
himfelfe to an aduauncement of valour ; of defert,
of integretie, of that morall, and intellediuall good,
that fo gratioufly infinuateth, and fo forciblie
! emprooueth itfelfe. Oh, that learning were euer
married to fuch / difcretion; witt to fuch wifedome ;
Zeale to fuch vertue ; contention to fuch moralitie :
and oh, that fuch priuate gouernement might appeare
in thofe, that pleade moft-importunatly for publique
gouernement. Oh, that Plato could teach Xeno-
crates ; Ariftotle, Callifthenes; Theophraftus,
Ariftotle ; Eunapius, lamblicus ; to facrifice to the
fweet Graces of Mercurie. What ihould I vayle,
or fhadow a good purpofe ? Oh a thoufand times,
that Melan6t[h]on could traine Junius Brutus ;
Sturmius, Philadelphus ; Ramus, Beza ; lewell,
Cartwright ; Deering, Martin ; Baro, Barrow ; to
embrace the heauenly Graces of Chrift, and to
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TI02^. i -j^
kifle the hand of that diuine Creature, that pafTeth
all Vnderftanding. What a felicitie were it, to fee
fuch heades as pregnant, as Hydras heades; or
Hydras heades as rare as fuch heades ?
It is not my meaning, to deface, or preiudice
any, that Vnfainedly meaneth well: if Percafe I
happen to touch fome painted walles, and godly
hypocrites (GodlinefTe is become a ftrange Creature,
fhould they be truly godly) let them keepe their
owne Counfel, and ceafe to affeA new reputation
by old herefies. The lewes had their holly-holly-
holly EJf^ans : their feperate, / and precife Pharifes :
their daily regenerate, & Puritane Hemerobaptijies :
their feruent, and illuminate Zelotiftes : onely in
fhape men, in conuerfation Saindls, in infinuation
Angels, in profefTion Demi-gods ; as defcended
from heauen, to blefle the Earth, and to make
the Citie a Paradife, that waflied their feete. lefus
blefTe good mindes from the blacke enemy, when
he attireth himfelfe like an Angell of light. ludas
the Gaulonite, in the reigne of Herode the Great,
was an hoat toft, and a maruelous Zelotift ; when
the Emperour Ocftauian taxing the world, and
aflefTmg ludea, like other nations, who but he, /
in the abundance of his mightie Zeale, was the
man, that fett it downe for a Canonicall Dodrine :
That the people of God, was to acknowledge no
other Lord, but God : and that it was a flauifti
t^^-€^ ., -I
:> Oxj
1 74 PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION.
bondage, to pay any fuch exadtion, or impofition
to Auguftus : and hauing giuen-out that principle,
for an infallible rule, or rather a facred law, very
vehemently follicited and importuned the people
(as the manner is) to Hue, and dye in the caufe of
their God, and their libertie. But fweet Chrift
was of a milder & meeker fpirite ; & both payed
- . tribute himfelfe to auoyde offence ; and fet it
'l -» ^ downe for an eternal Maxime in his Gofpell ; Giue
vnto Casfar, that belongeth vnto Casfar, and vnto
God, that belongeth vnto God. Zealous ludas
the Gaulonite, and feruent Simon the Galilean,
two fingular reformers of the ludaicall Synagoge,
pretended fayre for a pure Type, or exquifite
platforme of the foundeft, exadeft, and precifeft
Hebraicall Difcipline : but what prophane Idolatrie
fo plagued that diuine Common-wealth, as that
fame fcrupulous Zeale ? or what made that bleffed
ftate, vtterly miferable, but that fame vnruly, and
tumultuous Zeale ; that would not be content
with reafon, vntill it was too-late ? For a time,
they fuppofed themfelues, the worthieft, & rareft
Creatures in ludea, or rather the onely men of
that ftate ; and in a deepe conceit of a neat &
vndefiled puritie, diuorced, or fequeftred them-
felues fro the corrupt focietie of other : but alas,
that any purified mindes, fhould pay fo dearely,
and fmartly for their fine Phanfies; which coft
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 175
them no lefle, then the moft lamentable ouerthrow
of their whole Common-wealth. You that haue
Languages, and Arts, more than diuers others of
good qualitie, and can Vfe them with Methode,
and a certaine plaufible opinion of great learning,
be as excellent, and fin / gular, as you pofTiblie
can for your liues, in a dire(5l courfe : but be not
peeuifh ; or odd in a crooked balke, that leadeth
out-of the Ki'iges high- way, and Chriftes owne
path, into a maze of confufion, and a wildernefTe
of defolation : the finall ende of thefe endlefle
Contentions, if they be not otherwife calmed by
priuate difcretion, or cutt-fhort by publique order.
The firft example of diuifion, was perillous : and
what rankes, or fwarmes of infatiable fcifme, in-
continently followed ? It is a mad world, when
euery crew of conceited Punyes, puffed-vp with
a prefumptuous, or phantafticall imagination, muft
haue their feuerall complot, or faftion, as it were
a certaine Punicall warre : whofe vidtorie wilbe
like that of Carthage againft Roome, if it be not
the fooner quieted. Remember ludas the Gaul-
onite ; and forgett not yourfelues : inordinate
Zeale is a pernitious Reformer : and Deftruc-
tion, a deare purchafe of Plotts in Moone-fhine.
S. Paule, the heroicall Apoftle, could not finde
a more excellent way, then Charitie, the moft-
fouerain way of Faith, and Hope : any other
.j^_f ,.uv >^
h
aW^
176 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
defeigne of puritie, or fingularitie, buildeth not
h vp, but pulleth-downe ; and of more then a
Million in hope, prooueth lefle then a cipher in
effed:. What the faluation of Dauid Gorge ? a
I nullitie ; what the deification of H. N. ? anullitie:
cV\.'
what the glorification of Kett? a nulUtie : what
the fandlification of Browne ? a nullitie : what the
comunitie of Barrow ? a nullitie : what the plaufi-
nj f ?^ * ^^'^ J' ^ bilitie of Martin? anullitie: what a thoufand
.?>.''-"' fuch popular motiues, alledliues, incenfiues, aggra-
uations of the leaft corruptio, amplificatios of
the higheft felicitie, new landes of promife, ouer-
flowing with milke, and honny, fooles Paradifes,
glorious innouations ; but prefent fhame, wretched
confufion, vtter ruine, euerlafting infamie, horrible
damnation, & a moft hideous / nullity ? Eue the
great hurly-burly of the Church, the imagined-
heauenly Difcipline ; and the very topfy-turuy
of the ftate, the pretended-diuine Reformation ;
-,^/' Y^ ; of two mightie Giants, what can they poifiblie
.Aj^y^ I emprooue themfelues, but filly Pigmyes, and a
mofl: pittifull nullitie ? Sweet Charitie, enfweeten
thefe bitter garboiles : and feing they fo inftantly,
and importunatly affed: a perfect Platforme, giue
them a moft-curious, and exquifite Table of pure
Reformation, euen the true Picture of Thifelf.
Surer Preuention of mifchiefe, and ruine, I know,
^S-J^
none.
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 177
I had here bidden Martin in the Vintry farwell,
and taken my leaue of this tedious Difcourfe ; (for
no man taketh lefle delight in Inuedliues) ; were
I not newly certified of certaine frefh, & frantique
pradtifes for the eredlion of the Synedrion in all
haft : whofe complotters are weary of melancholy
Proieds, and begin to refolue on a cholerique
courfe. Hoat arguments are fiercely threatened,
in cafe the Difcipline be not the fooner enterteined:
but methinks that warme courfe fhould fcarfely
be the ftile of pure Mortification : and haply
fofter fier would make fweeter mault. A little
aduifement, doth not much amiffe in capitall, or
daungerous attemptes. It were well, the blowing
bellowes might be entreated to keepe their winde
for a fitter opportunitie : or if fier boilyng in the
ftomacke, muft needes breake-out at the mouth ;
the beft comfort is, the Country affordeth fufficient
prouifio of water, to encounter, the terribleft
Vulcanift, that brand ifheth a burning fword, or
a fierie toung. Howbeit fome lookers-on, that
feare not greatly the flame, cannot but maruell at
the fmoake ; and had rather fee them, breathing-
out the fume of diuine Tobacco, the of furious
rage. I haue read of Politique lewes, that for
their commoditie haue become Chriftias : / whom
in Spaine, & Italy they terme Retaliados : but that
Politique Chriftias for any benefit, promotio, or
H. II. 23
/■^-//A-' -M
178 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
J other regard whatfoeuer, fhould pradife to become
-^>^^ — pfj/'l* lews, in dodbrine, or in difcipline, in earneft, or in
V "* S V . i]Af.JP/\h deuife, in whole, or in part, it were ftrange, &
almoft incredible : if the world were not growen
a moftrous Retaliado for his aduantage ; & the
voyce of lacob prooued a more gaynfuU Strata-
geme for the hands of Efau, then euer the hands
of Efau were for the voyce of lacob. I charge
not any, that are cleere ; (would there were no
more lewifh Pharifes, then Hebrue Worthies) ;
but let not them accufe me for fpeaking, that
condemne themfelues for doing ; or fhew them-
felues Sainds in the Premifles, that will fcantly
prooue honeft men in the Conclufion. All are
not ledd with the fame refpedes, that hang on the
fame ftring : fome are carried with one confidera-
tion, fome with an other : fome tender diuinity,
as their foule : fome looue Religion, as their
boddy ; fome fauour the Gofpell, as their fortune:
I doubt not, but fome defier Difcipline for Con-
fcience ; and do none coouet Reformation for
gayne ; or were it impofTible, to point-out a
Retaliado Conuert, in the whotteft throng of thofe
frefh Profelites. If there be no Retaliados in
Chriftendome, I am glad I haue fayd nothing : if
there be, they may fo long mocke other in wordes,
that at-laft they will mofl; deceiue themfelues in
deedes. I am beholding to the old lurie; but
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 179
haue no great phanfie to a new, either in London,
or elfewhere ; when amongft diuers other hiftories
of lewifh enormities, I remember how an auncient
Archbifhop of Canterbury, one lohn Peckam, was
fayne to take order with the Bifhop of London
then being, for the difTolutio, and deftrudion of
all the Synagoges in his Dioces. The lefTe neede
of any fuch order at this inftant, all the better. I /
will not difpute, whether a Synedrion prefuppofe a
Synagoge ; or whether it be not as infupportable a
yoke for any King, or mightie ftate, as it was for
King Herode, or the Romanes, that found it in- / .
tolerable : (me thinkes the wifeft Sanedrift of a
thoufand, fhould hardly perfuad me, that he is a
frend of Princes, or no enemie of Monarchies) :
but I know fomuch by ibme, none of the meaneft
Schollers, or obfcureft men in Europe, touching
their opinion of the old, and new Teftament, of
the Thalmud, of the Alcoran, of the Hebrue,
Chriftian, and Turkifh Hiftories; that I deeme
anything fufpicious, and perillous, that anyway
inclineth to ludaifme; as fell an aduerfarie to
Chriftianitie, as the Wolfe to the Lambe, or the
Goftiawk to the Dooue. Graunt them an inche ;
they will foone take an ell with the aduantage :
and were any part of their Difcipline one foote,
could the boddy of their Dodrine want an head ?
or might not the Parifhe prooue a diforderly Con-
i8o PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
gregation, as bad as a Synagoge, where the ludiciall
bench were a Synedrion ? The lewes are a futtle,
and mifcheeuous people : and haue cunningly in-
uegled fome ftudents of the holly toung, with their
miraculous Cabala from Mofes, their omnifcious
Cofmologie from Salomon, their Caldasan Sapience
from Daniell, and other profound Secrets of great
pretence : but their liberall gifts bite like their
Vfurie ; and they are finally founde to interteine
them beft, that fhutt them quite out-of doores,
with their Sanedrim, and all. They can tell a
precious tale of their diuine Senate ; and of their
Venerable Meokekim, reuerenced like liuing
Lawes : but were all iudgements adually drawen
to the diuine Senate, and all lawes folemnely to be
fetched from the Venerable Meokekim, as from
fpeaking Oracles ; might not thefe, and their other
Metaphyficall myfteries, be / enregiftered in the
fame Thalmud; or might it not prooue a pinching
Reformation for Chriftendome? I haue tafted of
their Verball miracles ; and cannot greatly com-
mend their perfonall vertues: but their reall
Vfurie is knowen through-out the Chriftian world,
•to be an vnmercifull Tyrant, & I feare me, their
Confiftoriall lurifdidlio would growe a Cruell
griper ; efpecially being fo Vniuerfally extended
in euery Parifh, as is intended by the promoters
thereof, and powerably armed with that fupreme,
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION.
i8i
& Vncontrowlable authoritie, which they affed in
caufes Ecclefiafticall. A braue fpirituall motion,
and worthie not onely of thefe pidling fturres, but
euen of a Troian warre. Yet their Precedent, the
Mofaicall Synedrion, was a Ciuil Court, (as is afore
mentioned, & would be reconfidered) cum mero
imperio : and when it became mixt, it was not
meerly Ecclefiafticall; & when it became meerly
Ecclefiafticall, of a Potifical Confiftory, it foone
prooued a Tyrannicall Court ; and by your good
leaue, was as nimble to encroach vpon Ciuil)
caufes, being an Ecclefiafticall Court, as euer it
was to intermeddle with Ecclefiafticall caufes,
being a Ciuill Court. The fineft Methodifts,
according to Ariftotles golden rule of artificial!
Boundes, condemne Geometricall preceptes in
Arithmetique, or Arithmetical! preceptes in Geo-
metric, as irregular, and abufiue : but neuer Artift
fo licentioufly heterogenifed, or fo extrauagantly
exceeded his prefcribed limits, as Ambition, or
Coouetice. Euery Miller is ready to conuey the
water to his owne mill : and neither the high
Prieftes of lefufalem, nor the Popes of Roome,
nor the Patriarckes of Conftantinople, nor the
Paftors of Geneua, were euer haftie to binde their
owne handes. They that refearch Antiquities, and
inquier into the priuities of Pra6lifes, ftiall finde an
Ad of Pramunire / is a necefl*arie Bridle in fome
\V
"r
182 PIERCES supererogation:
cafes. The iirft Bifhops of Roome, were vn-
doubtedly vertuous men, and godly Paftors : from
Bifhops they grew to be Popes : what more reue-
rend, then fome of thofe Bifhops; or what more
Tyrannicall, then fome of thofe Popes ? Aaron,
and the high-Prieftes of lerufalem, and of other
ceremoniall nations, were their glorious Mirrours ;
and they deemed nothing too-magnificall, or pom-
pous, to breede an Vniuerfall reuerence of their
facred autoritie, and Hierarchie. We are fo farre
aUenated from imitating, or allowing them, that
we cannot abide our owne Bifhops ; yet withall
would haue euery Minifter a Bifhop, and would
alfo be fetching a new patterne from old lerufalem,
the moother-fea of the high-Priefthood. So the
world (as the manner is) will needes runne-about
in a Circle : pull-downe Bifhops ; fet vp the
Minifter ; make him Bilhop of his Parifh, and
V"^i " head of the Confiftorie, (call him, how you lift,
that muft be his place) : what will become of him
within a fewe generations, but a high Prieft in a
low lerufalem, or a great Pope in a fmall Roome ?
And then, where is the difi'erence betweene him,
and a Bifhop, or rather betweene him, and a Pope?
not fo much in the qualitie of his lurifdidion,
when in eftedl he may be his owne ludge, as in
the quantitie of his Dioces, or temporalties. Or
in cafe he be Politique ; as fome Popes haue bene
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 183
glad for their aduantage, to tyrannife Popularly, fo
he may chaunce be content for his aduauncement, j
to popularife, tyrannically : and fhall not be the i
firft of the Clergie, that hath cunningly done it 1
with a comely grace. Something there muft be of
a Monarchie in free ftates : and fomething there Y" V / ^ ^
will be of free ftates, in a Monarchie. The dis- \j\A.(P^:i(A.
creeter, and Vprighter the Curate is, the more
circumfpedly he will walke, and degenerate the
lefTe. / Yet what generation without degeneration : I ^Aa/JY-^^A,
or what reuolution without irregularitie .'' One ;
inconuenience begetteth an other : enormities grow
like euill weedes : take heede of a mifchiefe : and
where then will be the corruptions? Or how
fhall defection, (acknowledging no primacie, or
fuperioritie in any perfon, or Court) retire to his
firft inftitution : if percafe there ftiould growe a
Confpiracie in fellowftiip ; one Confiftorie iuftifie
another for aduantage ; and their whole Synods
fall-out in confequence, to be like their Parts.?
Men may erre : and frailtie will flipp. What
ftiould I alledge Hiftoryes, or autorities? It is
no newes for infirmitie to fall, when it ftiould
ftand ; or for appetite to rebell, when it ftiould / / /
obey. Euery fonne of Adam, a reed ftiaken with
the wind of paflion, a weake Veftell, a Schollar of
imperfedion, a Mafter of ignorance, a Dodtour of
errour, a Paftour of concupifcence, a Superintendent
yy,M
184 PIERCES SUPEREROGA HON.
of auarice, a Lord of ambition, a Prince of finne,
^ a flaue of mortalitie. Flefh is flefh ; and Blud a
fj Wanton, a chaungeling, a compound of contrary
elementes, a reuoulting and retrog[r]ade Planet, a
Sophifter, an hypocrite, an impoftour, an Apoftata,
an heretique ; as conuertible as Mercury, as
variable as the weather-cock, as lunatique as the
Moone; a generation of corruption, a Whore of
Babylon, a limme of the world, and an impe of
the Diuell. It is their owne argument in other
mens cafe : and why fhould it not be other mens
argument in their cafe, VnleiTe they can fhew a
perfonall Priuiledge ad imprimendum Jolum ? They
may fpeake, as they lift : termes of fandlification,
and mortificatio, are free for them, that will vfe
them : but the Common opinion is, euen of the
forwardeft fkirmifhers at this day, they doe like
other men; and liue like the children of the
world, and the brethren of themfelues. Some of
them haue / their neighbours good leaue, to be
their owne Prodlors, or Aduocats, if they pleafe.
Yet how probable is it, they are now at their very
beft, and euen in the neateft and pureft plight of
their incorruption, whiles their mindes are ab-
ftraded from worldly thoughts, to a high medita-
tion of their fuppofed-heauenly Reformation : and
whiles it neceflarily behooueth them, to ftand
charily and nicely vpon the credit of their in-
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
185
tegritie, finceritie, precifenefle, godlinefTe, Zeale,
and other vertues ? When fuch refpefts are ouer,
and their purpofe compafTed according to their
harts defier; who can tell how they, or their
fucceflburs may vfe the Keyes ; or how they
will befturr them with the Sworde? If Flefh
prooue not a Pope loane ; and Bloud a Pope
Hildebrand, good enough. Accidents, that haue
happened, may happen agayne ; and all thinges
vnder the Sunne, are fubied to cafualtie, muta-
bilitie, and corruption. At all aduentures, it is a
braue Pofition, to maintaine a Souerain, and
fupreme autoritie in euery Confiftorie ; and to
exempt the Minifter from fuperiour Cenfure;
like the high Prieft, or greateft Pontiffe, whom
Dionyfius HalycarnafTeus calleth aw\Livvov. He
had neede to be a wife, and Confcionable man,
that Ihould be a Parlamet, or a Chauncerie vnto
himfelfe : and what a furniture of diuine perfec-
tions were requifite in the Church, where fo many
Minifters, fo many fpirituall high luftices of
Oier, and Terminer : and euery one a fupreme
Tribunall, a Synode, a Generall Councell, a Canon
Law, a heauenly Law, and Gofpel vnto himfelfe ?
If no Serpent can come within his Paradife, fafe
enough. Or were it poffible, that the Paftor,
(although a man, yet a diuine man) (hould as it
were by inheritance, or fucceflion, continue a Saind
H. II. 24
-K>' Hr.-
V
i86 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
from generation to generation : is it alfo necefTary,
that the whole company of the redoubted / Seniors,
fhould wage euerlafting warre with the flefh, the
world, and the Diuell; and eternally remaine an
incorruptible Areopage, without wound, or fcarre ?
Neuer fuch a Colledge, or fraternitie vpon Earth,
if that be their inuiolable order. But God helpe
Conceit, that buildeth Churches in the Ayer, and
platformeth Difciplines without ftayne, or fpott.
They complaine of corruptions ; and worthily,
where Corruptions encroche, (I am no Patron of
corruptions) : but what a furging fea of corruptio
would ouerflow within few yeares, in cafe the
fword of fo great and ample autoritie, as that at
lerufalem moft capitall, or this at Geneua moft i.
redoubted, were putt into the hand of fo little
capacitie in gouernement, fo little difcretion in
Difcipline, fo little iudgement in caufes, fo little
moderation in liuing, fo little conftancie in faying,
or dooing, fo little grauitie in behauiour, or fo
little whatfoeuer fhould procure reuerence in a
Magiftrate, or eftablifh good order in a Comon-
wealth. Trauaile thorough ten thoufand Parifhes
in England ; and when you haue taken a fauour-
able vew of their fubftantialleft, and fufficienteft
Aldermen, tell me in good footh, what a comely
fhowe they would make in a Confiftorie ; or with
how folemne a prefence they would furnifh a
Ki4v,X
f? :",'/<» n^ fi
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 187
Councell Table. I beleeue, Grimaldus did little
thinke of any fuch Senatours, whe he writt de
Optimo Senatore : or did Dodour Bartholmew
Philip^ in his Perfed Counfellour, euer dreame of
any fuch Coufellours ? Petty Principalities, petty
Tyrants ; & fuch Senats, fuch Senatours. Witt
might deuife a pleafurable Dialogue betwixt the
Leather Pilch, and the Veluet Coate : and helpe ' "^ Vx
to perfuade the better, to deale neighbourly with \
the other ; the other to cotet himfelfe with his .'
owne calling. I deny not, but the fhort apron'
may /be as honeft a man, or as good a Chriftian,,
as the long gowne : but methinkes he fhould ;
fcantly be fo good a ludge, or AfTiftant in doubt- ■ ^^-/ . ^^
full caufes : and I fuppofe, Nejutor vltra crept dam
is as fitt a Prouerbe now, as euer it was, fince
that excellent Painter rebuked that fawcie Cobler. .
Euery fubied is not borne to be a Magiftrate, or
Officer: and who knoweth not, whofe creature
Superiour Power is.'' They are very-wife, that
are wifer then he, by whofe diuine permifTion,
euery one is that he is. The Laconicall Ephory
hath lately borne a great fwing, in fome refolute
Difcourfes of Princes, and Magiftrates ; th«
thought they faued the world from the abhomina-
tion of defolatio, when they found-out a bridle,
or yoke for Princes : but old Ariftotle was a .
deepe Politician in die bus illis : and his Reafons \
^ yf.
1 88 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
againft that Ephorie (for Ariftotle confuted the
Ephorie with founder arguments, then euer it was
confirmed to this day) would not yet perhaps be
altogither contemned : That fo great iudiciall
caufes were committed to men, indued with fo
Uttle, or no Vertue : That the poore Plebians
for very penurie were eafely bribed, and cor-
rupted : That there enfued an alteration of the
ftate, the good Kinges being fayne to currie
fauour with their great Mafters, and to become
Popular. Whither this would be the end, and
may be the marke of thofe, or our Populars, I
offer it to their confideration, that are moft inter-
effed in fuch motions of Ephoryes, and Senioryes.
The world is beholding to braue and heroicall
myndes, that like Hercules, would pradlife meanes
to puU-downe Tyranny, fmal, or great : and
reforme whole Empires, and Churches, like the
three vidtorious Emperours, furnamed Magni, Con-
ftantine, Theodofius, and Charles. Thankes, were
an vnfufficient recompenfe for fo noble intentions.
It muft / be a guerdon of value, that fhould
counteruaile their defert, that pretend fo fatherly,
and Patronly a care of reedifying Commonwealthes,
and Churches. Some voluntarie Counfellours doe
well in a State : and men of extraordinary voca-
tion, Angularly qualified for the purpofe, are
worth their double weight in gold. When other
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 189
fleepe, they watch : when other play, they worke :
when other feaft, they faft : when other laugh,
they figh : whiles other are content to be lulled
in fecuritie, and nufled in abufe, they occupie
themfelues in deuifing pregnant bondes of afTur-
ance, and exquifite models of Reformation. Which
muft prefently be aduaunced without farther con-
fultatio : or they haue courage, and will vfe it in /
mainetenaunce of fo diuine abftradles. Melancholie • C f^ ^^^ '
is peremptorie in refolution : and Choler an segar
Executioner. Were it not for thofe two inuincible
arguments, there might ftill be order taken with;
other reafons, and autorities whatfoeuer. Theyj
do well to prefuppofe the beft of their ownej
defeignes, and to giue out Cardes of Fortunate^
Ilandes, artificially drawen : but as I neuer read,
or heard of any people, that committed fwordes
into fuch hands, but bought their experience with
loiTe, and had a hard penyworth of their foft
cufhion : fo in my fimple confideration, I cannot
conceiue, how Ignoraunce fhould become a meeter
Officer, then Knowledge ; Affedion a more in-
corrupt Magiftrate, then Reafon ; headlong Rafh-
neffe, or wilfull StubbernefTe, a more vpright
ludge, then mature Deliberation; bafe Occupations
enadl, and eftablilh better orders, then liberally
Sciences, or honourable Profeflions; (any traffique, ;
howfoeuer current, or aduantageous, hath bene j^
I
190 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
iudged vndecent for a Senatour) ; tagg, & ragg
adminifter all things abfolutely-well, with due
prouifion againft whatfoeuer poflible / inconueni-
ences, where fo many faults are found with perfons
of better qualitie ; that incomparablie haue more
fkil in the adminiftration of publique affaires; more
knowledge, and experience in caufes ; more refpeft
in proceeding ; more regard of their credit ; more
fenfe of daungerous enormities, or contagious
abufes ; more care of the floorifhing and durable
eftate of the Prince, the Commonwealth, and the
Church. Na, I can fee no reafon, according to the
beft groundes of Pollicie, that euer I read, but for
euery Ciuill tyranny or Pettie mifdemeanour that
can pofliblie happen now, the gouernemet {landing
as it doth ; there muft needes Vpftart a hundred,
and a hundred barbarous tyrannies, and huge
outrages, were the new platformes, A6les of Par-
lament ; and the Complotters, fuch high Com-
miffioners, as are defcribed in their owne proiedts,
the floorifhes of Vnexperienced wittes. When they
haue nothing elfe to alledge, that fhould make
them fuperiour, or equall to the prefent Officers ;
Confcience muft be their Text, their GlofTe, their
Sandtuarie, their Tenure, and their ftrong hold.
Indeede Confcience, grounded vpon Science, is a
J double Ancher ; that neither deceiueth, nor is
i:,A^V/-' > deceiued : and no better rule, then a regular, or
r
PIERCES SUPER'EROGA TION. 191
publique Confcience ; in diuinitie ruled by Diuinitie,
in law, by Law, in art by Art, in reafon by
Reafon, in experience by Experience. Other
irregular, or priuate Confcience, in Publique
functions, will fall-out to be but a lawlefle Church;
a fhip-mans hofe ; a iugglers fticke ; a phantafticall
freehold, and a conceited Tenure in Capite : as
interchaungeable as the Moone, and as fallible
as the winde. How barratous, and mutinous at
euery pufFe of Suggeftion, lett the world iudge. I
would there lacked a prefent Example, as boat, as
frefh : but hoat looue, foone cold, and the fittes
of /youth like the fhowers of Aprill. There hf h
goeth a prettie Fable of the Moone, that on a time
fhe earneftly befought her moother, to prouide her a |
comely garment, fitt and handfome for her boddy: i
How can that be, fweet daughter, (quoth the
moother) fith your boddy neuer keepeth at one cer-
taine ftate, but changeth euery day in the moneth?
That priuate Confcience, the fweet daughter of
Phanfie, be the Morall : and the aflurance of the
Common People, where there wanteth a curbe, the
application. What Chameleon fo chaungeth his
colour, as AfFediion ? or what Polypus fo variable,
as Populus, chorus^ fluuius ? Dodlour Kelke, when > ^^^
he was Vicechauncelour in Cambridge, would often i,\
tell the Aduocats, and Prodlors in the Confiftorie
there, that he had a knacke of Confcience, for
192 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
their knacke of Law. Truly the man, as he was
knowen to be learned, and religious, fo feemed to
Carrie a right-honeft and harmelefTe minde, and
would many times be pleafantly difpofed after his
blunt manner : but in very deede his Confcience
(be it fpoken without appeachmet of his good
memorie) other- whiles prooued a knacke, and
admitted more inconueniences (fome would haue
fayd, committed more abfurdities) then became
the grauitie, and reputation of that iudicious
Confiftorie. Yet were this new-plotted Confiftorie
ere6ted, according to the map of their owne imagi-
nation, euen vpon the topp of the prefumed mount
Sion : by the fauour of that goodly profped: I dare
vndertake, amongft fo many thoufand Minifters,
with Epifcopall, or more then Epifcopall autoritie,
there muft be but a fewe hundred Judges, like
Do6lour Kelke ; and a very great dearth of fuch
Afliftants, or Seniours, as that floorilhing Vniuer-
fitie afFourdeth. Alas, many thoufands of them,
Vnworthy to carrie the Beadles ftaffe before the
one, / or their bookes after the other : how meete
for fupreme, or free lurifdidlion, I report me vnto
you. It is notably fayd of Ariftotle in his Poli-
tiques : He that would haue the Lawe to rule,
would haue a God to rule : but he that commit-
teth the rule to a man, committeth the rule to a
bead. The Lawe, is a mynde without appetite ;
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 193
a foule without a boddy ; a ludge without flefhe
and bloud ; a ballance without Partiahtie ; a
meane without extreames. Where Confcience is
fuch a Law, I am for Confcience, let vs profefTe
no other law ; let vs build vs Confiftories, and
tabernacles vpon that hill of Equitie : let vs dwell
in thofe Elifian fieldes of Integritie : let vs honour
that incorruptible fcepter of Sinceritie : let vs fet
the Imperiall crowne vpon the head of that Pol-
licie ; and let that Difcipline weare the Potificall
miter. The world wrongeth itfelfe infinitly, if
it runneth not to the gaze of that bewtifull
Bel-uedere\ or refufeth any order fro that facred
Oracle. Otherwife, if men be men, & that Cofis-
tory, no quire of Angels, or Tribunall of Sainds,
but a meeting of neighbours, fome of them rude,
and grofe enough, after the homelyeft guife, (for
without miraculous illumination, it muft neceflarily
be fo in moft Parifhes) : now I befeech you, hath
not Confederation fome reafon, to feare the Delphi-
call Sword ? And the conuented partie, that was
nothing affrayde of the Deane, or the Canons ;
they, quoth he, are good Gentlemen, and my
fauourable frendes, but the Chapter is the Diuell ;
would peraduenture go nigh-hand to fay afmuch
for the new Confiftorie, as for the old Chapter.
Our Minifter is a Zealous Preacher: and fuch,
and fuch my honeft neighbours : but God blefTe
H. II. 25
ri
194 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
me from the curft Confiftorie. They that ikill
of Popular humours, and know the courfe of
mechanicall deahnges, or artifan gouernements,
or / what you pleafe ; can hardhe hope for any
fuch Paradife, or All-hallowes in hoony-lane, as
is plauiibHe pourtrayed in fome late drawghts of
Reformatio ; fweeter in difcourfe, then in pradife.
I will not prophecie of Contingets in fpeculation :
but were their Complot a matter in ijje, it is pos-
'I ' A, ^-f *" fible that euen the Platformers themfelues, fhould
haue no fuch exceeding caufe, to ioye in their
'^'v' '> ' "' redoubted Seniours. Some Poteftats are queint
U-t^i/v^t^ ,rf^ men, and will by fittes beare a braine, maugre
the beft reafon or Pureft Confcience in a Con-
fiftorie. And God knoweth, how the People
would digeft it, (efpecially after fome little triall
of their inexorable rigour, and other furly dealing)
that their neighbour Whatchicalt, fometime no
wifer then his fellowes, and fuch, and fuch a
Free-holder of this, and that homely occupation,
(fomewhat bafe for a Senatour) fhould fo iollily
perke on the bench, amongft the Fathers Con-
fcript, when fome, that haue a ft ate of inheritance,
or maintaine tliemfelues vpon ciuiler trades, muft
humbly wait at the barre,- and yeeld themfelues
obedient to the fterne commandements of thofe
fage benchers. Iwis, the penny is a ftrong argu-
ment with fuch natures : and he that carrieth
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 195
the heauieft purfe, how vnmeete foeuer he may
feeme for a Confiftorie, thinketh himfelfe mightily-
wronged, VnlefTe he be taken for the beft, or
one of the beft in the Parifh: and if for his
countenaunce, or other charitable refpe(5t, he will
not fticke fometime to pleafure a good fellow, or
a poore neighbour, (fome good fellov/es are kill-
cowes, and fome poore neighbours all-hart) he
may perhaps get fom hardy partakers, & bare
himfelfe for as mighty a man in the borrowgh,
or village, as fome of the forefaid redoubted
Poteftats. How that would be allowed in Con-
fiftorie, or how a thoufand fuites, quarrels, vprores,*
& hurliburlyes might be pacified, / yet vn-prouided-
for, or vnthought-vpon by the compendious Sum-
mifts ; it would be confidered in time, whiles there
is leyfure from Pradlife. For after the Confiftorie
is once vp ; in fuch a fweating harueft of moft-bufie
bufinefTe, a fimple Pragmatique may eafely Prog-
nofticate, how fmall a remnant of leyfure will
remaine for confideration. There was much adooe,
& otherwhiles little helpe, firft at lerufalem, with
one Synedrion ; and then at Geneua with one
Seniorie, the two onely exemplary Preft)iteryes :
(for other Primitiue Elderfhips will not fit the
turne : what a wonderfull fturre would one, and
fome 52000. Confiftories make in England? Were
not our Reformation likely to prooue a greater
196
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
^ Cy iV
,i? ^'
Sweat, or a mightier Drowt, then any in Graftons,
Stowes, or Holinfheads Chronicle ? Martin, vnder
corredion of your high Court of Confcience, giue
me leaue to bethinke me attonce, vpon the fier-
worke of your DifcipHne, and Phaetons regiment,
in the hoat Countryes of the Orient. When his
braue defeigne came to the Execution ; Jolitaque
iugum grauitate carehat ; a light beginning, a
heauie ending.
Nee fcitj qua Jit iter ; nee ft Jeiat^ imperet illis :
and fo forth : (it is not conceit, or courage, but
fkill, and authoritie, that manageth gouernement
with honour) : what was the iflue of that yonkerly
& prefumptuous enterprife, but a Diluge of fier,
as ruthfull, and horrible, as Deucalions Diluge of
water.
Magrice pereunt eum mcenibus Vrbes :
Cumq. ; Juis totas populis incendia Gentes
In cinerem vertunt. You can beft tranflate
it yourfelfe : and I leaue the warm application to
the hoat Interpreter : with addition of that fhort,
but weightie, and moft remarkable aduertife-
ment; Poenam / Phaeton, pro munere pofcis.
Phaeton thou defireft thy ruine for thy aduaunce-
ment : and Martin, thou affedeft, thou wotteft
not what : a Difcipline ? a confufion .? a Refor-
mation .'' a deformation : a Salue ? a plague : a
BiiiTe ? a curfe : a Commonwealth ? a Common-
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 197
wo: a Happy, and Heauenly Church ? a wretched,
and hellifh Synagogue. Amount in imagination
as high, as the hawtieft conceit can afpire ; and
plat-forme the moft-exquifite defeignes of pure
Perfection, that the niceft curiofitie can deuife :
were not the wifeft on your fide, moft fimplie-
fimple in weying the Confequents of fuch ante-
cedents, they would neuer fo inconfideratly labour
their owne fhame, the miferie of their brethren,
the defolatio of the Miniftery, & the deftrudio
of the Church. Good Martin, be good to the •
Church, to the Miniftery, to the ftate, to thy
country, to thy patrons, to thy frends, to thy
brethren, to thifelfe : and as thou looueft thifelfe,
take heede of old Puritanifme, new Anabaptifme,
& finall Barbarifme. Thou art young in yeares,
I fuppofe : but younger in enterprife, I am aflured.
Thy age in fome fort pleadeth thy pardon : and
couldeft thou with any reafonable temperance aduife
thifelfe in time, as it is high time to afTuage thy ^ /
ftomachous and ouerlafhing outrage ; there be
fewe wife men of qualite, but would pittie thy
ralh proceeding, and impute thy wanton fcurrilous
Veine to want of Experience, and Judgement,
which is feldome ripe in the Spring. I will not
ftand to examine the Spirite, that fpeaketh, or
endighteth in fuch a phrafe : but if that were the
tenour of a godly, or zealous ftile, methinkes fome
198 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
other Sain6t, or godly man, fhould fome way haue
vfed the like elocution before : vnlefle you meant
/; , J . to be as fingular in your forme of writing, as in
'tt/ ^1 (/4,T/!/i your manner of cenfuring ; & to publifh as graue
, . an Innouation in wordes, as / in other matters.
v.? fe''^*i/ Some fpirituall motion it was, that caufed you fo
, - f ' g fenfiblie to applie your rufling fpeach, and whole
^^' "'' r method, to the feeding and tickling of that humour,
that is none of the greateft ftudentes of Diuinitie,
vnlefle it be your Diuinitie ; nor any of the
likelyeft creatures to aduance Reformation, vnleffe
it be your Reformation. But whatfoeuer your
motion were, or howfoeuer you perfuaded your-
felfe, that a plaufible and roifterly courfe would
winne the harts of good fellowes, and make
ruffians become Precifians, in hope to mount higher
then Highgate, by the fall of Bifhopfgate ; fome
of your well-willers hold a certaine charitable
opinio, that to reforme yourfelfe, were your beft
Reformatio. Good Difcipline would doe many
good ; and doe Martin no harme ; had he leyfure
from trainyng of other, to trayne himfelfe, and as
one termed it, to trimme his owne beard. How-
beit in my Method, Knowledge would go before
Pradlife, and Dodrine before Difcipline. I chal-
lenge fewe, or none for learning, which I rather
looue as my Fred, or honour as my Patron then
profefle as my Facultie : but fome approoued good
PIERCES SUPEREROGAIIO^. 199
Schollars of both Vniuerfities, and fome honorable
wifemen of a higher Vniuerfitie, take Martin to
be none of the greateft Clarkes in England ; and
maruell, how he fhould prefume to be a Dodour
of Difcipline, that hath much-a-doe to fhewe him-
felfe a Mafter of Dodrine. For mine owne part,
I hope he is a better Dodrinift, then Difciplinift :
or elfe I muft needes conclude ; Pride is a bufie
man, and a deeper Counfellour of ftates, then of
himfelfe. Publique Proiedles become publique
perfons ; and may doe well in fbme other, being
well employed : but priuate perfons, and the
common crewes of Platformers, might haue moil
vfe of priuate defignements, appropriat to their
owne Voca / tion, Profeflion, or qualitie. When I
finde Martin as neat a reformer of his owne life,
as of other mens adios ; it fhal go hard, but I
wil in fom meafure proportion my comendation to
the fingularite of his defert; which I would be
glad to crowne with a garland of prefent, and a
diademe of future prayfe. For I long to fee a
Larke without a creaft ; and would trauaile farre,
to difcoouer a Reformer without a fault ; or onely
with fuch a fault, as for the rarenefTe fhould
deferue, or for the ftrangenefle might challenge,
to be Chronicled, like the Eclipfe of the Sunne.
The State Demonftratiue, not ouerlaboured at this
inftant, would fayne be employed in blafoning a
]. %
200 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
creature of fuch perfections : and the very foule of
Charitie thirfteth to drinke of that cleere Aqua
I ' c j Fi^^. It is not the firft time, that I haue pre-
■ "" *• I ferred a Gentleman of deedes, before a Lord of
' wordes : and what if I once by way of familiar
difcourfe fayd ? I was a Proteftant in the Ante-
j/f]^' cedent, but aPapift in the Confequent : for I liked
Faith in the Premifles, but wifhed works in the
Conclufion : as S. Paul beginneth with luftifica-
tion, but endeth with Sandtification : & the
Schoole-men reconcile many Confutations in
one diftindlion ; We are iuftified by Faith ap-
prehenfiuely ; by Workes declaratiuely ; by the
bloud of Chrift efFedliuely. I hope, it is no euill
figne, for the flower to floorifh, for the tree to
fru6lifie, for the fier to warme, for the Sunne to
fhine, for Truth to embrace Vertue, for the
Intelle(5tuall good to pradlife the Morall good, for
the caufe to eiFedl. He meant honeftly, that faid
merrily ; He tooke S. Auflins, and S. Gregories
by Pauls, to be the good frendes of S. Faithes
vnder Paules. What needeth more? If your
Reformation be fuch a reftoratiue, as you pretende ;
what letteth, but that the world fhould prefently
behold a Viiible difference betweene the fruites of
the / pure and the corrupt diet ? Why ceafeth the
heauenly Difcipline, to penne her owne Apologie,
not in one or two fcribled Pamflets of counterfait
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 201
Complements, but in a thoufand liuing Volumes
of heauenly Vertues? Diuine Caufes were euer
wont to fortifie themfelues, and weaken their
aduerfaries, with diuine EfFedes, as confpicuous,
as the brighteft Sunne-fhine. The Apoftles, and
Primitiue founders of Churches were no railers,
or fcofFers : but painfull trauailers, but Zelous
Preachers, but holly liuers, but fayre-fpoken, mild,
and loouing men, euen like Mofes, like Dauid,
like the fonne of Dauid; the three gentleft perfons,
that euer walked vpon Earth. Where foeuer they
became, it appeared by the whole manner of their
meeke, and fweet proceding that they had bene
the feruants of a meeke Lord, and the Difciples of
a fweet Mafter : in fo much, that many nations,
which knew not God, interteined them, as the
AmbafTadours, or Oratours of fome God ; and
were mightily perfuaded, to conceiue a diuine
opinion of him, whom they fo diuinely Preached ;
& euen to beleeue, that he could be no lefle, then
the fonne of the great God. Their miracles got the
harts of numbers: but their Sermons, and Orations,
were greater wonders, then their miracles, and woon
more rauifhed foules to heauen. Their Dod:rine
was full of power: their Difcipline full of Charitie:
their Eloquence celeftiall : their Zeale inuincible :
their Life inuiolable : their Conuerfation loouing :
their Profeflion, Humilitie ; their Pradife, Humili-
H. II. 26
202 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
tie ; their Conqueft, Humilitie. Read the fweet
Ecclefiafticall Hyftories, replenilhed with many
cordiall narrations of their fouerain Vertues : and
perufe the moft rigorous Cenfures of their pro-
fefTed enemies, PHnie, Suetonius, Tacitus, Anto-
ninus, Symachus; Lucian, Libanius, / Philoftratus,
Eunapius, or any Hke, Latinift, or Grecian, (I
except not Porphyrie, Hierocles, or luhan him-
felfe) : and what Chriftian, or heathen iudgement,
with any indifferencie can denie, but they alwayes
demeaned themfelues, Hke well-aiFe6led, faire-
conditioned, innocent, and kinde perfons ; many
wayes gratious, and fomewayes admirable ? Peace
was their warre: Vnitie their multipUcation: good
wordes, and good deedes, their edifying inftru-
ments : a generall humanitie toward all, where-
foeuer they trauailed ; and a fpeciall beneficence
toward euery one, with whom they conuerfed, one
of their Souerain meanes, for the Propagation of
Chriftianitie. They knew his mercifull, and God-
I- full meaning, that in an infinite and incomprehen-
'' fible looue, defcended from heauen to faue all
vpon Earth, and remembred how gratioufly his
diuine Selfe voutfaued, to conuerfe with Publicans,
and other finners: what a fweet and peerlefTe
Example of humbleft Humihtie he gaue his
Difciples, when with his owne immaculate handes
he wafhed their feete : how appliably he framed
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 203
himfelfe to the proper difpofition of euery Nation
in drawing vnto him the Magicians of the
Eaft, with the wondrous fight of a new Starre ;
in moouing the lewes with miracles, and Parables ;
in fhewing himfelfe a Prophet, & the very Meflias,
to the Samaritans ; in fending eloquent Paule to
the eloquent Grecians, Zealous Peter to the deuout
Hebrues, and vertuous Romans, his brother An-
drew to the ftout Scythians, incredulous Thomas
to the infidell Parthians, and fo forth : what a
loouing, and precious deare Teftament he left
behinde him, and with how vnfpeakable fauour
he bequeathed and difpofed the rich hereditaments,
and ineftimable gooddes of his kingdome : how
neerly it concerned the members of one boddy, /
without the leaft inteftine difagreement, or fadlion,
to tender and cherrifh one another with mutuall
indulgence : how frutefully the militant Church
had already encreafed by Concord, like a Plant
of the triumphant Church, whofe bliffefull confort
incomparably pafleth the fweeteft harmonie. The
effed: of fuch diuine motions was heauenly : and
whiles that celeftiall courfe continued, with an
inuiolable confent of Vnited mindes, euen in fome
diflenfion of opinions, (for there was euer fome
difference of opinions) the Gofpell reigned, and
the Church floorifhed miraculoufly. It would
make the hart of Pietie, to weepe for ioyfuU
204
PIER CES S UPERER 0 GA TION.
X"
n^
^r
compaflion, to remember how the Bloud of thofe,
and thofe moft-patient, but more glorious Martyrs?
that might be flaine, but not vanquifhed, was the
Seede of the Church. The Church, that grew
vidlorious, and mightie, by the beheading of
Paule, and lames ; by the crucifying of Peter,
Andrew, Philip, and Simon ; by the ftoning of
Stephen ; by the burning of Marke, and Barnabas ;
by the flaying of Bartholmew ; by the murdering
of Thomas with a dart, of Mathew with a fword,
of Matthias with an axe, of lames Alphaeus with
a club ; of how many renowned Martyrs with
how many cruell and tyrannicall torments ; im-
mortall monuments of their inuincible Faith, and
moft honorable Conftancie. When Afperitie, and
Difcorde, degenerating from that Primitiue order ;
tooke an other courfe, and began to proceede,
more like Furies of hell, then Saindls of the
Church, or honeft neighbours of the world ; alas,
what followed ? And vnlefTe we retire to our
principles, although mifchief vpon mifchief be
bad enough, yet ruine vpon ruine will be worfe.
It is not a ruffianly ftile, or a tumultuous plot,
that will amend the matter : fome Apoftolicall
vertues would doe well ; and that-fame / Euan-
gelicall humilitie were much-worth. In the meane
feafon, fuerly reuerend Bifhops, and learned
Dodours, albeit corruptible men, fhould be
-t-
K/Hot,
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 205
meeter to adminifter or gouerne Churches, then
luftie Cutters, or infufficient Plotters, albeit re-
formed creatures. Sweet Martin, afwell lunior,
as Senior, (for luniours, and Seniours are all one,
as old Matter Raye fayd in his maioraltie) and
you fweet whirlewinds, that fo fiercely befturr
you at this inftant ; now agayne, and agayne I
befeech you, either be content to take a fweeter
courfe ; or take all for me. My intereft in thefe
caufes is fmall : and howfoeuer fome bufie heades
looue to fet themfelues aworke, when they might
be otherwife occupied, yet by their fauours, there
is a certaine thing, that pafleth all Vnderftanding ;
which I commend Vniuerfally vnto all, efpecially
vnto my frends, and fingularly vnto mifelfe.
Nulla Jalus hello : pacem te pqfcimus omnes. No
Law to the Feciall Law ; nor any Conqueft to
Pacification. Would Chrifl, Reformation could
be entreated to begin at itfelfe ; and Difcipline
would be fo good, as to fhew by example of
her owne houfe, wher fhe inhabiteth, and con-
forteth, what a Precious, and heauenly thing it
were for a whole kingdome, to Hue in fuch
a celefliall harmony of Pure Vertues, and all
perfe6lions. Theoricks, and Idees are quickly
imagined in an afpiring phantafie : but an inuiolable
Pradlife of a diuine excellencie in humane frailtie,
without excefTe, defedt, or abufe, doubtleffe were
2o6 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
a Chriftall worth the feeing, and a glorious
Mirrour of eternall Imitation. When Contem-
plation hath a little more experience, it fhall
finde, that Adtion is fcantly fo fmooth, and nimble
a creature, as Speculation : two notable Prefidets
in ConcretOy more rare, then twentie fingular Types
in abftra5lo : they that fhoote beyond the marke,
in / imagination, come fhort in tryall : good,
intetions were neuer too-rife, & the beft intentios
haue gone aftray. All men are not of one
mould : there is as great difference of Minifters
and Aldermen, as of other perfons : euen where
the fpirite is ftrong, the flefh is fometime founde
weake enough ; and the world, is a world of
temptations, murmurings, offences, quarrels, tres-
pafTes, crimes, and continuall troubles in one fort
or other.
If the precifeft, and moft fcrupulous Treatifes
haue much-adooe to vphold the credit of any
perfection, or eflimation, with their owne affociats ;
(how many heads, fo many plottes) what may
Reafon conceiue of the affurance, or maturitie of
their iudiciall or other Morall Proceedings in EJJe ?
When His, and His Scripture, after fome prettie
paufing, is become Apocryphall with his, and his
owne adherents, whofe writing was Scripture with
many of them ; how can any of them afcertaine,
or refolue themfelues of the Canonicall incorrup-
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 207
tion, or autenticall omnifufficiencie of his, or his
aduall gouernement? When eueii He, that within
thefe fewe yeares was alledged for Text, hath fo
emprooued his autoritie with a number of his
feruenteft brethren, that he will now be fcantly
allowed for a current Glofle ; why fhould defeated
AfFedion any longer delude itfelfe with a pre-
iudicate & vayne imagination of an Alchimifticall
Difcipline, not fo fweet in conceit, as fower in
proofe ; and as defedliue in needfull prouifion, as
excefliue in vnneedfull prefumption ? If Second
cogitations be riper, and founder, then the firft ;
may not a Third, or Fourth confultations take
more & more aduifement? If Bifhops-gate be
infedled, is it vnpoflible for Alders-gate to be
attainted? and if neither can be long cleere in
an Vniuerfall plague of Corruption, what reafon /
hath Zeale to fly from Gods blefling into a warme
Sunne : What a wifedome were it, to chaunge
for the worfe ? or what a notorious follie were it,
to innouate, without infallible afTurance of the
better? What Politique fl:ate, or considerate
people, euer laboured any Alteration, Ciuill, or
Ecclefiafticall, without Pregnant euidence of fome
fingular, or notable Good, as certaine in con-
fequence, as important in eftimation? To be
fhort, (for 1 haue already bene ouer-long, and
fhall hardlie qualifie thofe headdie younkers with
2o8 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
1 '^' ,. ^'
^ACiil ^vic, ^j^y Difcourfe) had Martin his luft, or Penry
his wifli, or Vdal his mynde, or Browne his
will, or Ket his phanfie, or Barrow his pleafure, or
Greenwood his harts-defire, or the frefheft Pra6ti-
tioners their longing, (euen to be Judges of the
Confiftorie, or Fathers Confcript of Senate, or
Domine fac totum^ or themfelues wott not what) ;
there might fall-out fiue hundred pradicable cafes,
and a thoufand difputable queftions in a yeare,
(the world muft be reframed anew, or fuch
points decided) wherewith they neuer difquieted
their braynes, and wherein the learnedeft of them
could not fay A. to the Arches, or B. to a
Battledore. If the grauer motioners of Difcipline
(who no doubt are learneder men, and might be
wifer : but M. Trauers, M. Cartwright, Dodour
Chapman, and all the grayer heads begin to be
ftale with thefe Noouellifts) haue bethought them-
felues vpon all cafes, and cautels in Pradlife, of
whatfoeuer nature, and haue thorowly prouided
againft all poflible mifchieffs, inconueniences, and
irregularities, afwell future, as prefent ; I am
glad they come fo well prepared : fuerly fome
of the earnefteft and egreft follicitours, are not yet
fo furnifhed. Wordes are good fellowes, and
merry men : but in my poore opinion, it were
not amiffe for fome fweating, and fierce / dooers
at this inftant, that would downe with Clement,
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 209
and vp with Hildebrand, either to know more . 4-
at home, or to fturr lefle abroad. It is no trifling , f
p^ln'iu
matter in a Monarch ie, to hoife-vp a new
Autoritie, Hke that of the lewifh Confiftorie
aboue Kinges, or that of the Lacedemonian
Ephorie aboue Tyrants, or that of the Romane
Senate aboue Emperours. Howbeit if there be
no remedie, but M. Fier mufl: be the Paftour,
M. Aier the Dodtour, goodman Water the
Deacon, and goodman Earth the Alderman of
the Church ; let the young Calfe, and the old
AfTe draw Cuttes, whither of their heads (hall
weare the garland. And thus much in generalitie
touching Martinizing, being vrged to defend it,
if I durft : but for feare of indignation I durft
not. The feuerall particularities, and more
gingerly nicityes of rites, fignes, termes, and
what not.f* I referre to the difcuflion of pro-
fefl'ed Deuines : or referue for more leyfure and
fitter occafion. n
As for that new-created Spirite, whom double ^ ' U
V. like an other Dodlour Fauftus, threateneth to
coniure-vpp at leyfure, (for I mufl: returne to the
terrible creature, that fubfcribeth himfelfe. Martins
Double V. and will needes alfo be my Tittle-
tittle) were that Spirite difpofed to appeare in his
former likenefl*e, and to put the Necromancer to
his purgation, he could peraduenture make the
H. II. 27
210 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
coniuring wifard forfake the center of his Circle,
and betake him to the circumference of his heeles.
Simple Creature, iwis thou art too-young an Artift
to coniure him vp, that can exorcife thee downe :
or to lamback him with ten yeares preparation, that
can lamfkin thee with a dayes warning. Out vpon
thee for a cowardly lamb acker, that ftealeft-in at
the back doore ; and thinkeft to filch aduauntage
on the back wing. / Knaues are backbiters ; whores
bellybiters ; and both fheepebiters. Pedomancie
fitter for fuch Coniurers, then either Chiromancie,
or Necromancie, or any Familiar Spirite, but con-
tempt. It is fome-boddyes fortune, to be haunted
with backfrendes : and I could report a ftraunge
Dialogue betwixt the Clarke of Backchurch, and
the Chaunter of Pancridge, that would make the
better vifard of the two to blufh : but I fauour
modeft eares ; and a thoufand honeft tongues will
iuftifie it to thy face. Thou art as it were a grofe
Idiot, and a very AJfe in prefenti^ to imagine that
thou couldeft go fcotfree in this fawcy reckoning,
although the partie coniured fhould fay nothing,
but Mum. Honeftie goeth neuer Vnbacked : and
Truth is a fufficient Patron to itfelfe : and I know
One, that hath written a Pamflet, intituled Cock-
alilly^ or l^he white Jon of the Black Art. But he
that can majfacre Martins wity (thou remembreft
thine owne phrafe) can rott Pap-hatchets braine :
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 2 1 1
and he that can tickle Mar-prelate with taunts^ can
twitch double V. to the quicke : albeit he threaten
no lefTe, then the (iege of Troye in his Note-
booke ; and his penne refounde, like the harnefTed
woombe of the Troian horfe. I haue {Q^no. a
broad fword ftand at the doore, when a poinado
hath entered : and although I am neither Vlyfles,
nor Outis, yet perhaps I can tell, how, No-boddy
may doe, that fomeboddy cannot doe. Poly-
phemus was a mightie fellow, and coniured VlyfTes
companions into excrements : (few Giants euer fo
hideous, as Polyphemus) : but poore Outis was
euen with him, and No-boddy coniured his goggle
eye, as well. I prey-thee fweet Pap, infult not
ouer-much vpon quiet men : though my penne be
no-boddy at a hatchet, and my tongue lefTe then
no-boddy at a beetle ; yet Patience looueth not to
be made a / cart of Croiden ; and no fuch libbard
for a liuely Ape, as for dead Silence. The merry
Gentleman deuifeth to difport himfelfe, and his
Copefmates, with a pleafurable conceit of quaking
eares : and all my workes^ at leaji fix Jheetes in
quarto^ called by mijelfe^ 'Thefirjl tome of my familiar
Epiftle : two impudent lyes, and fo knowen noto-
rioufly. He might as truly forge any lewd, or
villanous report of any man in England ; and for
his labour challenge to be preferred to the Clark-
fhip of the whetftone : which he is hable to main-
u . /
212 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
taine fumptuoufly, with a mint of queint, and
Vncouth Similes, daintie monfters of Nature. I ^^/
muft deale plainly with the Spawne of rake , ^
Calumnie : his knauifh, & foolifh malice palpably ■' '
bewrayeth it felf in moft- odious fidlions ; meet to ^ ^'^
garnifh the forefayd famous office of the whet-
ftone. But what fayth his owne couragious Penne,
of his owne aduenturous eares ? If ripping-vp of
Liues make Jport, haue with thee knuckle deepe : it
jhal neuer be Jay d^ that I dare not venter myne eares,
where Martin hazards his necke. Some men are
not fo prodigall of their eares, how lauifh foeuer Ct'^^^'^' •'
Martin may feeme of his necke; & albeit euery
/ ma cannot compile fuch graund Volumes as
n . C] ^-Y'"^'i Euphues, or reare fuch mightie tomes, as Pap-
hatchet; yet he might haue thought, other poore
men haue tongues, and pennes to fpeake fome-
thing yet, when they are prouoked vnreafonably.
But loofers may haue their wordes, and Comedians
their ades : fuch drie bobbers can luftely ftrike at
other, and cunningly rapp themfelues. He hath \ ^. j-
not played the Vicemafter of Poules, and the i *'^^^
Foolemafter of the Theater for naughtes ; him- ' //v^lj
felfe a mad lad, as euer twanged, neuer troubled
with any fubftance of witt, or circumftance of
honeftie, fometime the fiddle-fticke of Oxford,
now the very bable of London ; would fayne
forfooth haue fome/ other efteemed, as all men
"7
J-
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION- 2 13
value him. A workeman is eafely defcried by
his termes : euery man fpeaketh according to his
Art : I am threatened with a Bable, and Martin .
menaced with a Comedie : a fit motion for a ru. i{^<- '^■^'^
lefter, and a Player, to try what may be done by
employmet of his facultie : Babies & Comedies
are parlous fellowes to decipher^ and difcourage
meriy (that is the Point) with their wittie flowtes,
and learned lerkes ; enough to lafh any man
out-of countenance. Na, if you fhake the painted
fcabbard at me, I haue done : and all you, that
tender the preferuation of your good names, were
beft to pleafe Pap-hatchet, and fee Euphues be-
times, for feare lefle he be mooued, or fome One
of his Apes hired, to make a Playe of you ; and C^.^
then is your credit quite vn-done for euer, and | u^^)^
euer : Such is the publique reputation of their \
Playes. He muft needes be dijcouraged^ whom
they decipher. Better, anger an hundred other,
then two fuch ; that haue the Stage at com-
maundement, and can furnifh-out Vices, and
Diuels at their pleafure. Gentlemen, beware of
a chafing-penncj that Jweateth-out whole realmes of
Paper, and whole Theaters of leftes : tis auenture,
if he dye not of the Paper- fweat, fhould he chaunce
to be neuer fo little ouerchafed. For the left-dropfie
is not fo peremptorie. But no point of Cunning, ^
tj the Tale of the Tubb: that is the profounde
214 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
^MAtx^ n It/'^ '^ myfterie, and the very Secret of Secrets. The
fweet Sifters Anfwer, thai in her confcience thought
Lecher ie the Superficies of finne^ (a rare word with
women, but by her aunfwer fhe fhould feeme to
be learned) : the true Tale of one of Martins
godly fonnes, that hauing the Com-panie of one of
his ftfiers in the open fieldes, /aid he would not
Jmoother-vp finne, and deale in hugger-mugger
againji his confcience: (the Hiftoriographer hath
many priuie intelligences) : the fober tale of/
the Eldefi Elder ^ that receiued fcrtie Angels at his
Table, where he fat with no lejje then fortie good
difhes of the greatefi dainties, in more pompe, then
a Pope : (he was not of the ftarued Pythagorean,
or Platonicall diet : but liberall exhibition may
maintaine good hofpitalitie) : the Zelous Looue
letter, or a Corinthian Epiftle to the widow, as
honefi. a woman, as euer burnt malt : (the wooer,
or the Regifter of Aretines Religion) : the holie
Othe of the Martinifi, that thinking to fweare by
his confcience, fwore by his Concupifcence : (did not
he forget himfelfe, that exprefly affirmed ? Martin
will not fweare : but with In deede. In foot h, and In
truth, hele cogg the dye of deceit :) thefe, and the
reft of thofe bawdie Inuentions, wherewith that
brothellifti Pamflet floweth, fmell fomewhat ftrongly
of the Pumpe; and ftiewe the credibilitie of the
Autor, that dareth alledge any impudent, pro-
" / > j^-C^'.-t-vi.^
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 215
phane, or blafphemous fidion to ferue his turne. {i>ct I Ou./
So he may foone make-vp the autenticall Legendary
of his Hundred merrie 'Talss : as true peraduenture,
as Lucians true narrations ; or the heroicall hiftoryes
of Rabelais ; or the braue Legendes of Errant
Knights ; or the egregious prankes of Howle-
glafle, Frier Rufh, Frier Tuck, and fuch like; or
the renowned Bugiale of Poggius, Racellus, Lufcus,
Cincius, and that whole Italian crew of merry
Secretaryes in the time of Pope Martin the fift ;
of whom our worfhipfull Clarkes of the whetftone,
Dodlour Clare, Dod:our Bourne, M. Scoggin, M.
Skelton, M. Wakefield, diuers late Hiftoriologers,
and haply this new Tale-founder himfelfe, learned
their moft-wonder-fuU facultie. Committing of •
matrimonie ; caroujing the fapp of the Church ;
cutting at the bumme Carde of confcience ; bejmearing
of confcience ; fpelling of Our Father in a horne-
booke ; the railing Religion ; and a whole finke
of fuch arrant phrafes, fauour whotly / of the fame
Lucianicall breath, & difcoouer the minion Secre-
tarie aloofe. Faith, quoth himfelfe, thou wilt be
caught by thy ftile : Indeede what more eafie,
then to finde the man by his humour, the Midas
by his eares, the Calfe by his tongue, the goofe
by his quill, the Play-maker by his ftile, the
hatchet by the Pap? Albertus Secrets, Poggius
Fables, Bebelius ieftes, Scoggins tales. Wake-
2i6 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
' fields lyes, Parfon Darcyes knaueries, Tarletons
trickes, Eldertons Ballats, Greenes Pamflets, Eu-
phues Similes, double V* phrafes, are too-well
knowen, to go vnknowen. Where the Veine of
Braggadocio is famous, the arterie of Pappadocio ^
cannot be obfcure. Gentlemen, I haue giue you
a taft of his Sugerloafe, that weeneth Sidneyes ^ ^ -fi
daintyes, Afchams cofites, Cheekes fuccats. Smithes '", ^'^ '^
coferues, and Mores iunkets, nothing comparable
to his pap. Some of you dreamed of Eledtuaryes
of Gemmes, and other precious reftoratiues ; of
the quinteflence of Amber, & Pearle diflblued, of
I wott not what incredible delicacies : but his
Gemmemint is not alwayes current ; and as bufie
men, fo painted boxes, and gallipots muft haue a
Vacation. Yet wellfare the fweet hart of Dia-pap,
Dia-fig, and Dia-nut, three foueraine Defen-
fatiues of the Commonwealth, and three cordiall >^ ,
Comfortatiues of the Church. It is a good V\/. Ia-^'^''^
hearing, when good fellowes haue a care of the
Commonwealth, and the Church : and a godly
motion, when Interluders leaue penning their
pleafurable Playes, to become Zealous Ecclefiafti-
call writers. Bona fide ^ fome haue written notablie
againft Martin ifme : (it were a bufie tafke for the
credibleft Precifian, to empeach the credit of
Dodlour Bancroft, or Dodlour SutclifF) : but this
Mammaday hath excellently knocked himfelfe on
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 217
the fconfe with his owne hatchet. I will caft away
no more inke vpon a Com / pounde of fimples.
The Pap is like the hatchet : the fig like the nut :
the Country-cufF like the hangmans apron : the
dog like the dog : John Anoke, and lohn Aftile
like the baily of Withernam : the figne of the
Crabtre cudgell like twackcoate Lane : Martins
hanging like Pappadocios mowing : Huff, RufF,
and SnufFe, the three tame ruffians of the Church,
like double V : neuer a laye in the barrell, better
herring : the beginning, the midft, and the end,
all in one pickle. Some rofes amongft prickes,
doe well : and fome lillyes amongft thornes, would
haue done no harme. But Enuie hath no fanfie
to the rofe of the garden : and what careth Malice
for the lilly of the Valley ? Would, fayre Names /
were fpelles, and charmes againft fowle Affedtions : /
and in fome refpedes I could wifh, that Diuinitie '
would giue Humanitie leaue to conclude other- |
wife, then I muft. I could in curtefie be content,
and in hope of Recociliation defirous, to mitigate t
the harfheft fentences, and mollifie the hardeft u/
termes. But can Truth lye : or Difcretion approoue
folhe : or Judgement allowe Vanitie : or Modeftie
abide Impudencie : or good manners footh bad
fpeaches .'' He that penned the abooue-mentioned
Cock-alilly^ faw reafon to difplay the Black Artift
in his collier coolours : and thought it moft vn-
H. II. 28
2i8 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
reafonable, to fufFer fuch light and emptie veflels,
to make fuch a lowde, and prowde rumbHng in
the ayre. Other had rather heare the learned
Nightingale, then the Vnlearned Parrat ; or taft
the wing of a Larke, then the legge of a Rauen.
The fineft wittes preferre the loofeft period in
M. Afcham, or Sir Philip Sidney, before the
trickfieft page in Euphues, or Pap-hatchet. The
Mufes, fhame to remember fome frefhe quaffers
of Helicon : and which of the Graces, or Vertues
blufheth not, to name fome luftie tofpots / of
Rhetorique ? The ftately Tragedie fcorneth the
trifling Comedie : and the trifling Comedie flowt-
eth the new Ruffianifme. Wantonnefle was neuer
fuch a fwill-bowle of ribaldry : nor Idlenefle euer
fuch a carowfer of knauerie. What honefl: mynde,
or Ciuill difpofition, is not accloied with thefe
^ l\ noifome, & nafliy gargarifmes ? Where is the
poliflied and refined Eloquence, that was wont to
bedeck, and embellifli Humanity ? Why fhould
learning be a niggard of his excellent gifts, when
Impudencie is fo prodigall of his rafcall trifh-
trafli? What daintie, or neat Judgement begin-
neth not to hate his old looue, and loath his
auncient delight, the Prefle, the moft-honorable
Prefle, the mofl:-villanous PrefTe? Who fmileth
not at thofe, and thofe trim-trammes of gawdie
wittes, how flooriihing Wittes, how fading witts ?
%t
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 219
Who laugheth not at //V, //V, IFe ; or gibeth not
at fome hundred Pibalde fooleryes, in that hare
braind Declamation? They whom it neerelyeft
pincheth, cannot filence their iuft difdaine : and I
am forcibly vrged to intimate my whole Cenfure, i^
though without hatred to the perfon, or deroga-
tion from any of his commendable gift, yet not
without fpeciall diflike of the bad matter, and
generall condemnation of the vile forme. The
whole Worke, a bald Toy, full of dale, and
woodden leftes ; and one of the moft paltry
thinges, that euer was publifhed by graduate of
either Vniuerfitie : good for nothing but to flop
muftard pottes, or rubbe gridirons, or feather
rattes neaftes, or fuch like homely vfe. For C(.,f .
Stationers are already too-full of fuch Realmes,
and Commonwealthes of Waft-paper, and finde
more gaine in the lillypot blanke, then in the
lillypot Euphued : a day, or two fine for ftieetes,
and afterward good for grofers. Vanitas vanita-
tum, the fome of grudge, the froth of leuitie, the
/ fcum of corruption, and the very fcurfe of
rafcallitie : nothing, worthy of a Schollar, or a
Ciuill Gentleman : altogether phantafticall, and
fonde, without ryme, or reafon : fo odly hudled,
and bungled togither, in fo madbraine fort, and
with fo braineficke ftuffe, that in an Ouer flowe
of fo many friuolous, and ridiculous Pamflets, I
J^v 1/ -
220 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
fcarfely know any One in all points, fo incompar-
ably vayne and abfurde, whereunto I may refemble
that moft toyifhe and piperly trifle, the fruite of
an addle, and lewd wit, long-fince dedicated to a
diflblute, and defperate Licentioufnefle. Oh what
a Magnifico would he be, were his purfe as heauie,
as his head is light, and his hart franke ? Euen
that fame Very Mirrour of MadnefTe, hangeth
togither with fome more coherence of reafon ;
and fmelleth not fo rankly of the Tauerne, the
AJehoufe, the Stewes, the Cuckingftoole, or other
fuch honefl: places, as that drunke, and fhameleffe
Declamation ; Vnbefeeming any, but an Oratour
of Bedlam, a Rhetorician of Bridewell, or a Dis-
courfer of Primerofe hill. And although that
fame Freeh Mirrour, be ex Profejfo deuifed in a
mad garifh Veyne, and fluffed with geere homely
enough, fit for a Libertine & frantique Theame :
yet doth it no[t] fo bafely borrow of the Ruffians
bagge, the Tapflers fpigot, the Pedlars pack, the
Tinkars bugget, the Knaues truffe, and the Roges
fardle : vnto all which, and other Autors of like
reputation, but chiefly to the Hangmans apron,
(that, that is the biggin of his wit), this worthy
Autour is deeply beholding for great part of his
fine conceits, and dainty learning ; precious ware
for Euphued creatures, and phantaflicall colts :
whofe wild and madbraine humour nothing fitteth
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 221
(o iuft, as the ftaleft dudgen, or abfurdeft balduc-
tum, that they, or their mates can inuent, in odd
and awke fpeaches, difguifedly fhapen after / the
antick fafhion, & monftroufly fhorne, like old
Captaine Lifters fpanel. They that afFedt fuch
ruffianifh braueryes, and deuide their roifter-
doiftering leftes into Cuttes, flafhes, and foines,
may beftow the reading : for any other of what-
foeuer qualitie, or calling, it will do them afmuch
good, as dirt in their fhooes, or draffe in their/ ^ ^
bellyes: and in good footh there is all the vfe, Ciuill ■^ "
or Ecclefiafticall, that I can finde of this Babees
papp : whom for his fweet interteinement with papp,
figg, and nut, I ofEcioufly recommende to the Ship
of Fooles, and the GaleafTe of knaues. When he
vfeth himfelfe with more modeftie, and his friendes
with more difcretion, I may alter my ftile : (let
him chaunge, and I am chaunged) : or if already
he be afhamed of that coniuring leafe, foifted in
like a Bumbarde, I haue fayd nothing. Till he
difclaimeth his iniurie, in Print ; or confefleth his
ouerfight, in writing; or fignifieth his Penitence,
in fpeach : the abufed partie, that had reafon to
fet-downe the PremifTes without fauour, hath caufe
to iuftifie his owne hand without feare ; and is
afwell in equitie to auowe Truth, as in charitie
to difauowe Malice. At Trinitie hall: this fift of
Nouember: 1589.
1
\0 then of Pappadocio : whom neuer-
thelefTe I efteeme a hundred times
learneder, and a thoufand times honefter,
then this other Braggadocio ; that hath
more learning, then honeftie, and more money
then learning, although he truly intitle himfelfe,
Pierce Penniles, and be elfewhere ftiled the
Gentle /man Raggamuffin. Nafh, the Ape of
Greene, Greene the Ape of Euphues, Euphues,
I the Ape of Enuie, the three famous mammets of
[the prefTe, and my three notorious feudifts, drawe
all in a yoke : but fome Schollars excell their
matters ; and fome luftie bloud will do more at a
deadly pull, then two, or three of his yokefellowes.
It muft go hard, but he wil emprooue himfelfe,
the incomparable darling of immortall Vanitie.
Howbeit his frendes could haue wifhed, he had
not fhowen himfelfe to the world, fuch a ridiculous
Suffenus^ or Shakerly to himfelfe, by aduauncing
the triumphall garland vpon his owne head, before
the leaft ikermifh for the vidorie : which if he
euer obtaine by any valiancie, or brauure, (as he
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. zzy
weeneth himfelfe, the valianteft and braueft A6tour,
that euer managed penne) I am his bondman in
fetters, and refufe not the humbled vafTalage to
the fole of his boote. Much may be done by
clofe confederacie, in all fortes of coofenage, and
legierdemane : Monfteur Pontalats in French, or
Mejfer Vnico in Italian, neuer deuifed fuch a
nipping Comedie, as might be made in Englifh,
of fome leagers in the queint pradiques of the
Crofbiting Art : but I haue {t^xv^ many Bear-
wardes, and Butchers in my time ; and haue heard
of the one, what belongeth to Apes ; and haue
learned of the other, not to be affrayde of a
doofen horned beaftes : albeit fome one of them
fhould feeme as dreadfull, as the furious dun Cowe
of Dunfmore heath, the terribleft foman of Sir
Guy. iEfops Oxe, though he be a fuer plough-
man, is but a flowe workeman : and Greenes
Ape, though he be a nimble luggler, is no fuer
executioner. Yet well-worth the Mafter-Ape,
and Captaine mammet, that had a hatchet,
afwell as Papp ; a Country cufFe afwell as a
figge ; a crabtree cudgell, afwell as a nutt ;
fomething of a mans- / face, with more of an
Apes-face. Had his pen bene muzzled at the
firft, as his mouth hath bene bunged fince, thefe
frefh Euphuiftes would neuer haue aduentured
vpon the whip, or the bobb : but Silence is a
224
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
If-
A^
flaue in a chaine ; and Patience the common
Pack-horfe of the world. Euen this brat of an
Apefclogge, that can but mowgh with his mouth,
gnafh with his teeth, quauer with his ten bones,
and brandifh his goofe-quill ; prefuming of my
former fufferance, layeth about him with the faid
quill, as if it were poflefTed with the fprite of
Orlando Furiojo^ or would teach the clubb of
I Gargantua to fpeake Englifh. For the flaile of
Aiax diflrawght, or the clubb of Hercules enraged,
were but hedge-ftakes of the old world ; and
vn worth the naming in an age of pui fiance em-
prooued horriblie. The neweft Legendes of moft
hideous exploits, may learne a new Art to kill- ^
cow men with peremptorie termes, and bugges- *
wordes of certaine death. Pore I muft needes
be plagued ; plagued ? na, brayed & fquifed to
nothing, that am matched with fuch a Gargatuift,
as can deuoure me quicke in a fallat ; and
thundreth more direfuU threatnings againfl: me
that onely touched him ; then huge Polyphemus
rored againft Vlyfles, that blinded him : Genus
irritabile Vatum. The generation of rauing Poets,
is a fwarme of gad-bees; and the anger of a
moodie rimefter, the furie of a Wafpe. A mad
Tiger, not like a mad Wafpe ; and a chafed
Wildbore, not comparable to a chafed gad-bee.
Take heede of the man, whom Nature hath
L^.^
^^■-
^A.
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 225
marked with a gag-tooth ; Art furnifhed with a
gag-tongue; and Exercife armed with a gag-
penne ; as cruell and murdrous weapons, as euer
drewe bloud. The beft is, who hath time, hath
life. He meaneth not to come vpon me with
a cowardly ftratageme of Scarborough / warning :
he vfeth a certaine gallant Homericall Figure,
called Hyjieron-proteron^ or the Cart before the
horfe ; & with a refolution menaceth the effedl,
before the Caufes be begotten. When the iron
Cart is made, and the fierie horfes foled, they
fhall bring themightie Battring-ram oftermes, and
the great Ordinance of miracles, to towne : afke
not then, how he will plague me. In the meane
feafbn, it is a woonder to fee, how courageoufly
he taketh-on with his hoftiffes needles, and his
botchers bodkins. Indeede a good Souldiour will
make a fhrewd fhift with any weapons : but it
is a maruelous hart, that threatneth Ruine, ruine,
ruine, with the dint of a bodkin, and the blade
of an awle. Where fuch an other Rodomont,
fo furious, fo valorous, (o redoubtable? There
is a peece of a good old Song, peraduenture as
auncient, as the noble Legende of Syr Beuis, or
Sir Launcelot du Lake :
Duhha-dubha-dubb, kill him with a clubb :
And he will not dye, kill him with afiye.
H. n. 29
226 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
He that made that Ryme in ieft, little con-
fidered, what a gad-fly may doe in earneft. It
is fmall wifedome, to contemne the fmalleft
enemy ; the gad-fly is a little creature ; but
{bme little creatures be fl:ingers : neuer fauchon
better managed, then fome tiny penneknifes :
and what will he do, when he ruflieth vpon me
with the tempeftuous Engins of his owne wit,
that keepeth fuch a horrible coile with his Schoole-
fellowes poinardo? An Ape is neuer to feeke
of a good face, to fet vpon the matter. Blefled
Euphues, thou onely happy, that haft a traine
of fuch good countenances, in thy floorifliing
greene-motley liuery : miferable I, the vnhappieft
on earth, that am left defolate. Ah but that might
be endured : euery ma is not borne, to be the
kuder of a bande : euery birde carrieth not Argus
eyes difplayed in her taile : Fame is not euery /
boddies Saindl : to be forfaken, is no great
matter ; to be vtterly vndone, is miferable. That,
and the VnmercifuUeft perfecution that may be
inuented, is cruelly proclaimed againft quiet him,
that was once thronged and peftred with followers :
but when he began to giue-ouer that greene haunt,
and betooke himfelfe to a riper ProfefTion, Dio-
medes companions were changed into birdes.
Times alter : and as Fortune hath more fedaries,
then Virtue ; fo Pleafure hath more adherents.
U ^ k.'\-)
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 227
^"
then Proffit. I had no fooner fliaken of my
youg troupe, who I could not afTociate as before,
but they were feftiually reinterteined by fome
nimble wightes, that could take the aduantage
of opportunitie (with good vifages you may be
fuer), and had purpofely lyne in waite to climbe
in Print, by the fall of their Seniours : like
ambitious Planets, that enhaunfe their owne
dignities, by the combuftion, or retrogradation
of their fellow-Pianettes. Much good may that
aduauncement doe them ; and many daintie webbs
may I fee of thofe fine Spiders : but although I
dote vpon curious workemanfhip, yet I looue not
artificiall poyfon ; and am almoft angrie with the
trimmeft Spinners, when they extort venom out
of flowers, and will needes defile their friends
Libraries with thofe encroching cobwebbs. I
wis it were purer Euphuifme, to winne hoony
out-of the thifl:le ; to fweeten Aloe with fugar ;
to perfume the (linking Sagapenum with mufke ;
and to mitigate the heat of Euforbium with
the iuice of the lilly. Tufh, you are a filly
humanitian of the old world : that was the ^^
fimplicitie of the age, that loued frendfhip, more T I
then gold, & efteemed euery thing fine, that * r/VA
was neat, & holefom: all was pure, that was
feafoned with a little fait ; & all trimme, that
was befprinkled with a fewe flowers: now the
228 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
fierceft Gunpouder, and the rankeft pike fawce,
are / the braueft figures of Rhetorique in ejfe ; and
he the onely man at the Scriueners Piftoll, that
will Jo inceJfantUe haunt the Ciuilian, and Deuine,
that to auoide the hoai chafe of his fierie quill^ they
jhalbe confirained to enfconfe themfelues in an old
Vrinall cafe. Giue me fuch a Bonifacius. Now
well-worth fome termes of Aqua fortis at a
pinch : and wellcome Vrinall cafe, a fit fconfe
for fuch valiant termes ; and a meet Bulwarke
againft that fierie quill. I haue already felt his
pulfe : and cannot well caft his water, without an
Vrinall either old, or new : but an old Vrinall will
not fo handfomly ferue the turne : it would be as
new, as the Capcafe of Straunge Newes : but a
-pure mirrour of an impure ftale ; neither grofe,
the clearer to reprefent a grofe fubftace ; nor
green, the liuelyer to expreffe fome greene colours,
& other wanton accidents ; nor any way a harlot,
the trulyer to difcoouer the ftate of a harlatrie.
I haue feene as boat an Agent made a tame
Patient ; and gladd to enfconfe the dregges of
his fhame in an old Vrinall. It is a blabb : but
not euery mans blabb, that cafteth a fheepes-eye
out of a Calues-head ; but a blabb with iudge-
ment ; but a blabb, that can make excrements
blufh, and teach Chawcer to retell a Canterbury
Tale. But fuch great ludicials requier fome little
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 229
ftuddie : and S. Fame is difpofed to make it
Hallyday. She hath already put-on her wifpen
garland ouer her powting Crof-cloth : and behold
with what an Imperiall Maieftie fhe commeth
riding in the ducking-chariot of her Triumphe.
I was neuer fo ficke of the milt, but I could
laugh at him, that would feeme a merry man,
& cannot for his life keepe-in the breath of a lt^^
fumifh foole. Phy, long Megg of Weftminfter I ^\\> '^^
would haue bene afhamed to difgrace her Sonday
bonet with her Satterday witt. She knew fome
rules of Decorum : and although fhe were a luftie
bounfing rampe, fome / what like Gallemella, or
maide Marian, yet was fhe not fuch a roinifh
rannell, or fuch a difTolute gillian-flurtes, as this
wainfcot-faced Tomboy ; that will needes be
Danters Maulkin, and the onely hagge of the
PrefTe. I was not wont to endight in this flile :
but for terming his fellow Greene, as he was
notorioufly knowen, the Scriuener of Crofbiters ;
the founder of vgly othes, the greene mafter of
the blacke art; the mocker of the fimple world,
et catera : fee, how the daggletaild rampalion
buflleth for the frank- tenement of the dunghill. .i.
I confefTe, I neuer knew my Inuediue Principles, 7 '^'^
or confuting termes before : and perhaps fome v ) ^
better Schollars are nigh-hand as farre to feeke
in the kinde rudiments, and proper phrafes of
\Wi^-*
/
230 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
pure Nafherie. Why^ thou errant Butter whore,
I (quoth he, or rather fhe) thou Cotqueane and
fcrattop of /colds, wilt thou neuer leaue affli^ing
a dead carcajje, continually read the Rethorique
Le^ure of Ramme ally ? A wijp, a wij-p, a wifp,
rippy ripp you kitchinfiuffe wrangler. Holla Sin
fweeter wordes would do no harme. Doubtlefle
thefe emphaticall termes of the ally, were layd
afteepe for fome other acquaintace, not for me :
(good fellowes muft be furnifhed with Oratorie,
meete for their copany) : but it is fome mens
euill lucke, to ftuble in the way, when Will
Summers weapon is ready drawen : and yet more
i poflible for him to ftay the fwing of his eger
hand, then for Maulkin to ftay the dint of her
moodie tongue ; that can teach the Storme-winde
to fcould Englifti ; and pleadeth naturall poftefTion
of the Cuckingftoole. It is good poUicie, to , , U
yeeld to the furie of the tempeft : (the refoluteft |||t^^' 'f; \
harts are fayne to yeeld to the imperious lurifdic- ^^ J'
tion of Stormes, and Shrewes) : and the ftamping
feind, in the Hoat-houfe of her foming Oratorie,
will haue the laft word. Sweet GofTip, difquiet
not your loouely felfe : / the dunghill, is your
freehold ; and the Cuckingftoole, your Copyhold :
I know none fo rank-minded, to enter vpon
your proper pofl*eflions by riot : and in cafe
thou wilt needes alfo, be the Schoolemiftris of
; 1/ '
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 23 1
Ramme-ally, certainly thou defireft but thy right ;
that canft read a Rhetorique, or Logique Le<5ture
to Hecuba in the Art of rauing, and inftruft
Tifiphone herfelfe in her owne gnafhing language.
Other He- or She-drabs, of the curfteft, or ven-
geableft rankes, are but dipped, or dyed in the
Art : not fuch a Belldam in the whole kingdome
of Frogges, as thy croking, and moft clamorous ^, i^
Selfe. Euen Martins Vnbrideled ftile, and Pap- ^'^ -^^ '^^
hatchets reaftie eloquence, is but a curtaild iade \ , -
to thy long taild Colt. Let the Clocke ftrike : J W'-X ^
I haue loft more howers ; and loofe nothing, if
I finde Equitie. Should the Butterwhore, befturre
herfelfe like an arrant Knight, and try all the
concluflons of her cherne, ihe might peraduenture
in fome fort pay thee home with Schoolebutter :
but vndoubtedly fhe fhould haue much adooe, to
ftoppe thy Ouen-mouth with a lidde of Butter,
thou haft fwapped-downe a pounde of Butter
at a peece of a Breakefaft, or elfe there be lyes ;
and art fuch a Witch for a cherne, or a cheefe-
prefle, as is not to be founde in the Mallet of
Witches, or in Monfteur Bodines Dasmonomania.
Three meales of a Lazarello, make the fourth a
Woolner : and it is a crauen frying-pan, that is
affrayd of a Butter whore. No, no ; the butter
whore is thy bondmaide in a bunch of keyes :
and take heede fyrrha, the Cheefeknaue be not her
232 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
bondma in a loade of logges. She commeth not
of the bloud of the threateners : but kitchin-ftuffe,
and a Cole-rake haue in times paft bene of fome
familiar acquaintance ; and it is a badd paier of
Tonges, that cannot make as good fport at a pinch,
as a paier of Bellowes. Though a difh / of buttered
peafe, be no great Warriour, yet a meffe of
buttered artichokes, may perhaps hold you fome
prettie tacke. Onely I barre thoflame hourfonne
vnlawfuU termes, fteeped in cifternes of Aqua
fortis, and Gunpowder : and haue at you a gentle
crafh ; when it fhall pleafe the Vrinall, and the
Dairy, to giue me leaue to play, with a butter-fly.
I doe you the vttermoft credit in the world, that
am euer glad to feeke dilatorie excufes, and to
craue a terme ad deliberandum. The fortune of
the field, with pike, or penne, is like the lucke
of Nauigation, or the hap of marriage: and I
looue not greatly, to chopp vpon maine-chaunces. \
Nothing Venture, nothing loofe ; none of the a^j
^ worft rules, or cautels for their fecuritie, that can ! v
I tell Storyes of hap-hazard ; and haue knowen '
fome gallants more hardie, then wife. Humanitie
is defirous of Peace with the beft, and of truce
with the worft : and truly I neuer longed to
fight it out with flat flirokes, Vntil I mufl: needlefly
needes : but if there be no remedy by treatie, or
amicable compofition, although I was euer a
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 233
floweworme in the Morning, yet I cannot abide
to go to bedd with a Dromedarie. I cannot
maruell enough, how the nimble Bee fhould be
ingendred of the fluggifh Oxe, or the Huely
wafpe of the dead horfe : but Nature is a mira-
culous, and omnipotent workeman ; and I finde
it true by Experience, that I muft learne to
imitate by Example, or preiudice mifelfe by
fauouring other. To preiudice, were a fmall
matter, where the partie leuelleth at no great .
matter : but whe a mans credit is aflaulted with (^/*
bugges-wordes, and his witt beleaguered with ^ • 1 /^
the euer-playing fhott of the PrefTe ; Wifedome )
muft pardon him, whom Follie aflaileth; and
Humanitie difpenfe with a neceflary Apologie. I
would I might make it a Pollicie, to make my
aduerfarie much, and much, and much better/
then he is : that I might re-encounter him with
the more reputation, or the lefTe difparagement :
but it is his glory, to ftiame himfelfe notorioufly,
and he will needes proclaime his owne vanities
in a thoufand fentences, and whole Volumes of
ribaldry; not to be read but vpon a muck-hill,
or in the priuyeft priuie of the Bordello. Let
his Vices fleepe on a downe pillow: would, I
could awaken his Vertues; and ftopp their
mouthes, that wifh me in fober earneft, not to
foile my hands vpon fuch a contemptible rafcall ;
H. ri. 30
234
PIER CES S UPERER O GA TION.
^i^■^'
but to let the reckles Villain play with his own
fhaddow : (Truth is my witnefTe, diuers honeft
men of good reckoning, and fundry worfhipfull
Gentlemen, haue aduifed me in thofe very termes
exprefly) : but (i thence I ca doe him no good
by perfwafion, it were follie to fufFer him to
do me harme by detraftion. You that are not
afcertained of the lewd, and vile difpofition of the
' man, imagin as fauorably of him, as Charitie
; can poffibly conceiue of an impudent Railer, and
^f> a prophane mouth: but you, that can {kill of
learning, and looue Schollerfhip, giue him his
i defert; do Equitie right, and him no wrong,
! that wrongeth whom he lifteth. They that haue
\J leyfure, to caft-away, (who hath not fome idle
howers to loofe ?) may perufe his guegawes with
indifferency : and finde no Art, but Euphuifme ;
no witt, but Tarletonifme ; no honefty, but pure
Scogginifme; no Religion, but precife Marlowifme;
no confideration, but meere Nafhery: in briefe,
no fubftance, but light feathers ; no accidents,
but lighter colours ; no tranfcendents, but lighteft
phantafies that fty abooue the higheft region of
the cloudes, and purpofe to haue a faying to the
man in the Moone. His mountaines of Imagina-
tion, are too-apparent: his defignements of Vanitie,
too-vifible : his plots of Ribaldry, too-palpable :
his formes of/ libelling, too-outragious : S. Fame,
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 235
the goddefTe of his deuotion : S. Blafe, the idoll
of his Zeale : S. Awdry, the lady of his loue :
and the young Vicar of old S. Fooles, his ghoftly
Father. I haue heard of many notable prowde
fooles : read of many egregious afpiring fooles :
feene many hautie vayneglorious fooles: woondred
at manie bufie tumultuous fooles: but neuer
fuch a famous arrogant conceited foole, the very
tranfcendent foole of the Ship ; that hugely
contemneth all the world, but his owne Flim-
flams ; and againft all Pollicie, maketh his aduer-
fary more then an AfTe, and lefTe then nothing ;
whofe vidtory otherwife mought peraduenture
haue feemed fomething. But to ouer-crow an
AfTe, is a fory Conqueft ; and a miferable Trophy
for fo douty a Squier. There were wayes enough
of aunfwearing, or confuting, with varietie, and
reafon ; to his owne credite, the fatisfadion of
other, and my contentment : although hee had
not defperately, and fcurriloufly broken-out into
the fowleft and filthieft fcurfe of odious termes,
that Villany could inuent, or Impudency vtter.
Iwis hee mought haue fpied a difference, betweene
flaring, and ftarke-blinde ; betwene raging, and
ftarke-madd ; betweene confuting, and rancke
rayling in the grofleft fort. Had hee feafoned
his ftile with the leaft fpice of difcretion, or
tempered his vnmeafurable licentioufnelTe with any
236 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
moderation in the world; or hadd hee not moft
arrantly laboured, to fhew himfelfe the very brafen
forhead of Impudency, and the iron mouth of
Maledidlion, without all refpedl ; he mought
eafily haue found me the calmeft, and tradlableft
aduerfary, that euer he prouoked; as reafonable
for him, as for mifelfe, in caufes of Equity ; and
as partiall to foe, as to freend, in controuerfies of
Trueth. But it is the topp-gallant of his braueft
brauure, to be / a Creator of AfTes, a Confuter
of AfTes, and a Conquerour of AfTes : AfTes are
borne to beare ; and Birdes to foare aloft. No
winges, to the winges of Self-conceit; nor any
failes, to the failes of wordes : but hagard winges
are fometimes clipped ; and hoifed fayles often-
tymes humbled. Wordes amoilt, like Caflels of
\\j\ ' ' ' vapours, or pillars of fmoke, that make a mighty
fhowe in the Aier, and ftraight Vanifh-away.
Howbeit Enuie, is a foking Regifler : and Spite,
a Remembrancer of truft. That would be written
in a glafTe of wine, is otherwhiles founde in tables
of marble, and indentures of wainefcot. The ^p, /a
Oeftridge can deuoure the rufl of Iron ; and the '^y^.
i '''■
0
\ i
gall of prefent Obloquy may be brucked : but
the note-booke of malice, is a monumet of Tuch-
flone; and the memoriall of Feude, the clawe
of an Adamant. Pride fwelleth in the penne of
arrogancy : Vanitie bubleth in the mouth of folly :
j> r/
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 237
Rancour boileth in the hart of Vengeance :
mifchief hammereth in the head of Villany : and
no fuch Art memoratiue, as a Crabtree defke.
But in contempt of Pride, I will fpeake one
prowde word : Vaine Nafh, whom all pofterity
fhall call vaine Nafh, were thou the wifeft man
in England, thou wouldeft not ; or were thou
the valianteft man in England, thou durft not
haue written, as thou haft defperatly written,
according to thy greene witt : but thou art the
boldeft bayard in Print; a hare-braind foole in
thy head ; a vile fwad in thy hart ; a fowle Iyer
in thy throate ; and a vaine-glorious Affe in thy
pen : as I will prooue vpon the carkafle of thy
wit, and courage, through-out all the Predica-
ments of proofe. I hate malice in mifelfe : but
looue not to be an Vpholfter of ftuffed, and
bombafted malice in other. And bicaufe thou
termeft me an old Fencer ; (indeede I was once
Tom Burleys Schollar) ; and needeft difpling,
afmuch as any rake-hell / in England : Wherefo-
euer I meete thee next, after my firft knowledge
of thy perfon, (not for mine owne reuege, but /a
for thy correction) I will make thee a fimple
foole, and a double fwad, afwell with my hand,
as with my tongue ; & will engraue fuch an
Epitaph, with fuch a Kyrieelefon vpon thy fcull,
as fhall make thee remembred, when Syr Gawins
k
238 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
fcull fhall be forgotten. Some bibber of Helicon,
will deeme it worth eternall record. And if thou
entreate me not the fayrer, (hope of amendment
preuenteth many ruines), truft me, I will batter
thy carrion to dirt, whence thou camft; and fquife
thy braine to fniuell, whereof it was curdled : na,
before I leaue poudring thee, I will make fweare,
thy father was a Rope maker ; and proclaime
thifelfe, the bafeft drudge of the PrefTe ; with
fuch a ftraunge Confutation of thine owne ftraunge
Newes, as fhall bring Sir Vainglory on his knees,
and make Mafter Impudency blufli, like a Virgin.
Thy witt already maketh buttons : but I muft
haue S. Fame difclaime her blacke San^us \ and
Nafhes deuout Supplication to God, to forgiue
Pierces reprobate Supplication to the Diuell. It
muft be roundly done : or I will with a charme
for a full ftomacke, make the gorge of thy
belching Rhetorique, & the pauch of thy fur-
fetting Poetry, fling figures vpward, and downe-
ward. Phy, what neede that be fpoken ? True :
there is choice enough of fweeter flowers ; & neat
Oratory interteineth neateft Ciuilitie ; (what relifli
fo pleafant, as the breath of Suada ; or what
fmell fo aromaticall, as the voyce of the Mufes .?)
but the mouth of a rude AfTe, can taft no other
lettice ; and the fpawne of a beaftly dogfifli, will
vnderftand no other language but his owne. Fury
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 239
muft be tamed with Fury, according to Homer,
that teacheth the God of the field to ftrike home ;
obftinacy awed with obftinacy; force maftred with /
force ; threatnings cooled with threatnings ; con-
tempt aunfweared in his owne toungue : and feeing
the wild Colt is fo vnreafonably lufty, I meane
percafe either to make his courage crowch forward,
or his Art winch backward. I haue twentie and
twentie charmes, for the breaking of ftubborne
iades, for the biting of mad dogges, for the
ftinging of Scorpios, for the darting of Vrchins,
for the haunting of fprites, for the ftorming of
tempeftes, for the blafing of lightning, for the
ratling of thunder, and fo forth ; euen for the
craking of an hundred Pap-hatchets, or a thoufand
Greenes, or ten thoufand Nafhes Peagoofes. And
in cafe all happen to faile, (for it muft be a
mighty Exorcifme, that can coniure-downe Spite)
I haue a Probatum ejl^ of a rare and powerable
vertue, that will hold the nofe of his, or his conceit
to the grindftone ; and make gentle Villanie
confefle, all the ftireddes, and ragges of his
flafhingeft termes, are worne to the ftumpes. The
defperate foole may clawbacke himfelfe awhile :
but it is pofTible, he may foone finde by founde
Experience ; He brayeth open warre againft him,
that can bray the Afle-drumme in a morter ;
& ftampe his lewes-trumpe to Pinduft. Tom
r^
< r^^-
240 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Drumme, reconcile thifelfe with a Counter-fuppli •
s cation : or fuerly, it is fatally done ; and thy
\ / ' S. Fame vtterly vndone world without end. As
fauory a Sain6t, by the verdid of that excellent
Gentlewoman, as the cleanely difburfing of the
dirtpurfe of Sir Gargantua, that made King
Charlemaine, and his worthy Chiualry, laugh fo
mightily, that their heads aked eight dayes after.
A meet Idoll for fuch a Beadman. I haue
digrefled from my purpofe, and wandred out-of
my accuftomed way : but when the buttermilke
goeth on Pilgrimage, you muft giue the butter-
whore leaue to play the arrant knight a crafh,
and to make it ganging weeke for once. / Gang-
ing weeke ? na, a ganging day, I trow, is a large
allowance ; and enough to betire a poore ftragling
wench for all her bragges. Neuer fory lafTe fo
pittifully aweary of her ragged petticote, and
dagled taile ; the tattered liuery of the confuting
Gentleman. Let it go ; and the wifpe go with
\ G, • \f-^ '' ' it. I honour the meekeft Humility ; but fcorne
"" I ]7y^ the infolenteft Arrogancy vnder my foote; and
J^^'\t'' fay to the higheft Imagination of Vanity, Thou
art a proude Fopp. When thou carrieft thy witt
loftieft, and prankeft-vpp thy felfe-looue in his
gawdieft colours, thou art but an Afles head,
and a Peacockes taile. Looue other ; and thou
mayft be looued of other for pure Charity : hate
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
241
Other, and thou art one of the moft odious paddes
in the world : a Turke, for M. Afchams Archers
to fhoote-at ; and a lewes eye, for Chriftian
needles. Now a little breathing pawfe will do
no harme.
Were not Malice as wilfull in maintaining abufe,
as rafh in offering the fame ; & Arrogancy as
obftinate in the Conclufion, as violent in the
Premiffes : I readily could, & willingly would
vndertake a more temperate, and pleafing courfe :
but the faireft offer is fowly contemned; the
gentleft fuite vnkindly repulfed ; fay I, what I
can, malice wilbe itfelfe ; or do I, what I can,
Arrogancy wilbe itfelfe : and no other impreflion
can finke into the hart of Spite, or the eare of
Pride, but inftigations of Spite, or fuggeftions of
pride. Other motiues, are meere fimplicities : and
euery treaty of pacification, or parly of reconcilia-
tion, the fhaking of an afpen leafe. The Diuels
Oratour, is an Heralde of warre, not a Legate of
Peace: and his Dammes Poet, the rankeft chal-
leger at fhort, or long, that euer fent defiance in
white, or blacke. To refufe the try all, would in
the common opinion feeme a fhame ; to accept
the offer, in the befl iudgements / is a fhame :
to take the foile, were a difcredit; to giue the
foile, is no credit. A hard cafe, where Patience
may be fuppofed fimple, and auengement will be
H. II. 31
^
:V
^^
'\
.^^A
>'
242 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION,
f reputed vnwile ; where I cannot hold my peace
without warre vpon warre, nor fpeake without
blame vpon blame ; where I muft either be a
pafTiue, or an adtiue Afle in Print. I ftand not
vpon the point of honour, or vpon termes of
reputation : but as it is a glory for the inferiour,
to oiFer the combat, like the Chapion of prowes,
or the Duellift of courage; fo I would the
fuperiour might refufe that without preiudice,
which he cannot vndertake without difparagement,
or performe without obloquie. To fpoile Pierce
Penniles, were a poore booty : and to make
Thomas Naih kifTe the rod (by her fauour, that
hath pleafurably made him a Sulta Tomuboius^ &
another Almanus Hercules^ the great Captaine of
the Boyes) were as fory a vidtory; but only
in her Bello Euboico^ or in her main-battaile of
Scouldes. Yet feeing he prouoketh me fo mala-
pertly hand to hand ; & feeing the infancy of his ^
fancy will not otherwife be weaned from his cranke
coceit : better fuch a vidtory with fome incon-
uenience, (for I hope, I may without arrogancy
prefume of the viftory) then continuall difturbance
with more and more mifchief. Hedtor neuer raged
amongft the Grecians, nor Achilles amongft the
Troians; as Meridarpax, the moft furious, and
thrife-redoubted Captaine of the mife, rufhed vpon
the wofuU frogges, in that Heroicall battaile. But
r ^^i
0^ PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 243
Meridarpax himfelfe in his Impetuous, and mas-
facrous fallyes, neuer made fuch a hauock of the
miferable frogges : as this Swafh-pen would make
of all Englifh writers, howfoeuer garnifhed with
eloquence, or ftored with matter, might he be
fufFred to hewe them downe, like ftockes, or
fhrubbes, without cotrowlement. He will foone
be ripe, that already giueth fo lufty / onfets ; &
threateneth fuch defperate maine carreers, as fur-
pafTe the fierceft Caualcads of Bellerophon, or Don
Alonjo d'Aualos. Nothing curtaileth the courage f S- (k/
of his brauery, or daunteth the fwelling chiualry ry>
in his noftrels, but that excellent learning is not /(kvJ^
efteemed, as it deferueth : nor fingular men
aduaunced, according to the merites of their
worthinefTe. Might Penniles, fingular Penniles,
be the Preferrer of his owne Vertue, or ludge of
his owne caufe ; (as he couragioufly contendeth) :
I beleeue, a Veluet coate were fcantly good enough
for his wearing, that now remaineth moft humbly,
and thrife-affedionately bounden to the Right-
honorable Printing-houfe, for his poore fhifts of
apparell, and his rich capp of maintenaunce. An
Anatome of the Minde, and Fortune, were re-
fpeAiuely as behoouefull and necefiary, as an
Anatomie of the Body : but this Captain-Confuter,
(like gallant Lobbellinus in a new liuery) neither
knoweth himfelfe, nor other : yet prefumeth he
244 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
knoweth all things, with an ouerplus of fomwhat
more, in knowing his Railing Grammar, his Rauing
Poetry, his Roifting Rhetorique, and his Chopping
Logique : with whofe helpe, he hath thwitled the
)'wY;a'':> milpoft of his huge, and omnipotent conceit, to a
pudding-pricke of Straunge Newes. Straunge
newes indeede, that Pierce Penile fle fhould create
more AfTes in an hower ; then the braue king of
Fraunce, (now the mightieft Warriour in Chriften-
dome, and a great aduauncer of valour,) hath
dubbed Knightes in his raigne. 'The Ironyes
of Socrates, Ariftophanes, Epicharmus, Lucian,
are but Carterly derifions : the Ironyes of Tully,
Quintilian, Petrarch, Pontane, Sanazarius, King
Alphonfus, but the fory leftes of the Counjell-table
AJJe^ Richard Clarke : the Ironyes of Erafmus in
his prayfe of Folly ; of Agrippa in his difprayfe of
Sciences ; of Cardan / in his Apology of Nero,
like Ifocrates commendation of Bufiris, or Lucians
defence of Phalaris the Tyrant, but Good Beare
bite not : the Ironyes of Sir Thomas More in his
Vtopia, Poemes, Letters, and other writings ; or of
any their Imitatours at occafion, but the girdes of
fl euery milke-maide. They were filly country fel-
7\| ! lowes that commended the Bald pate, the Feauer
quartane ; the fly, the flea, the gnat, the fparrow,
Llf'^-'^ the wren, the goofe, the afl^e ; flattery, hypocrifie,
coofinage, bawdery, leachery, buggery, madnefl^e
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 245
itfelfe. What Dunfe, or Sorbonift cannot maii)-
taine a Paradoxe ? What Pefant cannot fay to a
glorious Soldiour ? Pulchre me hercule di^um, tff
fapienter : or, Laute^ lepide^ nihil Jupra : or, Regem
elegantem narras : or, a man is a man, though he
haue but a hofe vpon his head : or (o forth. No
fuch light payment Gabriell, at Pierce Penniles, or
Thomas Nafhes hand. They are rare, and dainty
wittes, that can roundly call a man AfTe at euery
third word ; and make not nice, to befoole him in
good fullen earned, that can ftrangle the prowdeft
breath of their pennes, and meaneth to borrow
a fight of their giddieft braines, for a perfedl
Anatome of Vanitie, and Folly. Though ftrog
drinke fumeth, & Aqua fortis fretteth ; yet I will
not exchaunge my Milke-maides Irony, for his
DrafF-maides affery. It is not the firft time, that
I haue difputed de Vmbra Afini ; and prooued the
Fox, the finder ; as wily a pigeon, as the cunning
Goldfmith, that accufed his neighbour, and con-
demned himfelfe. A melancholy boddy, is not
the kindeft nurfe for a chearely minde : (the
louiall complexion is fouerainly beholding to
Nature) : but I know not a finer transformation
in Ouid, then the Metamorphofis of dudgen earneft
into fport ; of harfh fower into fweet ; of lofie into
gaine ; of reproch into credit ; oi whatfoeuer badd
occurrence into fome / good. I was neuer of
246 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
fplenetique, when I was moft dumpifh, but I could
fmile at a frife left, when the good man would be
pleafurable ; and laugh at fuftian earneft, when
the merry man would be furly. Straunge Newes
wilbe as pleafant as a Cricket, by Cattes panges :
and where fuch a Turlery-ginkes of conceit, or
fuch a gibbihorfe of paftime, as Straunge Newes ?
But fillip him, or twitch him neuer fo little ; and
not fuch a powting wafpe in Ramme-ally, or fuch
a winching iade in Smithfield. Then, AJfe^ and
worje then a Cumane AJfe, and foole, and dolt^
and idiot, and Dunje, and Dorhell, and dodipoul^
and Gibaltar^ and Gamaliell Hobgoblin, and
Gilgilis Hoberdehoy ; and all the rufty-dufty ieftes
in a country, are too-little for his great Confuta-
tion, that is lineally defcended ab Equis ad Afinos ;
and taketh-on, like Hob -all- as, a ftout king of the
Saracens. When I am better grammered in the
/Accidents of his proper Idiotifme, and growen
^it. into fome more acquaintance with his confuting
Didionary ; I may peraduenture confter, and
pierce the whole Alphabet of his fweet Eloquece
a little better ; and make fome farther triall of
M. Afchams double tranflation, a pretty exercife j
in a fit fubied. Meanewhile I am glad, to fee /
him fwimme vpp to the beardlefTe chinne in a Sea'
of hoony, and ypocrafe, that fo lately was plunged
in a Gulfe of other liquor, and parloufly dafhed
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
24/
vpon the horrible Rocke of defperation. It is
good, they fay, to be merry, and wife.
Poggius was merry, and Panormitan wife :
Marot was merry, and Bellay wife : Scoggin was
merry, and the Lord Cromwell wife : Greene was
merry, and Sir Criftopher Hatton wife : Nafh is
merry, and there be enough wife, though his
mothers fbnne be Pierce Penniles. Or if thou
beift wife, or wouldeft feeme no foole, beware of
Cafual/ties, & a new Attradliue. Thy toungue
is a mighty Loadeftone of Afles ; and muft do
afmuch for thine owne naturall eares, as the
Magnes doth for Iron. As good do it at-firft,
as at-laft : and better voluntary confeflion with
fauour, then enforced profeiTion with more fhame-
full penance. Balaams Affe was wife, that would
not run vpon the Angels fword : jEJops AJfe no
foole, that was gladd to fawne vpon his mafter,
like a Dogge : Lucians AJfe^ albeit he could not
fly, like the witch his hoftifle, (whofe miracles
he thought to imitate, had not her gentle maide
coofened him with a wrong boxe) yet could he
Politiquely faue himfelfe, pleafe, or eafe his mafters,
delight his miftrifl'es, fhewe many artificiall feates,
amaze the beholders, drinke the pureft wine in
TheiTalonica, and finally eate rofes, afwell as
thiftles : Apulius AJfe was a pregnant Lucianift,
a cunning Ape, a loouing worme, and (what
U/
/vl^W;
^K^
^
(W
;>-
248 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
worthyer prayfe?) A golden Afle : Machiauels
JJJe of the fame mettall, and a deepe Politician
like his founder, could prouide for One, better
then the Sparrow, or the Lilly : Agrippas AJfe^ a
woonderfull compoud, and (may I fay?) a diuine
beaft, knew all things, like Salomon, and bore all
burdens like Atlas. The great Library of king
Ptolemy in Egipt, reported to haue bene replenifhed
with feuenty thoufand Volumes, not fuch a Library
of bookes, or fuch, or fuch an Vniuerfitie of Arts,
& Sciences, as Agrippas Affe. They that reuerence
the wondrous Prophecies of the Cumane Sibyll,
Amalthea, the chiefeft of the ten infpired Sibylles;
defende, or fauour the excellent quahties of the
Cumane Affe ; efteemed by Varro, the moft profit-
able feruant of that Country, and by Columella
the moft neceffary Inftrument of all Countryes.
Euery Affe is naturally a well difpofed creature,
and (as the learned Rabbines haue written) a
mirrour of clemency, patience, abftinence, / labour,
conftancy, and diuine wifedome. No fuch Schoole-
mafter for a wild boy, or a rafh foole, as the fober,
and ftayed Affe ; the Countryman of the wife
Apollo, and the feuen wife m afters.
Verier at ^ Jenior pando Silenus ajello. Silenus
the tender fofter-father, and fage tutour of the
wanton and frolicke Bacchus, afterward how braue,
and frutefull } What an Orientall worthy ? What
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 249
an Indian Conquerour ? What a feftiuall God ?
When Priapus, the (hamelefle God of the garden,
(fo gentiHty called that leacherous Diuell) attempted
to furprife Vefta fleeping ; what an honorable
peece of feruice performed the honeft AJfe^ that
with his lowde braying detedled that villanous
afTault ? What heathen memoriall more fhamefull
to that infamous God, the the Jolemne Sacrifice of
that famous beaft^ celebrated by the Lampfacens,
in reuengement, and reproche of that treafonable
enterprife ? But what treafon, like the treafon of
Politique Achitophell, and plaufible Abfolon, that
moft difloyally, and defperatly rebelled againft the
facred maieftie of the moft valorous, and incom-
parable worthy king, Dauid ? And what reward,
or aduauncement meeter for fuch treafon, then^
hanging? And who carried the wife Achitophel
to hanging, but his owne foolifh AJfe ? And who j
carried the defperate Abfolon to hanging, but /
his owne foher mule ? What fhould I furcharge {
your memory with more hiftories attonce ? He
that remembreth the gouernement of Balaams
Afle, i^fops Affe, Lucians AfTe, Apuleius Affe,
Machiauels AfTe, Agrippas Afle ; the Cumane
Afle, the Rabbines Afle, Apollos Afl'e, the feuen
Sages Afle, Silenus Afl'e, Priapus Afl*e, Achitophels
Afl'e, and Abfolons mule ; little needeth any other
Tutour, or Counfellour. Some would prefume to
H. II. 32
250 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
alledge the fingular and peerlefTe example / of the
Chriftian Poet :
Ille viam ojienditj vili qua ve£fus ajello
Rerum Opifex. Agrippa, Cardan, Trithemius,
Erafmus, and diuers other notable Schollars, afFed-
ing to fhew the variety of their reading, and the
omnifufficiecie of their learning, haue bene boulder
in quoting fuch reuerend examples, vpon as light,
or lighter occafion ; but humanitie muft not be
too-fawcie with diuinitie : & enough is better then
a Feaft. Sweet Apuleius, when thou haft wiped
thy mouth with thine owne AfTe-dung ; and thine
owne Tounge hath fayd vnto thy Pen, Pen thou
art an Afle : then fellow-afTes may fhake handes,
and they clapp their hands that haue heard the
// I f jComedie of Adelphij or the two Afles : a more
^' • ■ '^' ^' notable Pageant, then the Interlude of the two
Sofias, or the two Amphitryos, or the two Men-
T' cr-r dechmi, or the two Martin Guerras ; or any fuch
j famous Paire of the true perfon, and the counter-
I fait. "But AfTes carry myfteries : and what a riddle
] is this ? that the true man ftiould be the counter-
■ fait ; and the falfe fellow the true Afte. Or what
a Secret in Philofophie fhall I reueale, as vnto the
fonnes of the Art : when I tell you, AfTes milke
is reftoratiue, good for the gowte, for the blouddie
flixe, for the clearenefTe of the fkinne : AfTes bloud,
good for the feauer lurdane : AfTes flefh fodden.
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
251
good for the Leprofie : AfTes liuer rofted, good for
the falling ficknefle : AfTes hooues burned to afhes,
good alfo for the fame ficknefTe, for the kinges euill,
for woomen labouring with a dead burthen : AfTes
bones well-boiled, good againfl the empoifonment
of the fea-hare : AfTes ftale, good for the raines
of the backe, and a fine decoratiue to bewtifie the
face by taking-of fpottes, and blemifhes : AfTes
dung, a fweet nofegay to flaunch bloud, a fouerain
fumigation to expell a dead birth out / of the
moothers woombe, and a faire emplafter for a
fowle mouth, as it might be for the mouth of
Bawdery in ryme, or of Blafphemie in profe. No \
Homericall Machaon, or Podalirius, comparable
to the right AfTe; that teacheth the greatefl
Empiriques, Spagiriques, Cabalifls, Alchimifles,
Magicians, and occult Philofophers, to wrap vp
their profoundefl, and Vnreuealable myfleries in
the thickeft fkinne, or rather in the clofefl intrals
of an AfTe. I would, fome open-mouthed Liber-
tines, and profefTed Atheifls had as deeply learned
that cunning lefTon. Euen the dead carcafTe of
the AfTe, ingendreth the flying Scarabe, or foaring
Beetle, the noble and Vnreconcileable feudift of
the -^gle : of whom my braue aduerfary, the ,
famoufefl dor-beetle of this age, hath learned \
to contemne, and depraue the two mounting 1
^gles of the heauely art of Poetry, Buchanan \
3,.fA#y>.'->""
%^
%*f-
rK5
dU^.
2S2 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
in Latin Verfe, and Bartas in French meeter :
L -, Jti Whofe grofe imperfedions he hath alfo vowed
to publifh, with an irrefragable Confutation of
Beza, and our floorifhingeft New-writers, afwell
in diuinitie, as in humanitie ; onely diuine Are-
tine excepted. But no thunderblafing afFright-
eth, or toucheth the right ^gle : and the leaft
feather of the right ^gle, can foone deuoure
the baftard winges of other enuious, and quarrel-
ous birdes. What carrion Afle was the Sire
of this vnappea{ble Scarabe : or what Scarabe
fhalbe the fonne and heire of this carrion Afle ;
I leaue it wholy to the difcourfe of the learned
iEgles, that were euer molefted with the buzzing
flye, and fhall euer be haunted with the braying
Beaft. I muft fpin-vp my tafke. And bicaufe
the wild-afTe wanteth a picker-deuant, let him
drinke his owne Vrine, tempered with Spicknard,
as he caroufeth Helicon ; and according to the
tradition of Vitalis de Furno, it will procure, and
encreafe haire ; as kindly, / as the Artificiall liniment
of Dodlour Leuinus Lemnius for a comely Beard-
And in-cafe he feareth his fellow Greenes fluttiih
difeafe, let him read the naturall hiftories of the
AiTe, and the Sheepe, in Ariftotle, Pliny, or
Gefner ; and he fhall finde it one of their
fpeciall Priuiledges, to be arrefted from the arreft
of the fix footed Sergeant, a continuall haunter
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 253
of other hairy beaftes, and onely fauorable to the
good AfTe, and the gentle Sheepe. Or if haply
he would be fhod with a paire of euerlafting
fliooes, like the talaria of Mercury, (for alas that
any Gentleman of worth, or corredour of the
Lord du Bartas, fhould lye in the Counter in his
bootes for want of fhooes) ; Albertus, and Cardan
will teach him to make incorruptible fhooes of
the durableft part of an affes hide, immortal!
leather. And 6 fweet Mufes of ParnafTus, are
not the fweeteft pipes, and pleafanteft inftruments
made of AfTes bones ? or do not the fkillfull
Geographers, Strabo, and Pliny, call dainty Arcadia
in Peloponefus, (the natiue country of the great
Apollo) the Land of Affes? Was not the renowned
Pan, the Politique Captaine of the coquerous
Bacchus, & a fuppofed God in the Painim world,
an Arcadian Afle? Was not Prince Areas, the
braue fonne of king lupiter, after his death
honored with the glorious memorial! of the Great
Beare in heauen, an Arcadian AfTe ? Was not
the Little Beare, his moother Califto, an Arcadian
Afle? Was not her father, the drad Tyrant,
Lycaon, an Arcadian Fox, an Arcadian Woolfe,
an Arcadian Afle? Was not the mighty Atlas,
the father of Maia, and grandfather of Mercury,
an Arcadian Afle ? Was not Mercury himfelfe,
the moft-nimble, and fupereloquent God, an
254 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Arcadian AfTe ? Was not Aftrophill, excellent
Aftrophill, (an other Mercury at all dexterities,
and how delitious a Planet of heauenly harmony,) /
by his owne adoption, an Arcadian AfTe ? Hiftories
are no fnudges in matters of note : and afles had
neuer lefTe caufe to be afhamed of afles. When
wife Apollo, when Valorous Pan, when employable
Mercury, when furmounting Atlas, when the GreaU
and Little Beare of heauen, when excellent Afl:ro-
phil, glory in the honorable title of Arcadian Afl'es,
who would not coouet to be recoonted in that
memorable Catalogue? What generous, or noble
Antiquitie, may wage comparifon with Statius
Arcadians, Aftris^ Lunaque priores. Sweetnefl^e
itfelfe was the daughter and darling of Arcadia:
and Arcadia the mother, the nurfe, the dug, the
fweet-hart of Sweetnefl^e itfelfe. Q the fugarcandy
of the delicate bag pipe there : and 6 the licorife
of the diuine dulcimers there. No maruell though
his Mufique be fweeter, and fweeter, that is as fine
an Afinus ad lyram, as the famous Difciple of the | j\ p
worthy Ammonius ; and hath Greenes mellifluous i 'v\\l/
Arcadia at his fingers endes, the very funerall of I
the Countefl^e of Pembrookes Arcadia. His other '
habiliments, and complements be innumerable :
and I know not an Afle, but hath fome good
quality, that is, fome fpeciall propertie of an Afl"e
either proflitable for commodity, or pleafurable
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 255 '>t1^
for delight, as an AfTe may be profitable, or --r"" h
pleafurable either fimply, or in fome refpedl. Tt
was not for nothing, that the braueft king, that
euer raigned vpon Earth, Alexander the Great,
euen greater then any Mars, or lupiter, that euer
brandifhed fcepter in the world ; in his Royall
and Valorous iudgment preferred the AfTe before
the man, when being folemnely commaunded by
Oracle, to fley the firft liuing Creature he fhould
fortune to meete withall, if after his puifTant, and
conquerous manner he would that day obtaine the
Vi(5tory ; he happened to meete a good honeft
Coun / try-man, riding vpon an AfTe ; whofe pre-
fent facrifice, as a moft acceptable Oblation, made
him Vidlorious. Lefle maruell of the Archbifhops
aunfwere, in menja Philqfophica^ and Pontans
Dialogues, that hauing reuerently, and deuoutly
Preached on Palme Sonday, of the She-AfTe,
whereupon Chrift in humility voutfafed to ride ;
and after his lowly Sermon mounting vpon his
lofty palfry, was riding his way ; fomewhat
fatherly and gratioufly ftayed awhile, to heare the
old woomans fuite, that came haftely running
towardes him, and boldly taking his horfe by the
bridle ; now I befeech your Grace, quoth fhe, is
this the She-AfTe whereupon Chrift in humility
rode ? No, moother, quoth he, but a poore fole
of that rich AfTe, and I a humble feruant of
256 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
that high Lord. Good enough, quoth the
wooman, I knew not before that the gentle She-
Afle your Grace Preached of, had fuch goodly
foles: yes, mother, quoth the Bifhop, and a
great deale goodlier, then mine : and fo departed,
leauing behind him an euerlafting memory of that
deuout Sermon, and that weighty Communication
with the wooman, in honour of the AfTe, a frute-
full parent of many goodly and pompous foles. I
will not trouble Boccace, or Poggius for Tales.
He was a naturall foole, that would have giuen
his liuery againe vnto his Lord, bicaufe it was
embrodered with AfTes heades, which made a
comely fhowe vpon his garment, and mought
ful-well haue befeemed fome richer coates. Could
the mill, the plough, the packe, the hamper, the
paniar, the cloakebagge, the burden, the fardell,
the bagge and baggage, the cudgell, the goade,
penury, famine, patience, labour itfelfe fpeake ;
all other Apologies were fuperfluous : they would
frame a fubftantiall and necefTary defence of the
AfTe ; and Experience would declame in com-
menda/tion of his perpetuall Exercife, trauaile,
induftry. Valour, temperance, fufferance, magnani-
mity, and conftancy, the honorableft and inuincibleft
vertucs in the world. The wifeft Oeconomy
maketh efpeciall account of three fingular members ;
a marchants eare ; a pigges mouth ; and an AfTes
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
257
backe. A fhort note, but worth all Tuffers, or
Catos hufbandry. Had I more experience in fome
cafes, I could fay more: & as my experiece in
thofe cafes may happen to encreafe, or amount, >
I will not faile to tender my deuoire. I haue
penned large Difcourfes in prayfe of ftuddy, medi-
tation, conference, exercife, induftry, vigilancy, & i
perfeuerance, the worthieft thinges in the circuite (
of the Earth, (nothing vnder heauen, equiualent to I
labour) : and whatfoeuer I haue addrefTed in their |
behalfe, I may in fort alledge in honour of the|
AfTe ; and compile whole Volumes in his commen- '
dation, more auailable for commodity, and more
neceflary for Vfe, then the workes of fome great
Commenters in humanity, Philofophy, hiftory, and
other higher Profeflions. He that can kindly play
the right AfTe, in ignorance wil finde knowledge, in
pouerty wealth, in difpleafure fauour, in ieoperdy
fecurity, in bondage freedome, in warre peace, in
mifery felicity. Who fo thoroughly prouided for
both fortunes, as he : or who fo ftrongly armed
againft all cafualties, as he? or what Seneca,
Epidtetus, Boetius, Petrarch, or Cardan, fo effec-
tuall a Schoolemafter of SuJiinCy et Abftine^ as
he ? or who fuch an Oeconomer to liue, as he : or
who fuch a Philofopher to dye, as he? or what
Phyfitian for the boddy, like him : or what Lawier
for the fubftance, like him : or what Deuine for
H. II. Z2>
w
\ n ^^^''
^
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258 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
the minde,. like him ? or where fuch a Pra6litioner
of Vertue as he : or where fuch a Fortune-wright,
as he? or finally where fuch an apt fubied: for
the Ciuill, and morall refor / mation of the Prudent
Auguftus, the good Traian, the gentle Marcus
Antoninus, the vertuous Alexader Seuerus, the
drad Septimius Seuerus, or any honorable Prince,
or Politique Tyrant, that with a reuered autho-
ritie, would eftablifh Vertuous, and awfull orders
of gouernement in his dominions?
But what an AfTe am I, that proceede fo coldly,
and dully in the Apology of fo worthy a Creature ?
What will you fay. Gentlemen, if I can prooue
with pregnant arguments, artificially drawen from
all the places of Inuention, according to Ramus,
Rodolphes, or Ariftotles Logique ; that the fire-
breathing Oxen, and mighty Dragon, which kept
the moft-famous Golden Fleece, the glorious prize
of braue lafon, were Affes of Colchos : that the
watchfull, and dreadfull Dragon, which kept the
goodly Golden Apples, in the Occidental Hands
of the Ocean, called Hefperides, one of the re-
nowned prizes of dowty Hercules, was a Weft-
Indian Afle : that the golden-horned, and brafen-
footed Menalian hart, the fierce Erymanthean
Bore, the hideous birdes Stymphalides, the puiffant
Nemasan Lion, and the feuen-hedded Lernagan
Hydra, which Hercules flew, were AfTes of
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 259
Arcadia, and other adiacent countryes of Morea:
(for Maenalus, and Erymanthus, were hilles in
Arcadia, Stymphalus a lake in Arcadia, Nemaea a
wood in Argolis, and Lerna a i^w in Argolis, an
other fhire of Morea :) that the Serpent with the
golden creaft, which kept the rich fountaine of
Mars in Greece, and was flaine of valiant Cadmus,
was an Afle of Boetia, fo called a boue^ where the
Prophet Amphiaraus breathed Oracles : that the
huge Serpent Python de monte^ ingendred fhortly
after Deucalions deluge, which the Arcadian god
of Wifedome killed with his arrowes, the firft
founders of the / Pythian Games, was a mighty
Afle of the mountaines : that the mounting ^gle,
into which king lupiter turned, not himfelfe, but
Ganymedes, (whom he tooke with him, as his flying
Page, and vfed as his flianding cupbearer) was a
faithfull feruaunt, and a perpetuall Afle : that the
hondred-eyed Argus, whom Queene luno appointed
the keeper of lo, the faireft creature of the Arcadian
herde, and whom Mercury lullabyed afleepe with
a fweet Syrinx, or Arcadian Pipe, (many Strata-
gemes, and myfteries in that Arcadian Pipe) was
a blind Afle of Arcadia : I flcip a thoufand
memorable Hifl:ories ; that all they, by what-
foeuer noble, or glorious names intituled, that
hauing charge of greatefl: importance, and in-
eftimable Value, committed to their vigilant and
26o
PIERCES SUPERER0GA2I0N.
9V
aM
Ki/\i^-
\%j^
h
ielous cuftody, did attonce forgo their treafure,
their honour, and their hfe (as many great
perfonages for want of circumfpedtion haue done)
were notorious Arch-afTes. If I cannot fubftan-
: tially prooue all this, and for a neede euicft by
ineceflary, and immediate demonftration, that the
great world is a great Afle, afwell a^Uj as Po-
tentia\ and the Microcofme, a little AfTe, afwell
habiiUj as affe^iione ; fay I am a notable AfTe,
afwell re, as nomine. The Philofopher, that
feeking-about with a candle at high noone, could
not finde a Man in a populous market ; without
a candle would foone haue pointed at a faire
of Afles ; and could quickly haue difcouered a
frutefull generation in euery element, in the water,
on the Earth, about the fier, in the Aier. And
the wife-man, that faid without exception, Stul-
torum plena Junt omnia ; might eafely haue bene
entreated, to haue fet it downe for a fouerain Maxim,
or generall rule ; jifinorum plena Junt omnia.
The thundring Oratour Demofthenes, was not
affraide to taunt Minerua, the armed GoddefTe
of fine Athens, for exhibiting fauour to three/
vnreafonable beaftes, the Owle, the Dragon, and
the People: counting the People the moft
importunate and intolerable beaft of the three,
■ by whofe appointment he was banifhed the dainty
Citty, the onely feate of his raigning Eloquence.
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 261
l/^y-t/^^.,.^-'
If the people of fine Athens, were fuch a bar-
barous and fenfelefle brute, as their excellenteft
Oratours, Philofophers, Captaines, Counfellours,
and Magiftrates founde to their cod : and if the
people of braue Roome, the Lady, and Emprefle
of the world, were fuch a bellowing bcaft of many-
heads, as Horace called it, Tully prooued it,
Scipio fealt it, and Casfar himfelfe rued it ; what
may be faid of other people ? Floorifhing Greece
in many hundred yeares acknowledged but feuen
wife- me of fpeeiall note ; as the auncient world
acknowledged but feuen miracles, or magnificall ^ i'///^^
fpedtacles worth the feeing : & Callimachus a ' .
fweet Poet, recording the memorable, and woonder- i/z^^i^'^^^^^
full thinges of Peloponefus, termed them Paradoxes.
Vertuous Italy in a longer terme of dominion,
with much adooe bred two Catos, and One
Regulus : but how many Syluios, Porcios, Brutos,
Beftias, Tauros, Vitellios, Capras, Capellas, Afinios,
and fo forth? Other fingularlties, meete matter
for Tullyes Paradoxes. The world was neuer
giuen to fingularities : and no fuch monfter, as
Excellency. He that fpeaketh, as other vfe to
fpeake, auoideth trouble : and he that doth, as
moft men doe, fhalbe leaft woondred at. The
Oxe, and the AfTe, are good fellowes : the Lib-
bard and the Foxe, queint wifardes : whatfoeuer
is abooue the common capacity, or vfuall hability
^\. t
262
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
<f vW^ "^
\
a Paradoxe. I will not bethinke mifelfe of the
I rigorous fentences of Stoicall Philofophers, or
the biting Apothegs of feditious Malcontents,
or the angry fayings of froward Saturniftes, or
the tumultuous Prouerbes of mutinous people: /
1(1 haue fmall afFe6tion to the reafons, that are
'drawen from affeftion) : but were not the world,
an Vniuerfall Oxe, and man a generall Afle, how
were it poflible, that fo many counterfait llightes,
crafty conueiances, futtle Sophiftications, wily
coofenages, cunning impoftures, and deepe hypo-
crifies fhould ouerflow all : fo many opinions.
Paradoxes, fe6les, fcifmes, herefies, apoftacies, idola-
tries, Atheifmes fhould pefter the Church : fo many
fraudes, fhiftes, collufions, coouens, falfifications,
fubornations, treacheries, treafons, factions, commo-
tions, rebellions fhould difturbe the Commonwealth?
It is a world to confider, what a world of Follyes,
and Villanies poflefTeth the world : onely bicaufe
the world is a world, id eft, an AfTe. And would
the PrefTe fuffer this fcribling AfTe to dominere
in Print, if it were not a Preffe, id eft, an AfTe ?
Might it pleafe his confuting Afhip, by his
fauorable permiflion to fuffer One to refl quiet ;
he might with my good leaue be the graud
Generall of AfTes, or raigne alone in his proper
dominion, like the mighty AfTyrian king, eue
Phul AfTar himfelfe, the famous fon of the re-
\
A^
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
^63
nowned Phul Bullochus. For fo the Gentle-
wooman hath intituled him in a place, or two,
that hath vowed the Canonizatio of Naihes
S. Fame, in certaine Difcourfes of regard, already
difpatched to my fatisfadion, & almoft accoplifhed
to her owne intention. It may peraduenture be
his fortune, to leaue as glorious a nephew behinde
him, as euer was the redoubted Lob-aflar-duck,
an other noble king of AfT) ria ; not forgotten by
the faid excellent Gentlewoman, but remembred
with fuch a grace, as bewtifieth diuine wittes.
Kind-hart hath already offered faier for it, &
were it not that the great Phul AfTur himfelfe
had foreftalled and engrofed all the commodities
of AfTyria, with the whole encomium of Afles /
into one hand ; it fhould haue gone very-
hard, but this redoubted Lob-aflar-duck would
haue retailed, and regrated fome precious part of
the faid commodities, and aduauncements. He
may haply in time by efpeciall fauour, and ap-
prooued defert, (what meanes of preferment, to
efpeciall fauour, and approoued defert ?) be inter-
teined, as a chapman of choice, or employed as
a fadtour of truft ; and haue fome ftables of AfTes
at his appointment, as may feeme meeteft for his
carriages, and conueiances. For mine owne part,
I muft be contented to remaine at his deuotion,
that hath the whole generation of Aflyrians at
1^
" CI
f^
264 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
commaundement ; with a certaine perfonall priui-
ledge, or rather an Imperiall Prerogatiue, to create
and inftall Affes at pleafure. Had I not lately
reuifited the Aflyrian Hiftory, with the faid
vertuous Gentlewooman, one of the gallanteft
ornaments of her fexe ; I mought perchaunce haue
omitted this fmall parcell of his great honour, and
left the commendation of the AfTe more vnperfedl :
which notwithftanding I muft ftill leaue moft-
vnperfed, in refped: of his vnfpeakable beau-
defert. Vnto whom for a farewell, I ca wifh no
more, then accomplifhed honour ; nor no lefTe,
then athleticall health. A fhort exhortation, will
ferue Socrates, to continue like himfelfe. A roach
not founder then a haddocke, or the ftockfifh,
that Pliny termeth AJellus : & nothing fo vn- ■^■'] ^-^-^
kindly hurteth an Afle, as the two melancholy /
beaftes, cold, and the drowfie fickneffe ; the caufe /
why Afles canot abide to inhabite the moft-cold, '
& frofen territories of Scythia ; but are glad to
feeke their fortunes in other countryes, & to
colonife in warmer feats. Blame him not, that
fayth ; T^he weather is cold, and I am wearie with
confuting : & in another place ; Had I my healthy
now I had leyjure to he merry : for I haue almoji
wafht my hands of the Dolour. Now I / fee thou
art a good fellow by thine own cofeflion, & wilt
not giue the AfTes head for the wafhing : Cold,
U h
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 265
and the drowfie ficknefTe, are thy two mortal 1
enemies : when they are fled the Country, like
fugitiue, and difmall birdes, let vs haue a flitch of
mirth, with a fiddle of the pureft Afl*e-bone : onely
I barre the Cheeke-bone, for feare of Sampfons
tune, more then heroicall. But the fpring- tooth
in the lawe, will do vs no harme, although it
were a fountaine of Mufcadell, or a conduift of
Ypocrafe. Many are the miracles of right Vertue:
and he entreth an infinite Labyrinth, that goeth
about to praife Hercules, or the AfTe : whofe
Labours exceede the Labours of Hercules, and
whofe glory furmounteth the topp of Olympus.
I were befl: to end, before I beginne ; and to
leaue the Autor of Afl'es, where I found the Afle
of Autors. When I am better furnifhed with
competent prouifion, (what prouifion fuflicient
for fo mighty a Prouince ?) I may haply afl^ay
to fulfill the Prouerbe, by wafhing the Afles
headd, and fetting the crowne of highefl: praife
vpon the crowne of young Apuleius, the heire
apparant of the old Afle, the mofl: glorious Olde
Afl*e.
/ haue written in all fortes of humours priuatly \ ^. _ ^y ,^
I am perfwaded^ more then any young man of my ^ )
age in England. They be the wordes of his
owne honorable mouth : and the golden Afle, in
the fuperabundace of his rich humours, promifeth
H. II. 34
H-
266 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
many other golden mountaines ; but hath neuer
'^ ' a fcrat of filuer. Had Ariftophanes Plutus bene
outwardly as liberal!, as Greenes Mercury was
inwardly prodigall, he muft needes haue bene the
onely Orientall Starre of this Language : and all
other writers, old, or new, in profe, or verfe, in
one humour or other, but fory Occidentall ftarres.
Onely external! defeds, quoth himfelfe, are call
in his difh: for inter /nail graces, and excellenteft
perfections of an accomplifhed minde, who but
he? Come diuine Poets, and fweet Oratours,
the filuer ftreaming fountaines of flowingeft witt,
and fhiningeft Art : come Chawcer, and Spencer ;
More, and Cheeke ; Afcham, and Aftely ; Sidney,
and Dier; come the deareft filler of the deareft
brother, the fweeteft daughter of the fweeteft
Mufes, onely One excepted, the brighteft Diamant
of the richeft Eloquence, onely One excepted, the
refplendenteft mirrour of Feminine valour, onely
One excepted ; the Gentlewooman of Curtefie, the
Lady of Vertue, the Countefl^e of Excellency, and
the Madame of immortall Honour : come all the
daintieft dainties of this toungue, and doe homage
to your Verticall Starre ; that hath all the foueraine
influences of the eloquent, and learned Conftella-
tions at a becke, and Paradifeth the Earth with
the ambrofiall dewes of his incomprehenfible witt.
But what fiiould I dally with hoony-bees ; or
^(.rf-t*-..
(^^' n.
i/^.r'*^^-^ •i'^-
PIERCES Sl^PEREROGATION. 267
prefume vpon the Patience of the gentleft Spirites,
that Englifh Humanity afFourdeth? Pardon me
Excellent mindes : and I will here difmifle my
poore milkemaide, nothing appliant to the delicate
humour of this minion Humorift, and Curtefan
Secretary, Shall I fay? Phy vpon arrant knauery, '~--~ ,
that hath neuer fucked his fill of moft-odious y^^ .V U
Malice: or, Out-vpon fcurrilous, & obfcene Villany, ' '
nufled in the boofome of filthieft filth, and hugged
in the armes of the abominableft hagges of Hell.
Be it nothing to haue railed vpon Dodours of mr\^
the Vniuerfitie, or vpon Lords of the Court, U ' ^
(who he abufeth moft-infamoufly, & abiedleth as
cotemptuoufly, as me) : but what other defperate
varlet of the world, durft fo villanoufly haue
diffamed Lodon, & the Court, as he notorioufly
hath done in thefe rafcall termes? "Tell me^ is
there any place Jo lewde^ as this Ladie London ? /
not a wenche Jooner creepes out of the /helly but Jhe
is of the Religio. The Court J dare not touchy but
fuerlie there be many falling Starres, and but one
true Diana. Not a wenche, a very Vniuerfall
Propofition, in fo large, and honourable a Citty :
and but One^ 3. very fhort Exception to a general!
rule of the Court. Floorifhing London, the Staple
of Wealth, & Madame-towne of the Realme, is
there no place fo lewde^ as thy Jelfe ? and Noble
Court, the Pallace of Honour, and Seate of
268 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Maiefty, haft thou hut one true Diana ? Is it not
right-hand time, the young haddock were caught,
that can already nibble fo prettily? Was he,
thinke you, lodged in Cappadocia, for fleeping by
the Sunne, and ftudying by the Moone? Whom,
or what, will not he fhortly confute with an
ouerrunning furie, that fo brauely aduentureth
vpon London, and the Court, all-attonce ? Honour,
regard thy good reputation ; and ftaunch the
ranke bloud of this arrant Autor ; as honeft a
man, as fome honeft wooman I could name, that
keepeth her honefty, as ftie doth her Friday faft.
Suffer him to proceede, as he prefumeth, & to
end, as he beginneth ; and looke for a rarer
beaft in England, then a Woolfe ; and a ftraunger
monfter in Print, then the diuine Ruffian, that
intituled himfelfe, Flagellum Principum^2iW^ prooued
Pejiis Rerum publicarum. My Toungue is an
infant in his Idiotifme ; and I had rather blefte \
Vj^v^^ ' my peftilenteft enemy, then curfe any: but fome ^/^T
hr-J ^'^'^ little plaine dealing dooith not otherwhiles amifie, / J',,^ ^f
f^y.^.j' where nothing but flat, and rancke grofenefte | ' / '
blotteth the paper, infedleth the aier, depraueth
the good, encourageth the badd, corrupteth youth,
accloieth age, and annoyeth the world. Good
faith is my witnefle, I neither affed to obfcure
any light in an aduerfary ; nor defter to quench
any honeft courage in an enemy ; but wifti euery
^
\M
•^^•1
,• t
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION, 269
gift of heaue, or/earth, of minde, or body, of nature,
of fortune, redoubled in both, euen in the greened
aduerfary, and wildeft enemy : in whom I honour
the higheft, and looue the loweft degree of
excellency : ] but am not eafely coofend by Imper- ]
fedlion, branded with the counterfait marke of | i*" 'IJ -^
perfedlion. I am ouer-ready to pardon young
ouerfights, and forgiue inconfiderate offences : but
cannot flatter Folly, or fawne vpon Vanity, or ^9^./^
cocker Ignoraunce, or footh-vp Vntruth, or pe^v'^
applaude to Arrogancy, either in foe, or fred.
It cocerneth euery man to looke into his owne
efliate with his owne eyes : but the young man, ,
that will neither know himfelfe, nor acknowledge : ^
other, muft be told in brief, what the comon i Ju^tA f^ sf
opinion reporteth at large. He hath little witt :
lefle learning : left iudgement : no difcretion ; '
Vanity enough : ftomacke at will : fuperabundance S<.-^-~(' -^
of felfe-conceit : outward liking to fewe, inward
affedion to none : (his defence of Greene, a more '^
biting condemnation then my reproofe) : no reuer-
ence to his patrons : no refpedl to his fuperiours :
no regard to any, but in contemptuous, or ceforius
fort : hatred, or difdaine to the reft : cotinuall
quarrels with one, or other : (not fuch an other
mutterer, or murmurer, eue againft his familiareft
acquaintance) : an euer-grudging, & repining mind :
a rauenous throte : a gluttonous mawe : a droken
270
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION
l\
> '.(/ I
t
l^^v--'^
head : a blafphemous tongue : a fifking witt : a
fhittle nature: a reuolting, and rennegate difpo-
fition: a broking, and huckftering penne: ftore of
rafcall phrafes : fome little of a brabling Schollar :
more of a rauing fcould : moft of a roifterly
feruing-man : nothing of a Gentleman : lefle then
nothing of a fine, or cleanly Artift. And as for
termes of honefly, or ciuility, (without which the
fharpeft Inuention is Vnfauery, and the daintieft
elocution lothfome) : they are Gibridge vnto him ;
and / he a lewifh Rabbin, or a Latin Dunfe with
him, that vfeth any fuch forme of monftrous
termes. Aretine, and the Diuels Oratour, would
be afhamed to be conuidled, or endighted of
the leaft refpediue, or ceremonious phrafe, but
in mockage, or coofenage. They neither feare
Goodman Sathan, nor mafter Beelzebub, nor Sir
Reuerence, nor milord Gouernement himfelfe : 6
wretched Atheifme, Hell but a fcarecrow, and
Heauen but a woonderclout in their dodrine : all
vulgar, ftale, and fimple, that is not a note abooue
Goddes-forbid. Whom durft not he appeach,
reuile, or blafpheme, that forged the abominableft
booke in the world, De tribus impojioribus mundi :
and whom will he forbeare, in any reafon, or
confcience, that hath often protefted in his familiar
hauntes, to confute the worthy Lord du Bartas,
and all the famoufeft moderne-writers, fauing him
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 271
onely, who onely meriteth to be confuted with
vnquenchable Volumes of Heauen- and Hell-fier.
Perionius deciphreth the fowle preceptes, and
reprobate examples of his Morall Philofophy, in
an inuedtiue Declamation, generally addrefied vnto
all the Princes of Chriftendome, but efpecially
diredied vnto the moft-Chriftian French king,
Henry the Second. Agrippa detefteth his mon-
ftrous veneries, and execrable Sodomies. Cardan
blafoneth him the moft-impudent Ribald, that euer
tooke penne in hand. Manutius inuefteth him
the Ring leader of the corrupted bawdes, and
mifcreanteft rakehells in Italy. His familiar
acquaintance, Sanfouino, doth him neuer a whitt
more creddit, then needeth. TafTo difdaineth his
infolent and infupportable affectation of fingularitie.
louius in his Elogies voutfaueth him not the
naming. DoubtlefTe he was indued with an
exceeding-odd witt : and I neuer read a more
furpaffing-hyperbolicall / ftile. Caftilios Courtier
after a pleafurable fort, graceth him with a deepe
infight in the higheft Types and Idees of humane
perfections, whereunto he moft curioufly, and
infatiably afpired. His wanton difciples, or Vain-
conceited fauorites, (fuch crowes, fuch egges) in
their fantafticall Letters, and Bacchanall Sonnets,
extoU him monftroufly, that is, abfurdly : as the
onely Monarch of witt, that is, the Prodigall
fiW
272 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
fonne of conceit ; and the mortall God of all
Vertue, that is, the immortall Diuell of all Vice.
Oh, what grandiloquous Epithits, and fupereminent
Titles of incredible and prodigious excellency,
haue they beftowed vpon the Arch-miracle of the
world, Signior Vnico ? not fo little as the huge
Gargantua of profe, and more then the heauen-
furmounting Babell of Ryme. But what ap-
prooued man of learning-, wifedome, or iudgement,
euer deigned him any honour of importance, or
commedation of note : but the young darling of
S. Fame, Thomas Nafli, alias Pierce Penniles, the
fecond Leuiathan of Profe, and an other Behemoth
of ryme ? He it is, that is borne, to glorifie
Aretine, to difgrace Bartas, and to vndooe me.
Say I, write I, or dooe T, what I can, he will haunt,
and trounce me perpetually, with fpritifh workes
of Supererogation, inceflant tormentours of the
%. . Ciuilian, and Deuine. Yet fome-boddy was not
Cy^4 j^f^'"""^ woont to endight vpon afpen leaues of paper :
Y'\r and take heede Sirrha, of the Fatall Quill, that
fcorneth the fting of the bufie Bee, or the fcratch
of the kittifh fhrew. A Bee ? a drone, a dorre,
a dor-bettle, a dormoufe. A fhrewe ? a drab, a
hag, a flibber-gibbet, a make-bate, the pickthanke
of Vanity, the pickpocket of foolery, the pick-
purfe of all the palteries, and knaueries in Print.
She doth him no wrong, that doth him right, like
V
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
27i
Aftraea, and hath ftiled him with an / immortal
penne ; the Bawewawe of Sc hollars, the Tutt of \
Gentlemen, the 'Tee-heegh of Gentlewomen, the
Phy of Citizes, the Blurt of Courtiers, the Poogh
of good Letters, the Faph of good manners, &
the whoop-hooe of good boyes in Lodon ftreetes-
Nafh, Nafh, Nafh, (quoth a louer of truth, and
honefty) vaine Nafh, railing Nafh, craking Nafh,
bibbing Nafh, baggage Nafh, fwaddifh Nafh,
rogifh Nafh, Nafh the bellweather of the fcribling
flocke, the fwifh-fwafh of the prefTe, the bumm of
Impudecy, the fhambles of beaftlines, the poulkat
of Pouls-churchyard, the fhrichowle of London,
the toade-floole of the Realme, the fcorning-
flocke of the world, & the horrible Cofuter of j
foure Letters. Such an Antagonifl hath Fortune \
allotted me, to purge melacholy, and to thrufl me
vpon the Stage : which I mufl now loade, like
the old fubie(5l of my new prayfe. There is no
warring with Defliny : and the Lord of my ley-
fure will haue it fo. Much good may it do the
puppy of S. Fame, fo to confute, and fo to be
confuted. Where his intelligence faileth, (as God
wotteth, it faileth often) he will be fo bold, with-
out more inquiry, to checke the common fenfe of
Reafon, with the proper fenfe of his Imagination,
infinitly more high in conceit, then deepe in
vnderflanding : and where any phrafe, or word
9l'
\
■H-
'5t'fk
Ia;-"-^-
^U^
.^-" /■
W"^'
.Ki
A^
V-i
274
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
prefumeth to approch within his fwing, that was
not before enrowled in the Common-places of his
paper booke, it is prefently meere Inkhornifme :
albeit he might haue heard the fame from a
thoufand mouthes of Judgement, or read it in
; more then an hundred writings of eftimation.
Pythagoras Silence was wont to be a rule for
Ignorance, or Immaturity : (no better bitt for
vnlearned, or vnexpert youth, then Pythagoras
Silence:) but Vnderftand, or not Vnderftand, both
are one : if he vnderftand, it is Dunfery : if he
vnder / ftand not, it is either Cabalifme in matter,
or Inkhornifme in forme : whether he be ripe, or
vnripe, all is raw, or rotten, that pleafeth not his
Imperiall taft. Had he euer ftudied any Prag-
maticall Difcourfe ; or perufed any Treaties of
Confederacy, of peace, of truce, of intercourfe,
of other forrein negotiations, (that is fpecially
noted for one of my Inkhorne wordes) ; or
refearched any adtes, and monuments, Ciuill,
or Ecclefiafticall ; or looked into any Lawes,
Statutes, Iniundions, Proclamations, (na, it is
one of his witty flowtes, He beginnes^ like a
\ Proclamation : but few Treatifes better penned,
; then fome Proclamatios) : or had he feene any
] autenticall inftruments, Pragmatique articles, or
other Politique Traids: he would rather haue
woondered I fhould Vfe fo fewe formall termes.
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 275
(which I purpofely auoided, as not fo vulgarly
familiar) then haue maruelled at any, which I vfed.
He is of no reading in comparifon, that doth not
acknowledge euery terme in thofe Letters to be
autenticall Englifli ; and allow a thoufand other
ordinary Pragmaticall termes, more ftraunge then
the ftraungeft in thofe Letters, yet current at
occafion. The ignorant Idiot (for fo I will prooue /;/ f > /Xl
him in very truth) confuteth the artificiall wordes,
which he neuer read : but the vayne fellow (for
fo he prooueth himfelfe in word, and deede) in
a phantafticall emulation prefumeth to forge a
mifhapen rablement of abfurde, and ridiculous
wordes, the proper badges of his new-fangled
figure, called Foolerifme : fuch as Inkhornifme^
Abfonijme, the moft copious Carmi?iijij thy Car-
minicall art^ a Prouiditore of young Schollars, a
Corrigidore of incongruities a quefi of Caualieros^
Inamoratos on their workes, a 'Theologicall Gim- '
panado^ a Dromidote Ergonifi^ facrilegioufly cotami-
natedy decrepite capacities fiSiionate per/on, humour
vnconuerfable^ merriments vnexilabUs / the horri-
Jonant -pipe of inueterate antiquitie ; and a number
of fuch Inkhornish phrafes, as it were a pan
of outlandifh collops, the very bowels of his
profoundeft Schollerifme. For his Eloquence
pafTeth my intelligence, that cleapeth himfelfe
a Callimunco for pleading his Companions caufe
<a
276 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
in his owne Apology: and me a Piftlepragmos,
for defending my frendes in my Letters : and
very artificially interfujeth Finicallitie, fillogifirie,
difputatiue right ^ hermaphrodite phra^'es^ declama-
torie JiileSj cenforiall moralizers^ vnlineall vfurpers
of iudgement, infamizers of vice, new infringement
to defiitute the inditemet, deriding dunjiically,
banging abominationly, vnhandfoming of diuinity/hip^
abjurdifying of phrafes, ratifying of truthable and
Eligible Englijh, a calme dilatement of forward
harmefulnejfe, and backward irefulnejfe, and how
many fundry difhes of fuch dainty fritters ? rare
iunkets, and a delicate feruice for him, that copiled
the moft delitious Commentaries, T>e optimitate
triparum. And what fay you Boyes, the flatter-
ingeft hope of your moothers, to a Porch of
Panim Pilfryes, Pefired with Prayfes} Dare the
perteft, or defteft of you, hunt the letter, or hauke
.'\ I a metaphor, with fuch a Tite-tute-tate ? He
I weeneth himfelfe a fpeciall penman : as he were
jthe headman of the Pafletting crew, next, and
/ immediately after Greene : and although he be a
/ harfh Oratour with his toungue, (euen the filed
I Suada of Ifocrates, wanted the voyce of a Siren,
or the found of an Eccho) yet would he feeme
as fine a Secretary with his penne, as euer was
Bembus in Latin, or Macchiauell in Italian, or
Gueuara in Spanifh, or Amiot in French : and
PIERCES SUPEREROGA lioy.
277
with a confidence preafleth into the rowte of that
humorous rake, that afFe6teth the reputation of
fupreme Singularity. But he muft craue a httle
more acquaintance at the hand of Art, and ferue
an apprentifhood of fbme nine, or ten yeares / in
the fhop of curious Imitation (for his wild Phan-
tafie will not be allowed to maintaine comparifon
with curious Imitation) before he will be hable
to performe the twentith, or fortith part of that
fufficiency, whereunto the cranknefTe of his Imagi-
nation already afpireth ; as more exquifite, then
the Atticifme of Ifocrates, or more puiflant then
the fury of Taflb. But how infolently foeuer
grofe Ignorance prefumeth of itfelfe, (none fo
hawty, as the bafeft BufTard) : or how defpe-
ratly foeuer foole-hardy Ambition aduaunceth his
owne colours, (none fo foole-hardy, as the blindeft
Hobb) : I haue feldome read a more garifli, and
pibald ftyle, in any fcribling Inkhornift ; or tafted
a more vnfauory flaumpaump of wordes, and
fentences in any fluttifh Pamfletter ; that de-
nounceth not defiance againft the rules of Oratory,
and the directions of the Englifli Secretary. Which
may here and there ftumble vpon fome tolerable
fentence, neighbourly borrowed, or featly picked
out- of fome frefh Pamflet : but fliall neuer finde
three fentences togither, worth any allowance : and
as for a fine, or neat period, in the dainty and pithy
i
f
t'
<>(
Th
r
-N
V.'
A
r\
.1
278 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Veyne of Ifocrates, or Xenophon, marry that were
a periwig of a Siren, or a wing of the very bird
of Arabia, an ineftimable rehque. Tufh a point,
I neither curious Hermogenes, nor trim Ifocrates,
I nor ftately Demofthenes, are for his tooth : nor
I painting Tully, nor caruing Csefar, nor purple-
jciying Liuy, for his humour. It is for Cheeke, or
/ Afcham, to ftand leuelhng of Colons, or fquaring
I of Periods, by meafure, and number : his penne is
j like a fpigot ; and the Wine-prefle a dullard to his
/ Inke-preiTe. There is a certaine liuely and frifking
>>\T thing, of a queint, and capricous nature, as peerlefTe
p. as namelefle, and as admirable, as fingular, that
xf^'"^' |\ fcorneth to be a booke-woorme, or to imitate/
n) the excellenteft artificiality of the moft renowned I ^.S^^
\^^' .-f worke-maflers, that antiquity afFourdeth. The j "\^t ^'^ . *-
'^ \)^^ witt of this, & that odd Modernift, is their owne : 1 ,^,^^^' (^
,-,,^6 ' & no fuch minerall of richefl Art, as prasgnant ],^'^ ;^'^
Nature ; the plentifulleft woombe of rare Inuen- j (f^'^
tion, and exquifite Elocution. Whuifl Art : and j V.^^'^
Nature aduaunce thy precious Selfe in thy molt | (V '^ r^
gorgeous, and magnificent robes: and if thy new ' .y^K?
\ IP
V^
defcant be fo many notes above old iEla, Good-
now be no niggard of thy fweet accents, & heauenly ' \
harmony ; but reach the antike mufes their right
Leripup. Defolate Eloquece, and forlorne Poetry,
thy moft-humble fuppliants in forma pauperum,
cladd in mournefull and dreery weedes, as becom-
\j
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 279
meth their lamentable cafe, lye proftrate at thy
dainty foote, and adore, the Idoll-excellency of
thy monftrous Singularity. O (lately Homer,
and lofty Pindarus, whofe witt mounteth like
Pegafus ; whofe verfe ftreameth like Nilus ; whofe
Inuention flameth like ^^tna, whofe Elocution
rageth like Sirius ; whofe pafTion bluftereth like
Boreas, whofe reafon breatheth like Zephirus ;
whofe nature fauoreth like Tempe, and whofe
Art perfumeth like Paradife : 6 the mightieft
Spirites of couragious Vigour, of whom the
delicate Grecian, worthy Roman, and gallant
Vulgar Mufes learned their fhrilleft tunes, and
hyperbolicall notes : 6 the fierceft Trompets of
heroicall Valour, that with the ftraunge Sympathy
of your diuine Fury, and with thoffame piercing
motions of heauenly infpiration, were woont to
rauifh the affedions, and euen to mealt the
bowels of braueft mindes : fee, fee what a woon-
drous quaime, ^
But peace milkemaide : you will ftill be fhaming i V -* ^^^i i.
yourfelfe, and your bringing- vpp. Hadft thou \ '^^^-If'^
learned to difcerne the faireft face of Eloquence,
from the fowleft vifage / of Barbarilme ; or
the goodlyeft frame of Method from the ill-
fauoredeft fhape of Confufion : as thou canft
defcry the fineft flower from the courfeft branne,
or the fweeteft creame fro the fowreft whey :
n
28o PIERCES SUPERER0GA2I0N.
peraduenture thou wouldeft dote indeede vpon
the bewtifull and dainty feature of that naturall
ftile, that appropriate ftile, vpon which himfelfe
is fo deepely inamored. I would it were out-of
peraduenture : no man more greedy, to behold
that miraculous Art of emprooued Nature. He
may malapertly bragge in the vaine oftentation
of his owne naturall conceit ; and if it pleafe him,
make a Golden Calfe of his woodden ftuffe : but
fhewe me any halfe page without piperly phrafes,
and tinkerly compofition : and fay I am the
fimpleft Artift, that euer looked faire Rhetorique,
or fweet Poetry in the face. It is the deftiny
of our laguage to be peftred with a rablement
of botchers in Print : but what a fhamefull fhame
is it for him, that maketh an Idoll of his owne
penne, and raifeth-vpp an huge expectation of
paper-miracles, (as if Hermes Trifmegift were
' newly rifen from the dead, and perfonally
mounted vpon Danters PrefTe, to emprooue
'^ himfelfe as ranke a bungler in his mightieft
a worke of Supererogation, as the ftarkeft Patch-
(X^^ pannell of them all, or the grofeft hammer-drudge
^ ^-^ in a country. He difdaineth Thomas Delone,
\f^ Philip Stubs, Robert Armin, and the common
Pamfletters of London, eue the painfulleft Chroni-
clers tooe ; bicaufe they ftand in his way, hinder
his fcribling traffique, obfcure his refplendifliing
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
281
Fame, or haue not Chronicled him in their Cata-
logues of the renowned moderne Autors, as he
meritorioufly meriteth, and may peraduenture be
remembred hereafter. But may not Thomas
Delone, Philip Stubs, Robert Armin, and the reft
of thofe mifufed perfons, more dif / dainfully
difdaine him ; bicaufe he is fo much vayner,
fo little learneder, fo nothing eleganter, then
they ; and they fo much honefter, fo little
obfcurer, fo nothing contemptibler, then he ?
Surely Thomas, it were pollicy, to boaft lefTe
with Thomas Delone, or to atchieue more with
Thomas More. If Vaunting, or craking may
make thee fingular, thy Art is incomparable, thy
Wit fuperexcellent, thy Learning omnifufficient,
thy memory infinite, thy dexterity incomprehen-
fible, thy force horrible, thy other giftes more
then admirable : but when thou haft gloried
thy vttermoft, and ftruggled with might, and
maine, to feeme the Great Turke of Secretaries ;
if my eye fight be anything in the Art of en-
dighting, (wherein it hath pleafed fauour, to
repute me fomething), vpon my credit for euer,
thou haft nothing in thee of valour, but a railing
Gall, and a fwelling Bladder. For thy penne is
as very a Gentleman Foift, as any pick-purfe
liuing : and, that which is moft-miferable, not
a more famous neckverfe, then thy choice ; to
H. II. 36
-*,
\Jy<^'^'
aSs
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
A '\
d^
h^
n
i|'
i"^
litEP^''
thifelfe pernicious, to youth daungerous, to thy
frendes grieuous, to thy aduerfaries pittifull, to
Vertue odious, to learning ignominious, to hu-
manity noyous, to diuinitie intolerable, to autority
punifhable, to the world contemptible. I longed
to fee thy beft amendement, or worft auengement :
but thy gay beft, vt/upra^ prooueth nothing ; and
thy main worft, vt infra, lefte then nothing.
Neuer ftlly mans expedtation fo deluded with
contrary euents vpon the Stage, (yet Fortune
fometime is a queint Comedian, far beyond the
Suppofes of Ariofto) as thefe Strange Newes haue
coony-caught my conie6ture ; more deceiued, then
my Prognoftication of the laft yeare, which hapned
to be a true Prophet of fome difmall Contingents.
Though I neuer phanfied Tautologies, yet I
cannot repeat/ it enough : I looked for a treaty
of pacification : or imagined thou wouldeft arme
thy quill, like a ftowt champion, with the compleat
harnefle of Witt, and Art : na, I feared the brafen
ftiield, and the brafen bootes of Goliah, and that
fame hideous fpeare, like a weauers beame : but
it is onely thy fell ftomacke, that bluftereth like
a Northeren winde : alas, thy witt is as tame, as
a duck ; thy art as frefti as fower ale in fummer ;
thy brafen ftiield in thy forehead ; thy brafen
bootes in thy hart ; thy weauers beame in thy
toungue ; a more terrible launce, then the hideous
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 283
fpeare, were the moft of thy Power equiualent to
the leaft of thy Spite. I fay not ; what aileth thy
Gorgons head ? or what is become of thy Samp-
fons lockes? (yet where miracles were promifed,
and atcheiuements of Supererogation threatened,
they had reafon, that dreaded vnknowen forces) :
but 6 blaftes of diuine Fury, where is your'
fupernaturall prowefTe ? and 6 home of abundance,
what meaneth this dearth of plenty, this penury
of fuperfluitie, this infancie of eloquence, this ., .
fimplicitie of cunning, this ftupiditie of nimble- i:*-^'"
nefle, this obfcuritie of brauerie, this nullity of , «
omnifufficiencie ? Was Pegafus euer a cowe in
a cage, or Mercurie a moufe in a cheefe, or
Induftrie a fnaile in a fhell, or Dexteritie a dogge
in a dublet, or legierdemane a floweworme, or
Viuacitie a lafie-bones, or Entelechy a flugplum ?
Can liuely, and winged fpirites fupprefle the
diuinitie of their ethereall, and Seraphicall nature ? / 1
Can the thunder tongue-tye, or the lightning fmoo-
ther, or the tempeft calme, or loue quench, or Zeale
luke-warme, or valour manicle, or, excellencie mew-
vpp, or perfection geld, or fupererogatio combe-
cutt itfelfe? Is it not impofTible, for Humanity,
to be a fpittle-man, Rhetorique a dummerell.
Poetry a tumbler, Hiftory a bankrowt, Philofophy
a / broker, wit a cripple, courage a iade ? How
could the fweet Mermaids, or dainty Nymphes
(U^
\'^
284 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
finde in their tender harts, to be fo farre diuorced ,
from their queinteft, and galiardeft minion ? Art, | /^m7
take heede of an aeger appetite, if a little greedie \ "^^ /;
deuouring of fingularitie will fo foone gett the ; •-) i/^' \ *^'
hicket, and make thee (as it were) belch the
floouens Oratorie, and (as a man would fay)
parbreake the fluttes Poetry. Pure Singularitie
wrong not thy arch-excellent Selfe, but embrace
him with both thy armes, that huggeth thee with
his fine wittes ; and cowll him with thy two corall
bracelets, that buffeth thee with his two ruby
lippes, and his three diamant powers, naturall,
animall, and vitall. Trecious Singularity how
canft thou choofe but dote vpon his alabafter
necke, whofe inuentiue part can be no lefTe,
then a fky-cooloured Sapphire, like the heauenly
deuifes of the delitious PoetefTe Sappho, the god-
moother of that azure gemme ; whofe Rhetoricall
figures, fanguin and refplendifhing Carbuncles,
like the flamy Pyrops of the gliflering Pallace of
the Sun : whofe alluring perfuafions, Amethifts ;
whofe cutting girds, adamants ; whofe conquer-
ing Ergos, loadftones ; whofe whole coceit as
greene, as the greeneft lafper ; whofe Orient witt,
the renowned achates of king Pyrrhus, that is, the
tabernacle or chauncell of the Mufes, Apollo fitting
in the midfl:, and playing vpon his luory harpe
mod enchauntingly. Is it poffible, thofe powerfull
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 285
wordes of antiquity, whofe mightie influence was
woont to debafe the miraculous operation of the
moft-vertuous ftones, hearbes, and ftarres (Philo-
fophy knoweth the incredible force of ftones,
hearbes, & ftarres) ftiould be to feeke in a panting I i / ;; ,, p j >' ,^;
infpired breft, the clofet of reuealed myfteries, and ' ■ " ^
garden of infufed graces ? What lockes, or barres
of Iron, can hold that quickfiluer Mercury, /
whofe nimble vigour difdaineth the prifon, and will
difplay itfelfe in his likenes, maugre whatfoeuer
empeachment of iron Vulcan, or woodden Daedalus?
I hoped to finde, that I lufted to fee, the very
lingular fubiedl of that inuincible & omnipotent
Eloquence, that in the worthieft age of the world,
intituled heroicall, put the moft-barbarous tyranny
of men, and the moft-fauage wildnefle of beaftes,
to filence ; and arreared woonderful admiration in
the hart-roote of obftinateft Rebellion, otherwife
how vntradable? Had I not caufe to platforme
new Theorickes, and Idees of monftrous excellency,
when the parturient mountaine of miracles, was to
be deliuered of his mighty burden of Supereroga-
tion? Who would not ride poft, to behold the
chariot of his Triumph, that glorieth, as if he had
woon both the Indyes from the Spaniard; or Con-
ftantinople from the Turke ; or Babylon from the
Sophi? But holla braue Gentlemen, and alacke
fweet Gentlewoomen, that would fo fayne behold
v/n
«^«f
vi- V^"
,fK fif^'v^'"^
;T if
286
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
16/ t
iW f . n
i4>^, fl.fV^..^^^'
r
\ S. Fame in the pompe of her maieftie ; neuer
', poore fuckling hope fo incredibly crofbitten with
■ more then excefliae defedlion. I looked, and
looked for a fhining Sunne of Singularity, that
fhould amaze the eyes, and aftonifh the harts of
the beholders : but neuer poore ihimering Sunne
/I of Singularity fo horribly eclipfed. I perceiue, one
I good honeft aker of performance, may be more
I worth, then a whole land of Promife. Take
I heede afpiring mindes, you that deeme yourfelues
\ the Paragon wittes of the world ; lefTe your hilles
of iollity be conuerted into dales of obfcurity ; and
the pope of your glory, become like this pumpe of
fhame. Euen.when Enuy boyled his inke; Malice
fcotched his penne ; Pride parched his paper; Fury
inflamed his hart ; S. Fame raged, like S. Georges
Dragon : marke the Conclu / fion : the weather
was cold ; his ftile froft-bitten ; and his witt
nipped in the head. Take away the flaunting
and huffing braueries of his railing tropes and
craking figures: and you fee the whole galiarde
of his Rhetorique, that flowteth the poore Philip-
piques of Tully, and Demofthenes : and mocketh
him, that chaunced to name them once in foure
Letters ; as he vfed their word Entelechy, now a;
vulgar French, and Englifh word, once in foure
and twenty Sonnets. The wife Priefl: could not
tell, whither Epiphany were a man-faint, or a
I
(^-i
if
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
287
wooman-faint, or what the diuell it was. Such
an Epiphany to this learned man is Entelechy ;
the onely quinteflence of excellent, and diuine
mindes, as is abooue mentioned; fhewing whence
they came by their heauely and perpetuall motion.
What other word could exprefle that noble and
vigorous motion, quicker then quickiiluer ; and
the liuely fpring, or rather the Veftal fier of that
euer-ftirring Vertue of Casfar, Nefcia Jiare loco : a
myftery, and a very Chimera to this fwad of
fwaddes, that beginneth like a Bullbeare, goeth-on
like a bullocke, endeth like a bullfinch, and hath
neuer a fparkle of pure Entelechy. Gentlemen,
now you know the good nature, and handfome
Art of the man ; if you happen vpon a feather,
or fome morfell for your likyng, (it is a very fory
Booke, that yeeldeth nothing for your liking)
thanke the true Autor, of whofe prouifion you
haue tafted, and fay not but Thomas Nafti has
read fomthing, that affeding to feeme an Vniuerfity
of fciences, and a Royall Exchaunge of tounges,
would be thought to haue deuoured Libraries, and
to know all thinges, like larchas, and Syfarion, na,
like Adam, and Salomon, the archpatrons of our
new Omnifcians. If he did fo in verity, it were
the better for him, and not the worfe for me : but
you fee his / doing, and my fuffering. Neither I,
nor my betters can pleafe all : nor he, nor his
^^;'•^
i 1
J.ri:, ' -^.-^•^-
)4Ar/^
288 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
,\
[} p I Punyes will difpleafe all : but as in the beft fome-
^''^ (thing remaineth, that may be amended, without
! derogation to their credit ; fo in the worft there
j may appeare foniething, worth the allowance, with
jno great comendation to their perfon. Were I
'difpofed to difcourfe, as fomtime I haue bene
forward vpo lefle occafio, for the onely exercife
of my ftile, and fome praftife of my reading ; I
could with a facility declare at-large, that may
briefly be touched. Amongft fo many notable
workes of diuine wittes, excepting the workes of
Gods owne finger ; there is not any fo abfolutely
excellent, wherein fome blemifh of imperfedion
may not be noted : nor amongft fo many con-
temptible Pamflets, any fo fimply bafe, but may
yeeld fome little frute of aduertifement, or fome
few bloffoms of difcourfe. In the fouerain worke-
manfhip of Nature herfelfe, what garden of flowers
without weedes,? what orchard of trees without
woormes? what field of Corne without cockle.?
what ponde of fifhes without frogges? what fky
of light without darknefle? what mirrour of
knowledge without ignorance ? what man of Earth
without frailty? what commodity of the world
without difcommodity .? Oh ! what an honorable,
and wonderfull Creature were Perfeftion, were
there any fuch vifible Creature vnder heauen.f'
But pure Excellency dwelleth onely abooue ; and
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 289
what mortall wifedome can accleere itfelfe from
errour? or what heroicall vertue can iuftifie, I
haue no vice ? The moft precious things vnder tt.> U^^'i^-^'-f
the Sunne, haue their defaultes : and the vileft (
thinges vpon Earth, want not their graces. Virgill I
could enrich himfelfe with the rubbifh of
Ennius : to how many rufty-dufty Waines was
braue Liuy beholding? Tully, that was as fine/
as the Crufado, difdained not fome furniture of
his predecefiburs, that were as courfe, as canuas :
and he that will diligently feeke, may afluredly
finde treafure in merle, corne in ftraw, gold in
droife, pearles in fhell-fifhes, precious ftones in
the dunghill of Efope, rich iewels of learning,
and wifedome, in fome poore boxes. He that
remembreth Humfrey Cole, a Mathematical!
Mechanicia, Matthew Baker a fhip-wright, lohn
Shute an Archited, Robert Norman a Nauigatour,
William Bourne a Gunner, lohn Hefter a Chimift,
or any like cunning, and fubtile Empirique, (Cole, r ^'^ ^
Baker, Shute, Norman, Bourne, Hefter, will be |''*^
remembred, when greater Clarkes (halbe forgotten) \
is a prowd man, if he contemne expert artifans, 1
or any fenfible induftrious Pradtitioner, howfoeuer
Vnledlured in Schooles, or Vnlettered in bookes.
Euen the Lord Vulcan himfelfe, the fuppofed God
of the forge, and thunder-fmith of the great king
lupiter, tooke the repulfe at the handes of the
H. II. 37
290
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
■Ff
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Lady Minerua, whom he would in ardent looue
haue taken to wife. Yet what witt, or Pollicy
honoreth not Vulcan? and what profounde
Mathematician, like Digges, Harioc, or Dee,
efteemeth not the pregnant Mechanician? Let
euery man in his degiee enioy his due: and let
the braue enginer, fine Daedalift, fkilfull Neptunift,
maruelous Vulcanift, and euery Mercuriall occupa-
tioner, that is, euery Mafter of his craft, and euery
Dodour of his myftery, be refpeded according to
the vttermoft extent of his publique feruice, or
priuate induftry. I cannot ftand to fpecifie particu-
larities. Our late writers are, as they are : and
albeit they will not fuffer me to ballance them
With the honorable Autors of the Romanes,
\ Grecians, and Hebrues, yet I will craue no pardon
• of the higheft, to do the fimpleft no wrong. In
Grafton, Holinfhed, / and Stowe ; in Heywood,
Tufler, and Gowge ; in Gafcoigne, Churchyarde, [
and Floide ; in Ritch, Whetftone, and Munday ; ]
in Stanyhurft, Fraunce, and Watfon ; in Kiffin, |
Warner, and Daniell ; in an hundred fuch vulgar !
writers, many things are commendable, diuers
things notable, fome things excellent. Fraunce, ■.
Kiffin, Warner, and Daniell, of whom I haue
elfewhere more efpeciall occafion to entreate, may
haply finde a thankefull remembraunce of their
laudable trauailes. For a polifhed, and garnifhed
//.^Mf
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 291
ftile, fewe go-beyonde Cartwright, and the chiefeft
of his Confuters, furnifhed writers : and how few
may wage comparifon with Reinolds, Stubbes,
Mulcafter, Norton, Lambert, and the Lord Henry
Howarde ? whofe feuerall writings the filuer file
of the workeman recommendeth to the plaufible
interteinement of the daintieft Cenfure. Who
can deny, but the Refolution, and Mary Magdalens
funerall teares, are penned elegantly, and patheti-
cally? Scottcs difcoouery of Witchcraft, difmafketh \ \/
fundry egregious impofturcs, and in certaine ■
principall Chapters, & fpeciall pafTages, hitteth
the nayle on the head with a witnefle : howfoeuer
I could haue wifhcd, he had either dealt fomewhat
more curteoufly with Monfieur Bodine, or cofuted
him fomewhat more efP'dlually. Let me not
forget the Apology of fundry proceedings by
lurifdidtion Exrclefiafticall, or, the Aunfwere to an
Abftradl of certaine Adles of Parliament, Iniunc-
tions, Canos, conftitutions, and fynodals Prouinciall:
vnleffe I will fkip two of the moft-materiall, and
moft-formall Treatifes, that any Englifh Print
hath lately yeelded. Might I refpediuely pre-
fume to intimate my flender opinion, without
flattery, or other vndecency : methought euer j , ^ . t^[/\ 1/
DoAour Whitgift (whom I name with honour) 1 f
in his Sermons was / pithy : Dodour Hutton \
profound : Do(5tour Young piercing to the quicke :
292 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Dodour Chaderton copious : M. Curtes elegant :
M. Wickam fententious : M. Drant curious :
M. Deering fweet : Dodor Still found : Dodlor
Ynderhill iharpe : Dodor Matthew fine : M.
Lawherne gallat : M. Dooue eloquent : M.
Andrewes learned : M. Chaderton methodicall :
M. Smith Patheticall : fundry other in their proper
veyne notable, fome exquifite, a few fingular. Yet
) which of the beft hath all perfedions ? {nihil
</ \ omni ex ■parte beaturn) or which of the meaneft hath'
I not fome excellency ? I cannot read-ouer all : I
jhaue feldome heard fome : (it was neuer my happ
to heare Dodour Cooper, Dodour Humfry, or
Dodor Fletcher, but in Latin) : and I would be
loth to iniury, or preiudice any, that deferueth
well, Viua voce, or by pen. I deeme him wife,
that maketh choice of the beft ; auoideth the
worft ; reapeth fruite by both ; defpifeth nothing,
that is not to be abhorred ; accepteth of anything,
that may be tollerated; interteineth euery thing
with comendation, fauour, cotentment, or amed-
ment. Lucians afte, Apuleius affe, Agrippas afTe,
Macchiauels affe, mifelfe fince I was dubbed an afle
by the only Monarch of affes, haue found fauory
herbes amongft nettles ; rofes amogft prickles ;
berryes amongft bufties; marrow amogft bones;
graine amogft ftubble ; a little corne amogft a
great deale of chaff. The ahie^eft naturalls haue
^'*
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 293
their fpecificall properties, and fome wondrous
vertues: and Philofophy will not flatter the
nobleji^ or worthieji naturals in their venoms, or
impurities. True Alchimy ca alledge much for
her Extractions, and quintefTences: & true Phifique
more for her corrections, and purgations. In the
beft, I cannot commende the badd ; and in the
baddeft, I reiedt not the good: but precifely play
the Alchimift, in feeking pure and fweet / balmes
in the rankeft poifons. A pithy, or filed fentence
is to be embraced, whofoeuer is the Autor : and
for the left benefit receiued, a good minde will
render dutifull thankes, euen to his greateft enemy.
6 Humanity, my Lullius, or 6 Diuinitie, my
Paracelfus, how (hould a man become that peece
of Alchimy, that can turne the Rattes-bane of
Villany into the Balme of honefty ; or corre6t
the Mandrake of fcurrility with the myrrhe of
curtefie, or the fafFron of temperance. Conceiue
a fountaine of contentation, as it were of Oyle,
or a bath of delight, as it were of nedlar; and
preferre that fafFron, or myrrhe, that odoriferous
fafFron, or aromaticall myrrhe, before this fouerain
Oyle ; and that Balme, that diuine Balme, before
this heauenly neftar. No naturall Reftoratiue,
like that fafFron, or myrrhe, the very death of
contention ; nor any artificiall Cordiall, like that
Balme, the very life of humanity, or fhould I
XV
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a94
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
-t,
i/lt Vv/^ ^^
\)
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J
V
rather fay ? the very life of life. We haue many
new Methods, and platformes ; and fome no
doubt as exquifite as fcrupulous : but afluredly
it were an excellent method, and fingular plat-
i forme, to honour the wife, and moderate the foole:
to make-much of the learned, and inftrud; the
ignorant ; to embrace the good, and reforme the
badd ; to wifh harme to none, & do well to all ;
and finally (for that is the fcope of this, and fome
other Difcourfes) to commende the Fox, and
prayfe the AfTe. Martin himfelfe is not altogither
a wafpe : nor Browne altogither a Canker-woorme:
nor Barrow altogither a Scorpion : nor haply Kett
altogither a Cockatrice. Take heede of the fnake
in the grafTe, or the padd in the ftraw ; and feare
no bugges. Be Martin a Martin Guerra ; Browne
a browne-bill ; Barrow a wheelbarrow ; Kett a
kight ; H. N. an O. K ; if any found iudgements
finde themfelues beholding vnto them in / any
point of aduifement, or confederation (fingular
men, and namely Scifmatiques, and Heretiques
were euer woont to haue fome thing, or other,
extraordinary, and remarkable) they may without
my contradiction confefl!e their beholdingneffe, and
for fo much profefTe a recognifance of their dett.
I thanke Nafh for fomething: Greene for more :
Pap-hatchet for much more : Perne for moft of
aJl. Of him I learned to know him, to know my
\^'
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v^A
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I
P/ERCES SUPEREROGATION. 295 ^ 1 ^ ry. ^'^
eiemies, to know my frends, to know mifelfe, to
know the world, to know fortune, to know the
mutability of times, and flipperinefle of occafions :
an ineftimable knowledge, and incomparably more
worth, then Dodor Gregories Jrs mirabiliSj or
Politians Panepijismon. He was an old foaker
indeede : and had mare witt in his hoary head, then
fix hundred of thefe floorifhing greene heads, and
lufty curled pates. He would either wifely hold
his peace : or fmoothly flatter me to my face : or
fuerly pay-home with a witnefle : but commonly
in a corner, or in a maze, where the Autour might
be vncertaine, or his packing intricate, or his
purpofe fome way excufable. No man could
beare a heauy iniury more lightly : or forbeare
a learned aduerfiry more cunningly : or bourde
a wilfull frend more dryly : or circumuent a
daungerous foe more couertly : or countermine
the deepeft vnderminer more futtelly : or lullaby
the circumfpedeil Argus more fweetly : or trans-
forme himfelfe into all fhapes more deftly : or play
any part more kindly. He had fuch a Patience,
as might foften the hardeft hart: fuch a fober-
moode, as might ripen the greeneft witt : fuch a
ilye dexterity, as might quicken the dullefl: fpirite :
fuch a fcrupulous manner of proceeding in doubt-
full cafeS; as might putt a deepe confideration into
the ihalloweft phantafy : fuch a fufpicious ieloufy.
f l^
296 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
as / might fmell-out the fecreteft complot, & defeat
any pra(5tife : fuch an inextricable fophiftry, as
might teach an Agathocles to hypocrife profoundly,
or a Hieron to tyrannife learnedly. Whereas other
carried their harts in their toungues, and their
heades in their pennes ; he liked no fuch fimplicity,
but after a fmugge, and fleering guife, carried his
toungue in his hart, his penne in his head; his
dagger in his fleeue; his loue in his boofome,
his fpite in his pocket: and whe their fpeech,
writing, or coutenance bewrayed their afFedlio, (as
the maner is), nothing but his fa6t difcouered his
drift ; & not the Beginning, but the End was the
interpreter of his meaning. Some of vs, by way
of experiment, aflayed to feele his pulfe, and to
tickle his wily veynes in his owne veyne, with
fmoothing, and glofing as handfomly, as we could:
but the bottome of his minde, was a Gulfe of the
maine, & nothing could found him deepely, but
the iflue. I wis elder men had bene too-young to
manage fuch an enterprife with fucceffe : and the
fineft intelligencer, or fageft Politician in a fl:ate,
would vndoubtedly haue bene grauelled in the
execution of that rafh attempt. He could fpeake
by contraries, as queintly as Socrates ; and do by
contraries, as fhrewdly as Tiberius : the mafter of
Philip de Comines, Lewes the French king, one
of the bufiefl:, ieloufefl:, and craftieft Princes, that
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
297
euer raigned in that kingdome, might haue bor-
rowed the Foxes Satchell of him : and peraduen-
ture not onely iEfops, or Archilochus Fox, but
euen Lyfanders Fox, Ariftomenes Fox, Pififtratus
Fox, Vlyfles Fox, Chirons Fox, and Proteus owne
Fox might learne of him, to play the Fox in the
hole. For Stephen Gardiners Fox, or Macchiauels
Fox, are too-young Cubbes, to compare with him;
that would feeme any thing, rather then a Fox,
and be a Fox / rather then any thing elfe. Legen-
daries may recorde woonderments : but examine
the futtelleft Counfels, or the wilyeft pradtifes of
Gargantua himfelfe, and euen Gargantua himfelfe,
albeit his gowne were furred with two thoufand,
& fiue hundred Fox-fkinnes, mought haue bene
his Pupill. And I doubt not but he that wor-
(hipped Solem in LeonCy after fome few Ledures
in his Aftronomy, would haue honored Solem in
Vulpe. He once kept a Cubbe for his pleafure in
Peter-houfe in Cambridge (as fome keepe birds,
fome fquirrels, fome puppyes, fome apes, and fo
forth) and miniftred notable matter to S. Maryes
Pulpet, with Stories of the Cubb, and the Fox,
whofe Ades, and Monuments are notorious : but
had the young-one bene as cunning an Artift for
his part, as the Old-one was for his : I beleeue, all
the Colledges in both Vniuerfities, or in the great
Vniuerfitie of Chriftendome, could not haue pat-
H. II. 38
n
XAV^
vo
11
\ts\'
irJ c7
ih/
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
terned the young ma with fuch an other Batchelour
\/otA '"^^^ ^ of fophiftry, or the old mafter with fuch an other
Dodlour of Hypocrifie. Men may difcourfe at
pleafure, and feede themfelues with Carpes, and
Pikes : but I haue knowen few of fo good a
nature, fo deuoide of obftinacy; fo far aUenated
from contumacy ; fo contrary to frowardneffe, or
teftiuenefTe ; fo tradlable, fo buxom, fo flexible ;
fo appliable to euery time, place, and perfon ; fo
curious in obferuing the leaft circumftance of
importance, or aduantage ; fo conformable to
publique proceedings, and priuate occasions; fo
refpedtfull to euery one of quality ; fo curteous
to men of woorfliip ; fo dutifuU to men of honour ;
fo ceremonious in tendering his deuotion to his
good Lordes, or good Ladyes; fo obedient to
autority ; fo loyall to maiefl:y ; fo indifi^erent to
all, and in all. He was gentle without familiarity,
(for he doubted contempt) : feuere / without rigour,
(for he feared odioufnefle) : pleafant without leuity,
(for he regarded his eftimation) : graue without
folenity, (for he curred popular fauour) : not rafh^
but quicke ; not hafty, but fpeedy ; not hoat, but
warme ; not eger in fhow, but earnefl in deede ;
no barker at any, but a biter of fome ; round,
and found. The Clergy neuer wanted excellent
, _ _ Fortune-wrightes : but what Byfhop, or Politician
ji fjj>{ XaI^' in Englad, fo great a Temporifer, as he, whom
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 299
euery alteration founde a new-man, euen as new
as the new Moone ? And as he long yawned to
be an Archbifhop, or Byfhop, in the one, or other
Church, (they wronged him, that termed the Image
of both Churches, a neuter) : fo did he not arch-
deferue, to be inftalled the puHng Preacher of
Humihty, humihty, humihty ; and the gaping
Oratour of Obedience, obedience, obedience ?
Was not euer Pax vobis^ one end of his gafping
Sermon, & the very foote of his warbling Song?
Be it percafe a fmall matter to temporife in foure
alterations of Kinges, and Queenes : but what an
Ambidexterity, or rather Omnidextenty had the
man, that at one, and the fame meeting, had a
pleafing Toungue for a Proteftant, a flattering j
Eye for a Papift, and a familiar nodd for a good 1
fellow? It was nothing with him to Temporife \
in genere, or in Jpecie^ according to Macchiauels ' ( -i j [] ^
grounde of fortunate luccefl*e in the world ; that
could fo formally, & featly Perfonife in indiuiduo.
He muft know all the finewes of commodity, and
acquaint himfelfe with all the ioints of aduantage,
that will liue, and teach other to Hue. 6 foelix / k -4
Cato, tu Jolus nofti Viuere. Or if Cato were
ouer-peremptory, and flioicall, to enioy that felicity,
6 fcelix Feme J tua Jolius Jrs viuendi. DoubtlefTe
it were better for the world, by infinite mafles of
millions, could the barbarous and Tragicall Tyrants,
^ fA
300
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
ii mnk^h
Saturne, and Mars, / two diuelliih Gods, moderate
their fury, as he could do : or the hypocriticall,
and Comicall Tyrants, lupiter, and Mercury, two
godly Diuels, temper their cunning, as he could
do. It was in him, to giue inftrudtions vnto Ouid,
for the repenning of his Metamorphofes anew :
and he better merited the name of Vertumnus,
then Vertumnus himfelfe. His defignements were
myfteries: his Councels, Oracles : his intentions
like Minotaure in the Labyrinth : his adions like
the Stratagemes of Fabius : his defiance like the
wellcome of Circe : his menaces, like the fongs of
the Sirens : his curfes, like the bleflinges of thofe
witches in Aphrica, that forfpoke, what they
prayfed, and deftroyed, what they wifhed to be
I faued. I haue feene fpannels, mungrels, libbards,
antelops ; fcorpions, fnakes, cockatrices, vipers,
and many other Serpents in fugar-worke: but
to this day neuer faw fuch a ftanding-difh of
Sugar-worke, as that fweet-toungued Dodlor ;
that "fpake pleafingly, whatfoeuer he thought ;
and was otherwhiles a fayre Prognoftication of
fowle weather. Such an autenticall Irony en-
grofed, as all Oratory cannot eftfoones counter-
pane. Smooth voyces do well in moft focieties ;
and go currently away in many recknings, when
rowgh-hewne words do but lay blockes in their
own way. He found it in a thoufand experiences;
h-'^l ?;■
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 301
and was the precifeft praditioner of that foft, and
tame Rhetorique, that euer I knew in my dealings.
And in cafe I fhould prefer any man of whatfoeuer
quality before him, for a ftayed gouernement of
his affedions, (which he alwayes ruled, as Homers
Minerua brideled Pegafus), or for an infinite and
bottomlefle patience, fibb to the patience of
Anaxarchus, or lob, I fhould iniury him, and
mine own cofcience, exceedingly. Were he
handeled, as London kennels are vfed of fluttes,
or the Thames / of floouens ; he could pocket-
it-vp, as handfomely, as they ; and complaine
in as fewe wordes, as any chanell, or riuer in
England, when they are moft contumelioufly
depraued. His other vertues, were colours in
graine : his learning, lawne in ftarch : his wife-
dome, napry in fuddes : his confcience, the
weather in Aprill, when he was young ; the
weather in Septeber, as he grew elder : the
weather in February, toward his end ; and not
fuch a current Prognofticatio for the fifty yeares,
wherein he floorifhed, as the Ephemerides of his
Confcience. For his fmug, and Canonicall counten-
aunce, certainly he mought haue bene S. Boniface
himfelfe : for his fayre, and formall fpeach,
S. Benedid, or S. Eulaly : for his merry coceits,
S. Hillary : for his good huA)andry, (he was
merry, and wife) S. Seruatius : for his inuincible
302
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
fufFerance, S. Vincent the Martir : for his re-
trading, or recanting, S. Auguftine : for his not
feeing all thinges, S. Bernard : for his preaching
to geefe, S. Frauncis, or S. Fox : for his praying,
a S. Pharife : for his fafting, a S. Publicane :
for his chaftitie, a Sol in virgine : for his paftorall
deuotion, a Shepheards Calendar : for his Fame,
an Almanacke of Saindls. But if euer any were
Patience incorporate, it was he : and if euer any
were Hypocrify incarnate, it was he ; vnto who
I promifed to dedicate an eternall memoriall of
his immortall vertues, and haue payed fome little
part of my vowes. I twice, or thrife tryed him
to his face, fomewhat fawcily, and fmartly : but
the Pid:ure of Socrates, or the Image of S.
Andrew, not fo vnmooueable : and I ftill reuerence
the honorable remembraunce of that graue, and
moft eloquent Silence, as the fageft leflbn of my
youth. Had Nafhe a dramme of his witt, his
Aunfwere fhould haue bene Mum ; or his
Confutation, the fting of the Scorpion. Other
Straunge Newes, like / Pap-hatchets rapp with a
Bable, are of the nature of that fame fnowt-horned
Rhinoceros, that biteth himfelfe by the nofe ; and
befturre them, like the dowty fencer of Barnewell,
that played his taking-vp with a Recumbentibus,
and his laying-downe with a broken pate in fome
three, or foure corners of his head. He muft
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 303
reuenge himfelfe with a learned Difcourfe of
deepeft Silence, or come better prouided, then
the edge of the rafour, that would be valued as
wife, as that Apollo Doftour. Whofe Epitaph
none can difplay accordingly, but fome Sprite
of the Ayer, or the fier. For his Zeale to God,
and the Church, was an aery Triplicity : and his
deuotion to his Prince, and the State, a fiery
Trigon. And fuerly he was well-aduifed, that
comprized a large Hiftory in one Epithite, and
honoured him with the title of '^he 'Thrife-learned \ ^ ■
Deane. Onely I muft needes graunt, one fuch f ' /
fecret, and profound enemy, or fhall I fay? one ^rx^-.^c^
fuch thrife-fecret, and thrife -profound enemy, was
incomparably more pernicious, then a hundred 1
Hatchets, or Country-cufFes ; a thoufand Greenes^
or Cunnycatchers ; an army of Nafhes, or Pierces
Penniles ; a forreft of wilde beaftes ; or what- /i j-^ )
foeuer Ilias of profefled Euils. It is not the / 7 K '
threatener, but the vnderminer, that worketh the /
mifchief : not the open affault, but the priuyi O
furprize, that terrifieth the old fouldiour : not the i V-u-t^'
furging floud, but the low water, that afFrayeth the \ ^ K
expert Pilot : not the high, but the hidden rocke,
that endangereth the flcilfull Mariner: not the j ■\M<:fi'iai
bufie Pragmaticall, but the clofe Politician, that
fupplanteth the puifTant ftate : not proclaimed
warre, but pretended peace, that ftriketh the
U r
304 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
deadly ftroke. What Hiftorian remembreth not
the futtle Stratagemes of king Bacchus againft
the Indians : of king Midas againft the Phrygians :
of king Romulus againft the / Sabines : of king
Cyrus againft the Lydians : of many other
Politique Conquerours, againft fundry mighty
nations, Principalities, Segniories, Citties, Caftels,
FortrefTes ? Braue Valour may fometime execute
with fury : but Prowefte is weake in comparifon
of other praftifes : & no puiftance to Pollicy ;
no rage to craft ; no force to witt ; no pre-
tence to Religio ; (what fpoiles vnder colour of
Religio ?) no text to the glofte ; what will not
the glofte maintaine by hooke, or crooke? It
was not Mercuries woodknife that could fo eafely
haue difpatched Argus, the Lieutenant of (^ueene
luno, had not his inchaiiting Pipe firft lulled him
afleepe. And was not Vlyfles in greater ieoperdy
by the alluring Sirens, charming Muficians, then
by cruell Polyphemus, a boifterous Giant ? Vn-
doubtedly Casfar was as fingularly wife, as
vnmatchably valiant ; & rather a Fox, then a
Lion : but in his wifedome he was more affrayde
of Sylla, the of Marius ; of Cato, then of Cata-
line ; of Caflius, then of Antony ; of Brutus,
then of Pompey ; to be fhort ; of Saturne, then
of Mars ; of Mercury, then of lupiter himfelfe.
It were a long difcourfe, to furuey the wily traines.
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 305
and crafty fetches of the old, and new world :
but whofoeuer is acquainted with Stratagemes,
auncient or moderne, knoweth what an hourde
of PoUicies lurketh in the fhrowde of DifTimula-
tion : & what wonders may be atchieued by vn-
expedled furprizes. The profefTed enemy rather
encombreth himfelfe, & annoyeth his frendes, the
ouerthroweth his aduerfary, or opprefTeth his foes.
Alexanders^ and dejars fuddaine irruptions made
them the Lx)rdes of the world, and mafters of
kinges : whiles greateft threateners got nothing,
but greateft lofle, and greater fhame. What
fhould I fpeake of the firft founders of Monar-
chyes, Ninus^ and Cyrus ? of the Venturous
Argo-pilots ? of the worthy / Heroes ? of the
dowtieft Errant Knights ? of the braueft men in
all ages ? whofe mightieft engin, (notwithftanding
whatfoeuer hyperbole of Valour, or fury) was
Scarborough warning ; and whofe Conqueftes
were aftbone knowen-abroad, as their Inuafions.
No power, like the vnlikely aflault : nor any
mifchief fo peremptory, as the vnlooked-for
afflidlion. He that warneth me, armeth me ; and
it is much, that a prepared minde, and boddy may
endure ; but vnfufpeded accidents are hardly
remedied: and in the fayreft weather of fecurity,
to offer the fowleft play of hoftility, is an incredible
aduantage. So Casfar Borgia, the fouerain Type of
H. II. 39
3o6
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
\^. M^'^^
a
^'^H
aC-
Macchiauels Prince, wan the Dukedome of Vrbin,
in one day. So the Emperour Charles the Fiftes
Army, pafling thorough Roome, occurfiuely facked
the Citty, and enriched themfelues exceedingly.
So many inuincible ftates haue bene fuddainly
ruinated : and many puifTant perfonages eafely
vanquifhed. Braue exploites, where the Caufer as
{ honorable, as the EfFe6t admirable. But honorable,
or difhonorable, PoUicy was euer a priuy Counfell,
whofe Pofie, Dolus, an Virtus : Glory a rauifhing
Oration : Ambition a Courfer : Looue a hoat-
fpurre : Anger a fierbrand : Hope a graine of
muftard-feede : Courage an errant Knight :
Couetice a marchant Veturer : Fury a fierce
executioner ; whofe word, the fword, and whofe
Law, Non qua, Jed quo. As Monarchies, Princi-
palities, and Conqueftes ; fo Pety-gouernements,
Segniories, Lieutenantfhips, Magiftracies, Mafter-
fhips, Felowfhips, haue their coolerable pradlifes :
and nothing is cunning, that is apparent. The
Fox preacheth Fax vobis, to the Capons, and
geefe : and neuer worfe intended, then when the
beft pretended. Horaces, or rather Borgias.
AJiuta ingenuum Vulpes imiiata Leonem ; the
deepeft grounde / of higheft pollicies, and the very
Stratageme of Stratagemes. The glorious Indian
Conqueftes are famoufly knowen to the world :
and what was the Valorous Duke of Parma in his
a
! -^fr
\l[r''
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
307
braueft Vidories, but Vulpes imitata Leonem, and
a new compounde of old Stratagemes ? louius Pox
in his militar, and amorous Emprefes, may call
himfelfe a Fox : but fome learned Clarices, and
iudicious Cenfours, profound Politiques, like
Macchiauell, or Perne, (for Macchiauell neuer
difcourfed with his pen, as Perne deuifed with his
minde) would go very-nigh to call him a goofe,
that gaue for his mott : Simul ajiu^ et dentibus vtor.
And his Griphen in fome opinions, was neuer
a- whit the more terrible, for that luftie Pofie, a
iolly heroicall verfe in a Grammar fchoole :
VnguibuSy et rojtro^ atque alls armatus in hoftem.
I neuer read that Alexanders Bucephalus, or Casfars
couragious horfe, had any fuch, or fuch glorious
Pofies : and I beleeue BeuiiTes Arundell was no
great braggard with motts. The Troian Horfe,
or rather the Grecian Horfe, was not fuch an
AfTe, to aduaunce himfelfe with any fuch prowde
Imprefe, as Scandit fatalis machina muros : but
miniftered ruthfull, and tragicall matter of that
hawtie Pofie to the ftately Poet. Did the flying
Pegafus of the redoubted Bellerophon, before his
aduenturous expedition againft the hideous Lion-
dragon Chimasra, that is, againft the fierce fauages,
which inhabited that fier- vomiting mountaine in
Lycia, proude to arme himfelfe with a braue
)A
Vrfi
I '7
3o8 PIERCES supererogation:
Pofie ; or boaft of his horrible mother Medufa,
or of his owne Gorgonean winges ? Did the fiery
horfes of the Sunne, that is, of the hoatteft Eaft-
countryes, threaten Prince Phaeton, or the world,
with a dreadful 1 Verfe ?
Tunc Jciet ignipedum Vires expertus Equorum.
May not peraduenture the prowdeft horfe to be
countermotted with a poore fragment of Statius ?
Seruiet a/per Equus. Or may not haply the
dowtieft Afle be emblemed with a good old
deuife ? in^uljo tribulus Japit ajper afello. The
rowgheft nett is not the beft catcher of birdes: nor
the fineft pollicy, a profefTed Termagat. Although
Lyfanders oxen faid nothing, yet the Fox Lyfander
could tell, which of them was a fluggarde, and
\ which laborious. It is not the Verball mott, but
^ % 'I the ad:uall Imprefe, that argueth a generous, or
H^'' "' ' I noble minde. Children, and fooles vfe to crake :
1 I j Action, the onely Embleme of lugurth, and the
\a ffV'^'^ I notableft fellowes ; whofe manner is, Plurimum
\ facer e ; minimum de Je loqui : the honorableft
\ deuife, that worthy Valour can inuent. The Tree
is knowen by the fruite ; and needeth no other
Pofie : the gallanteft mott of a good Apple-tree, is
a good apple ; of a good warden-tree, a good
warden ; of a good limon-tree, a good limon ; of
a good palme, a good date ; of a good Vine, a
good grape ; and fo fourth : their leaues, their
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 309
PrognofticatiSs ; their bloflbmes, their boafts ; their
braunches, and boughes, their brauery; their fruite,
their armes, their emblemes, their nobihty, their
glory. I dare not fay that Pittacus was as wife,
as he, that beginneth like front-tufted Occafion,
(for Occafion is balde behinde), and endeth like / %^j^. ^,>t^
Quids loouer, (for Quids loouer must not attempt, a:P (v-^/^c
but where he will conquer) : few refoluter mottes,
then Aut nunc aut nunquam : and what Valianter
Pofie, then yf«/ nunquam tentes^ aut perfice : but
Pittacus was one of the feuen famous Mafters,
and in his fage wifedome thought it a fober leflbn,
Foretel not, what thou intended to atcheiue, lefTe
peraduenture being fruftrate, thou be laughed
to fcorne, and made a notable flowting-ftocke.
Perhaps he was an Afle; and fpeaketh like a
Foole : (for / who is not an Afle, & a foole with
this Thomas Wifedome?) but fome plaine men are
of his opinion, and will hardly beleeue that the
frakeft braggards are the doubtieft dooers Were
I a colledlour of witty Apothegs, like Plutarch,
or of pithy Gnomes, like Theognis, or of dainty
Emblemes, like Alciat : fuerly Pittacus fliould
not be the laft, or the leaft in that Rhapfody.
Meane-while it is nothing out-of my way, to
prayfe the clofe, or fufpicious Afle, that will not
trouble any other with his priuy Counfell, but
can be content to be his owne Secretary. There
;9 310 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
be more queint experiments in an Vniuerfitie, then
many a politique head would imagine. I could
nominate the man, that could teach the Delphicall
Oracle, and the i^giptian crocodile to play their
parts. His Ciuill toungue was a riddle ; his
Ecclefiafticall toungue a Hieroglyphique ; his face
a vifard : his eyes cormorants : his eares martyrs :
his witt a maze : his hart a iuggling fticke : his
minde a mift : his reafon a vayle : his affe6lion a
curbe : his confcience a mafke : his Religion a
triangle in Geometry : his Charity a Syllogifme in
Celarent : his hofpitality eleuen monethes in the
yeare, as good, as good Friday : for one moneth
or very neere, he was refident vpo his Deanry,
& kept ope houfe in the He, like Ember weeke.
Of an other mans, no man more liberall : of his
owne, no man more frugall. He deeply confidered
(as he did all thinges) that good Oeconomy was
good Pollicy : that Learning was to be com-
mended, but Lucre, and Prefermet to be ftudied :
that he foweth in vaine, which moweth not his
owne aduantage : that nothing was to be beftowed,
without hope of vfance : that Loue, or Hatred
auaile not, but where they may preuaile : that
AfFedlions were to be fquared by occafion, and
Reafons to be framed by proffit: that names of
partialities, fedles, and diuifions, either in Ciuill,
or Religious caufes, were but foolifh wordes, or
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 3 1 1
pelting termes ; & all were to be eftimated by
their valuatio in efle : that the true fquire, &
right Geometricall compaiTe of things, is habilitie,
the onely thing, that by a foueraine prerogatiue
deferueth to be called Subjiance : that according
to Chawcers Englifh, there can be little adlingy
without much gabbing^ that is, fmall getting,
without great lying, and cogging : that it was
more wifedome to borrow the to lend gratis ;
that the rauens croking loofeth him many a fatt
pray : that the forftalling, & engrofing of priuy
comodities, was a pretty fupply of priuy Tithes :
that many a little, by little & little maketh a
mickle : that often returne of gaine amounteth :
that the Fox neuer fareth better, then whe he
is curfed moft: that a filuer picklocke was good
at a pinch ; / and a golden hooke a cunning
fifher of men : that euery man was neereft to
himfelfe, and the fkinne neerer, then the ftiirt : that
there were many principles, and preceptes in Art,
but one principall maxime, or fouerain cautell in
pradlife. Si non cajle, tamen caute : that there was
no fecurity in the world, without Epicharmus in-
credulity, Dions Apiftie, or Hey woods Faft binde,
& faft finde : that Bayard in the ftable, and Legem
pone^ were fubftantiall points of Law: that many
thinges are hypothetically to be pradlifed, which
may not Categorically be reuealed: that two frendes,
312 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
or bretheren may keepe counfell, when one of the
two is away : that Vnum necejfarium : and fo forth.
For, Vincitj qui patitur^ would go nigh-hand to
open the whole packe, and tell wonderfull Tales
out-ofF Schoole. Pap-hatchet talketh of publifhing
a hundred merry Tales ofcertaine poore Martinifts:
but I could here difmafke fuch a rich mummer,
& record fuch a hudred wife Tales of memorable
note, with fuch a fmart Morall, as would vn-
doubtedly make this Pamflet the vendibleft booke
in London, and the Regifter one of the famoufeft
Autors in England. But I am none of thofe, that
vtter all their learning attonce : and the clofe man
(that was no mans frend, but from the teeth out-
ward, no mans foe, but from the hart inward) may
percafe haue fome fecret frendes, or refpedliue
acquaintance; that in regarde of his calling, or
fome priuate conflderation, would be loth to haue
his coate blafed, or his fatchell ranfacked. Befide,
what methodicall Artift, would allow the Encomium
of the Fox, in the prayfe of the AfTe, vnleffe I
would prooue by irrefragable demonftration, that
the falfe Fox was a true AfTe ; as I once heard a
learned Phificion affirme,/if a goofe were a Fox,
he was a Fox.i Yet fuerly by his fauour who
could fharply ludge, and durft freely / fpeake ;
He was a Fox, and a halfe, in his whole body,
and in euery part of his foule : albeit I will not
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 313
deny, but he mought in fome refpedes be a
Goofe, and after a fort (as it were) an Afle :
efpecially for defeating one without caufe, and
troubling the fame without ^^t.6\.^ that for ought
he knew, might pofTibly haue it in him, to requite
him ahue, and dead. Let the wronged party not
be iniuried : and I dare auowe, he neuer did, nor
euer will iniury, or preiudice any, in deede, word,
or intention : but if any whofoeuer will needes be
offering abufe in fadl, or fnip-fnapping in termes,
fith other remedy fhrinketh, he may peraduenture
not altogither pafTe vnaunfwered. He thinketh
not now on the booted foole, that alwaies ietteth
in his ftartups, with his Stilliard hatt in his droufie
eyes : but of an other good auncient Gentleman,
that mought haue bene his father for age ; his
tutour for learning ; his counfellour for wifedome ;
his creditour for filuer ; his Catechift for Religion;
and his Ghoftly father for deuotion. He once in
a fcoldes pollicy, called me Foxe betweene ieft,
and earneft : (it was at the funerall of the honor-
able Sir Thomas Smith, where he preached, and
where it pleafed my Lady Smith, and the co-
executours to beftow certaine rare manufcript
bookes vpo me, which he defired): I aunfwered
him betweene earneft & ieft, I might haply be a
Cubb, as I might be vfed ; but was ouer-youg to
be a Fox, efpecially in his prefence. He fmiled,
H. IT. 40
314 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
■ and replyed after his manner with a Chameleons
gape, and a very emphaticall nodd of the head.
Whofoeuer, or whatfoeuer he was ; certes my old
backfrend of Peter-houfe, was the locke of cunning
conueyance : but fuch a lock, as could not poflibly
be opened with any key, but the key of oppor-
tunity, and the hand of aduantage. If Oppor-
tunity were abroad, lodocus / was not at home:
where Occafion prefented Aduantage, Pollicy
wanted no dexterity ; and the light-footed Fox
was not fo fwift of foote, as nimble of witt, and
quicke of hand. Some, that called him the luke-
warme Doftour, and likened him to milke from
the Cowe, founde him at fuch a fitt ouerwarme
for their feruenteft zeale : and I remember a
time, when One of the hotteft furnace, fhewing
himfelfe little better then a Cowe ; He in a
quauering voyce, and a lightning fpirite, taught
the wild roe his lefTon. Haft was not fo forward
to runne to a commodity, but Speede was fwifter
to fly to an aduantage ; and where Haft fomwhat
grofely bewrayed his forwardnefle, Speede very
finely marched in a cloude, and founde the
goddefle Hypocrifie as fly a Condudtrifl'e, as euer
was fayre Venus to i^neas, or wife Minerua
to Vlyfl'es, in their queint paflages. We may
difcourfe of naturall Magique, and fupernaturall
Cabale, whereof the learnedeft and credibleft
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 315
antiquity hath recorded wonderfull Hiftories : but
it is the rod of Mercury, and the ring of Gyges,
that worke miracles : and no Mathematician,
Magitian, or CabaHft may counteruaile him, that
in his heroicall expeditions can walke in a cloude,
like a Vapour, or in his diuine pradifes go
inuifible, like a Spirite. Braue Mindes, and Ven- -
trous Harts, thanke him for this inualuable Note,
that could teach you to atcheiue more with the
little finger of PoUicy, then you can poflibly - com-
pafle with the mighty arme of Prowefle. Or elfe
in my curious obferuation of infinite Hiftories,
Hypocrifie had neuer bene the great Tyrat of the
world, & the huge Antichrift of the Church. The ~\
weapon of the Fier, and Aier, is Lightening : the
weapon of the Earth, & Water, Cunning. Was /
not he ftirewdly encountred, that was preftigioufly
befieged, and inuifibly / vnderminded with that
that weapon of weapons ? What other fupply
could haue feconded, or refcued him, but Death ;
that had often bene the death of his Life in his
worthieft Frendes, and was eftfoones the death of
his Death in his wylieft enemy. Whofe Spite
was intricate, but detedled : and whofe Subtility
maruelous, but difuailed : and he that difclofed the
fame, is perhaps to leaue an immortall Teftimoniall
of his Indian Difcoouery. In the meane time, as
the admirable Geometrician Archimedes would
3i6 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
haue the figure of a Cylinder, or roller engraued
vpon his Toombe : fo it were reafon, the thrife-
famous Deuine, fhould haue the three-fided figure,
or equilater[al] Triagle, imprinted vpon his Sepul-
chre : with this, or fome worthier Epitaph, deuifed
according to the current Method of Tria fequunter
Tria.
The Coffin fpeaketh.
'AJke not, what Newes ? that come to vifit wood :
My treajure is, Three Faces in one Hood :
^A chaungling Triangle: a Turnecoate rood.
(A lukewarme Trigon : a Three-edged toole :
I A three-oar d galley : a three-footed ftoole :
\A three-wing d weathercock : a three-tongu d Jchoole .
(Three-hedded Cerberus, wo be vnto thee :
\ Here lyes the Onely Trey, and Rule of Three :
(o/ all Triplicities the A. B. C.
Some-body oweth the three-ihapen Geryon a
greater duty, in recognifance of his often-promifed
curtefies ; and will not be founde Vngratefull at
occafion. He were very fimple, that would feare
a coniuring Hatchet, a rayling Greene, or a
threatening Nafh : but the old dreamer, like /
the old dogge biteth fore, and no foe to the
flattering Perne, or pleafing Titius: that haue
fugar in their lippes, gall in their ftomackes :
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 3 1 7
water in the one hand, fier in the other ; peace
in their fayings, warre in their doings ; fweetnes
in their exhortatios, bitternefTe in their canuafTes ;
reuerece in their titles, coouen in ther adlions :
notable men in their kinde, but pitch-branded
with notorious diffimulation ; large promifers,
compendious performers ; fhallow in charity, pro-
fbunde in malice ; fuperficiall in theory, deepe in
pradtife ; mafters of Sophiftry, Dodors of Hypo-
crifie ; formall frends, deadly Enemies ; thriie-
excellent Impoftours. Thefe, thefe were the Onely
me, that I euer dreaded : efpecially thatfame od
ma 'Triu LitterarUy that for a linfy-woolfie wit,
& a cheuerell confciece was A Per fe A : other
braggardes or threatners whatfoeuer I feare, as I
feare Hobgoblin, & the Bugges of the night.
Whe I haue fought-vp my day-charmes, and
night-fpelles, I hope their power to hurt, fhal be
as ridiculoufly fmall, as their defire to affright, is
outragioufly great. I neuer ftood ftifly in defece
of mine own hability, or fufficiency : they that
impeach me of imperfection in learning, or pradlife,
in difcourfing, or endighting, in any art, or pro-
feffion, cofute me not, but confirme mine own
cofeflio. It is onely my honefty, & credit, that
I endeuour to maintaine : other defedes I had
rather fupply by induftry, the cloake by excufe :
& referre the deciiio of fuch points to the arbitre-
01 ix^-
3i8 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
met of IndifFerecy : to which alfo I preferre the
Prayfes of my difpraifers : & befeech Equity to
' h I'J^v ^"^ 1^ reder them their due, with a largefTe of fauour.
- >, Judgement is the wifeft reader of Book.es : and
k.MU'' ^ no Art of diftindlions, fo infaUible, as grounded
Difcretion : which will foone difcerne betweene
White, and Blacke : and eafely perceiue, what
wanteth, what fuperaboundeth ; what becommeth,
what/mifbecommeth; what in this, or that refpedl,
deferueth commendation ; what may reafonably,
or probably be excufed ; what would be marked
with an Afterifke, what noted with a blacke coale.
As in mettals, fo in ftiles, he hath flender (kill, that
cannot defcry copper from gold, tinne from filuer,
iron from fteele, the refufe from the rich veyne,
the drojfTe from the pure fubftance. It is little
of Value, either for matter^ or manner^ that can
be performed in fuch perfunctory Pamflets, on
either fide : but how little foeuer it be, or may
appeare, for mine owne part I refufe not to
vnderly the Verdict of any curteous, or equall
cenfure, that can difcerne betwixt chalke, and
cheefe. 'Touching the matter^ what wanteth, or
j might be expedted here, fhall be particularly, and
largely recompenfed, afwell in my Difcourfes,
intituled Nafhes S. Fame, which are already
finifhed, and attend the Publication : as alfo in
other Supplemets thereof, efpecially thofe of the
^iV-'-^vn.t/*'^
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 319
aboue-metioned Gentlewoman, who after fome
aduifemet it pleafed, to make the Straunge Newes
of" the railing Villan, the cuflionet of her needles,
and pinnes. Though my fcriblings may fortune
to continue awhile, and then haue their defert,
according to the laudable cuftome ; (what fhould
toyes, or dalliances liue in a world of bufinefTe ?)
yet I dare vndertake with warrant, whatfoeuer
fhe writeth, muft needes remaine an immortall
worke ; and will leaue in the adliueft world an
eternall memory of the fillieft vermin, that flie
fhall voutfafe to grace with her bewtifull, and
allediue ftile, as ingenious as elegant. 'Touching
the manner y I take it a nice and friuolous curiofitie
for my perfon, to beftow any coft vpon a trifle of
no importance ; and am fo ouerfliaddowed with
the flooriftiing braunches of that heauenly plant
that I may feeme to haue purpofely preuented / all
comparifon, in yeelding that homage to her diuine
witt, which at my handes flie hath meritorioufly
deferued. Albeit I proteft, flie was neither be-
witched with entreaty, nor iuggled with perfuafion;
nor charmed with any corruption : but onely
moued with the reafon which the Fxjuity of
my caufe, after fome little comunication, in her
Vnfpotted Confcience fuggefted. They that long
to aduaunce their owne fhame (I alwayes except
a Phenix, or two) may brauely enter the liftes
320 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
of comparifon, & do her the higheft honour in
defpite, that they could poflibly deuife in a feruice-
able deuotio. She hath in my knowledge read the
notableft Hiftoryes of the moft-fingular woomen
of all ages, in the Bible, in Homer, in Virgil),
(her three fouerain Bookes, the diuine Archetypes
of Hebrue, Greeke, and Roman Valour) ; in
Plutarch, in Polyen, in Petrarch, in Agrippa, in
Tyraquell, in whom not, that haue fpecially
tendered their dilligent deuoir, to honour the
excellentest woomen, that haue liued in the
world : and commending the meaneft, extolling
the worthieft, imitating the rareft, and approouing
all according to the proportion of their endow-
ments, enuieth none, but Art in perfon, and
Vertue incorporate, the two precioufeft creatures,
that euer floorifhed vpon earth. Other woomen
may yeelde to Penelope : Penelope to Sappho :
Sappho to Arachne : Arachne to Minerua :
Minerua to luno : luno to none of her fexe :
She to all, that vfe her, and hers well ; to none
of any fexe, that mifufe her, or hers. She is
neither the nobleft, nor the faireft, nor the fineft,
nor the richeft Lady : but the gentleft, and wittieft,
and braueft, and inuincibleft Gentlewoman, that
I know. Not fuch a wench in Europe, to vn-
fwaddle a faire Baby, or to fwaddle a fowle puppy.
Some of you may aime at her perfonage : and it
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 321
is / not the firft time, that I haue termed her ftile,
the tinfell of the daintieft Mufes, and fweeteft
Graces : but I dare not Particularife her Defcription
according to my conceit of her beaudefert, without
her licence, or permiflion, that ftandeth vpon mas-
culine, not feminine termes ; and is refpediuely to
be dealt withall, in regarde of her courage, rather
then her fortune. And what, if fhe can alfo
publifh more workes in a moneth the Naih hath
publifhed in his whole life ; or the pregnanteft
of our infpired Heliconifts can equall ? Could
I difpofe of her Recreations, and fome others
Exercifes ; I nothing doubt, but it were poflible
(notwithftanding the moft-curious curiofitie of
this age) to breede a new admiration in the
minde of Contempt, & to reftore the excel-
lenteft bookes into their woted eftate, euen in
integrum. Let me be notorioufly condemned of
Partiality, and fimplicity, if fhe fayle to accom-
plifh more in gallant performance, (now fhe hath
condefcended to the fpinning-vp of her filken
tafke) than I euer promifed before, or may feeme
to infinuate now. Yet fhe is a wooman ; and for
fome pafTions may challenge the generall Priuiledgc
of her fexe, and a fpeciall difpenfation in the caufe
of an afFedionate frend, deuoted to the feruice of
her excellent defert ; whom fhe hath founde no
lefTe, then the Handmayd of Art, the miflres of
H. ij. 41
323 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Witt, the Gentlewoman of right Gentlenefle, and
the Lady of right Vertue. Howbeit euen thofe
paflions fhe hath fo ordered, and managed, with
fuch a witty temper of violent, but aduifed motions,
full of fpirite, and bloud, but as full of fenfe, and
iudgement, that they may rather feeme the marrow
of reafbn, than the froath of afFeftion : and her
hoatteft fury may fitly be refembled to the paffing
of a braue career by a Pegafus, ruled with the
reanes of a Mineruas bridle. Her Pen is / a very
Pegafus indeede, and runneth like a winged horfe,
gouerned with the hand of exquifite fkill. She it
is, that muft returne the mighty famous worke
of Supererogation with Benet, and Colled:. I
f ,-\y<^ C haue touched the booted Shakerley a little, that
^ ' I is alwayes riding, and neuer rideth ; alwayes con-
y?^ futing, and neuer confuteth ; alwayes ailing fbme-
' tr- thing, and railing anything : that fhamefuUy, and
^ odioufly mifufeth euery frend, or acquaintance, as
he hath ferued fome of his fauorableft Patrons,
(whom for certain refpedles I am not to name),
M. Apis Lapis, Greene, Marlow, Chettle, and
whom not? that faluteth me with a GabrieliJJime
Gabriel, which can giue him the farewell with a
Thomafliflime Thomas, or an AfTiffime AfTe ; yet
haue not called him a filthy companion, or a
fcuruy fellow, as all the world, that knoweth him,
calleth him : that in his Pierce Penniles, and
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 323
Straunge Newes, the Bull-beggers of his courage,
hath omitted no word, or phrafe of his railing
Didionary, but onely 'Tu es Stamigogolus'. and hath
VaHantly vowed to haue The Laji Wordy to dye
for't.
Plaudite Vi5lori^ luuenes hie quotquot adejiis :
Nam me qui vicit, do5fior eft Nebula.
The beft is, where my Aunfwere is, or may be
deemed Vnfutficient, (as it is commonly ouer-tame
for fo wild a Bullocke), there She with as Vifible
an Analyfis, as any Anatome, ftrippeth his Art
into his doublet ; his witt into his fhirt ; his whole
matter, & manner into their firft Principles ; his
matter in Materia Primam ; his manner in formam
frimam ; and both in Priuationem Vltimamy id eft,
his Laft Wordy fo glorioufly threatened. I defire
no other fauour at the handes of Curtefie, but that
Art, and Witt may be her readers ; & Equitie my
iudge : to whofe Vnpartiall Integrity I humbly
appeale in the PremifTes : with dutiful recom- /
mendatio of Nafhes S. Fame, eue to S. Fame
herfelfe : who with her owne floorifhing handes is
fhortly to ere6l a May pole in honour of his
Vidorious Laft Word. Doubt ye not, gallat
Gentleme, he fhall finde the guerdon of his Valour,
& the meede of his meritorious worke. Though
my Pen be a flugplum, looke for a quill, as
324 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
I quicke, as quickfiluer, & pitty the foary fwaine,
I that hath incurred the indignatio of fuch a quill ;
f ^ } and may euerlaftingly be a miferable Spedade for
M' all libelling rakehelles, that otherwife might des-
peratly prefume to venture the foyle of their
cranke folly. The ftay of the Publicatio, refteth
onely at my inftance : who can coceiue fmall hope
i of any poflible account, or regard of mine owne
I difcourfes, were that faire body of the fweeteft
Venus in Print, as it is redoubtedly armed with
the compleat harnefle of the braueft Minerua.
When his neceflary defence hath fufficiently ac-
cleered him, whom it principally concerneth to
acquitt himfelfe : She fhall no fooner appeare in
perfon, like a new Starre in Cafliopea, but euery
eye of capacity will fee a confpicuous difference
betweene her, and other myrrours of Eloquence :
and the wofull flaue of S. Fame muft either blind-
folde himfelfe with infenfible peruerfitie, or behold
his owne notorious folly, with moft-fhamefull
fhame. It will then appeare, as it were in a cleere
Vrinall, whofe witt hath the greene-JickneJJe : and
I would deeme it a greater maruell, then the
mightieft woder, that happened in the famous
year, 88. if his caufe fhould not haue the falling-
Jickneffey that is encoutred with an arme of fuch
force. M. Stowe, let it be enchronicled for one
of the fingularities, or miracles of this age, that a
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 325
thing lighter then Tarletons Toy, and vayner then
Shakerleyes conceit, that is, Nafh, fhould be the
fubie(5t of fo inualuable a worke: and be it knowen
to Impudency / by thefe Prefentes, that his brafen
wall is battred to Pin duft, and his Iron gate
fhaken all to nothing. It is in the leaft of her
energeticall lines to do it : more eafely, the a fine
thread cracketh a iagling Bell. A pretty experi-
ment : & not vnlike fome of her ftraunge inuen-
tions, and rare deuifes, as forcible to mooue, as
feat to delight. The iflue will refolue the
doubtfulleft minde : and I am content to referre
Incredulity, to the vifible, and palpable euidence
of the Terme Probatory. When either the Light
of Nature, and the Sunne of Art muft be in
Eclipfe: or the fhining rayes of her fingular
giftes will difplay themfelues in their accuftomed
brightnefTe ; and difcoouer the bafe obfcurity
of that mifchieuous Planet, that in a vile ambition
feeketh the exaltation of his fame, by the de-
preflion of their credit, that are hable to extinguifh
the proudeft glimze of his Lampe. Her rare
perfeftions can liuelyeft blafon themfelues : and
this penne is a very vnfufficient Oratour to
exprefle the heauenly bewties of her minde : but
I neuer knew Vertue, a more inuiolable Virgine,
then in her excellent felfe : and the day is yet to
come, wherein I euer founde her Witt a defediue,
326 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
or Eclyptique creature. She knoweth, I flatter
not her Fortune : and if I honour her Vertue,
whofe confirmed modeftie I could neuer fee dis-
guifed with any glofe of commendation ; who can
blame me for discharging fome little part of a
great dutie ? She hath in meere gratuity befl:owed
a large fle vpon her aifedionate feruaunt ; that
imputeth the fame, as an exceiTiue fauour, to her
hyperbolicall curtefie, not to any merite in himfelfe :
but the lefTer my defert, the greater her liberality ;
whom I cannot any way reacquite, farther then the
zeale of a moft-deuoted minde may extende ; as
inceffantly thankefuU, as infinitly debtfull. For
to addrefle a plaufible / difcourfe, or to garnifh a
Panegyricall Oration in her prayfe, as occafion
may prefent ; will appeare to be a tafke of Ciuill
luftice, not any peece of Ciuill curtefie, when her
owne filuer Trades fhall publifh the precious
valour of her golden Vertues, and decipher the
ineftimable worth of the Autor by her diuinc
handyworke. At the firfl vewe whereof, as at
the piercing fight of the amiableft Bewtie, who can
tell how fuddaine PafTions may worke ? or what a
fting, fome tickling Interie(5tion may leaue in the
hart, and liuer of affedion ? I am euer prone to
hope, as I wifh, euen the beft of the worft : and
although wilful! Malice be a ftifFe, and ftubberne
aduerfary to appeafe, yet I haue feene a greater
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. 327
miracle, then the pacification of Paper-warres, or
the attonement of Inkhorne foes. There fhe
ftandeth, that with the finger of Induftry, and the
toungue of AfFabiHty, hath acheiued fome ftraunger
woonders, vpon as rough, and harfh fellowes, as
The noddy Najh, whom euery feruing Swa/h
With pot-iejies dafhy and euery whip-dog lajh :
(for the ryme is more famous, then was intended):
and with the fame caufes emprooued, why may
She not diredlly, or violently accomplifli the fame
effedes ? or what is impoflible to the perfuafiue,
and Patheticall influence of Reafon, and AfFedlion? ut
It is a very difmall, and caitiue Planet, that can •
finde in his hart to encounter thofe two gracious
Starres, with malitious afpedes : which he muft
defpitefully encounter, that will obftinately oppofe
his peeuifh rancour to her fweete Ciuility. In .
cafe nothing elfe will preuayle with infatiable I A
Enuy, and vnquenchable Malice, (for fo I am |
eftfoones informed, whatfoeuer courfe be taken i
for the mitigation of his rage) : yet I am vehe- |
mently perfuaded in Phyfique, and refolued in
Pollicy, that the Oile of Scor/pions will finally
heale the woondes of Scorpions. I know One,
that experimentally prooued what a rod in lye
could do with the curfl:eft: boy in a Citty ; and
founde the Imparitiue moode a better Oratour,
328
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
then the Optatiue. It may fortune, the fame man
hath fuch a Whipfydoxy in ftore for a lack-fauce,
or vnmannerly puppy, as may Schoole him to
turne-ouer a new leafe, and to cry the pittifulleft
Peccaui of a wofull Penitent. For my part,
whom at this inftant it fmartly behooueth to be
refolute, I confefle I was neuer more entangled,
and intricated in the difcourfe of mine owne
reafon, then fince I had to do with this defperate
Dick ; that dareth vtter, and will cogge any thing
to ferue his turne. Not to confute him, in fome
refpe<5les were perhaps better : to confute him, is
neceflary. Were it poflible, to confute him in not
confuting him, I am of opinion, it would be done:
(for Infolency, or any iniury would be repreffed by
order of Law, where order of Law is a fufficient
remedy : and Silence, in fome cafes, were the
finefl: Eloquence ; or Scorn e, the fittefl: anfwere) ;
and haply I could wifh, not to confute him iq
confuting him, (for the difcoouery of Cunny-
catchers doth not greatly edifie fome bad mindes) :
but feeing he is fo defperate, that he will not be
confuted with not confuting, I muft defire his
Patience, to be a little content to be confuted with
confuting, rather after his, or others guife, then
after my manner. Aunjwere not a foole according
to his foolijhnejfe y left thou aljo be like him : anfwere
a foole according to his foolifhnejfe, left he be wife in
fi'itlL
iiixAje-
.4^
K
^
PIERCES SUPERER 0 GA TION. 329
his owne conceit. They are both Prouerbes of the
wifeft Mafter of Sentences : of whom alfo I haue
learned that to the horfe belongeth a whipp; to
the afle a fnaffle ; to the fooles backe a rod. Let
no man be wifer then Salomon. The fooles-head
muft not / be fuffred to coy itfelfe : the colte
muft feele the whip, or the wande ; the afle the
fnaffle, or the gode ; the fooles backe the rod,
or the cudgell. Let the colt, the Afle, the foole
beware in time : or he may peraduenture feele
them indeede : with fuch a Tu auiem^ as hath not
often bene quauered in any language. If Peace, I /» / A ,; ..
or Treatie may not be heard, Warre fliall com- /
maunde Peace ; and he mufle the mouth oi\
rankefl: Impudency, or fierceft hoftility, that can
do it ; and do it otherwife, then is yet imagined :
and yet nothing like that infpired Gentlewooman.
Whofe Penne is the fliott of the mufket, or rather
a fhaft of heauen, fwifter then any arrow, and
mightier then any hand-weapon, when Curtefie is
repulfed, and hoftility muft enforce amity : but
otherwife how gratioufly amiable, how diuinely
fweete? Gentlemen, looke vpon the louely
gliftering Starre of the morning ; and looke for
fuch an Oriet Starre, whe She difplayeth the
refplendyfting beames of her bright wit, and pure
bounty. Meane-while, if fome little ftiimering
light appeare at a little creuife, I haue my requeft;
H. II. 42
330 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
and fome pretty conucnient leyfure, to take order
with an other kinde of Straunge Newes in Weft-
minfter Hall. It is fome mens fortune to haue
their handes full of vnneedefull bufinefle attonce :
and for mifelfe, I ihould make no great matter
of two, or three fuch glowing Irons in the fier,
were it not fome fmall griefe, or difcouragement,
to confider, that nothing can be perfedlly, or
fufficiently performed by halues, or fragments.
Which neceflary interruption hath bene the vtter
difgracc of the premifles ; and a great hinderance
to my larger Difcourfes, more ample trifles. I
can but craue pardon ; and prepare amendes,
as leyfure and occafion may afFourde opportunity.
Learned wittes can fkilfully examine, and honeft
mindes / will vprightly confider Circumftances,
with curteous regarde of Fauour, or due refpedl of
Reafon : in whofe onely Indifferency, as in a fafe,
and fweet harborough, I repofe my whole affiance,
and fecuritie, as heretofore. And fo for this
prefent I furceafe to trouble your gentle curtefies :
of whofe Patience I haue (according to particular
occafions) fometime vnmannerly, but modeftly ;
often familiarly, but fincerely; mofl-what freely, but
confideratly ; alwayes confidently, but refpecftiuely ;
in euery part fimply, in the whole tedioufly
prefumed vnder corre6lion. I writ onely at idle
howers, that I dedicate onely to Idle Howers : or
PIERCES SUPEREROGA TION. 33 1
would not haue made fo vnreafonably bold, in no
needefuller Difcourfe, then the Prayfe, or Superero-
gation of an AJfe.
This 27. of Aprill: 1593. Your mindefull
debtour, G. H.
FINIS.
332 PIERCES SUPEREROGATION.
Errours ejcaped in the Printing.
With cert aim Additions to be infer ted."*^
Page.
faultes.
amended.
26 for
• angoy, read
agony.
31
fcholeth,
fchooleth.
49
bewixt
betwixt.
67
railing ftile, without the two prickes, or
colon.
85
very Minifter
euery Minifter.
90
inftringment
infringement.
98
not will
will not.
107
looker-on
lookers-on.
121
fuch fweating
fuch a fweating.
139
or difcourfer
or a difcourfer.
147
thy riot
by riot.
202
fuprifes
furprifes.
205
at the leaft
or the leaft.
219
Orientall
Orient.
ly^Now alfo, Gentle Reader, that it was the
•*-^ Writers meaning to deuide this Treatife
into three bookes : the Second beginning at the
Aduertijement to Pap-hatchet and Martin Mar-
prelate : the Third at, So then of Pappadocio : but
in the Originall, or vncorredled coppy there was
* These have all been attended to in their respective places.
PIERCES SUPEREROGATION. t^i^
not any fuch diuifion exprefly fett-downe : neyther
were the Additions following, inferted in their
proper places, but annexed to the end of the
Third booke, noted thus:
In the Firfi Booke ^ page 46. after Cloude^ infert.
What .... mafter. [See p. 93, 11. 13 — 24.]
In the Second Booke ^ Page 77. after edifieth,
infert. Plato .... conceites.? [See p. 135, 11.
7-1 8.]
In the fame booke ^ Page 87. after Innouation^
infert. And I . . . . Poplars. [See p. 149, 1. 21,
to p. 150, 1. 22.]
In the 'Third booke^ Page 205, after Polliciey
infert. that Learning .... cogging. [See p. 310,
1. 9, to p. 311, 1. 8.]
Thefe fower Additions in their feuerall bookes, I
commende to the correction of the curteous
Reader : and fo take my leaue.
FINIS.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL
my very good friend^ M. T>o5iour Haruey.
*OOD M. Do(5tour Haruey, promife I
account debte, efpecially to fo efpeciall
a frend : and therefore I haue now
againe laboured to difcharge mifelfe
of it. I would I were of defert to fet-forth your
long-deferued prayfe, and of hability to exprefle
your fingular habilities, in ftile, knowledge, and
other moft commendable vertues. What is in my
power, the leaft of your frendes fhall commaunde :
what is not, I can but wifti : which I would moft
earneftly wifh, if that might ferue, though I neuer
fhould wifti more. I will not trouble your grauer
ftudies, but pray for your healthes continuaunce :
and will moft willingly performe more, if occafion
ferue.
Oxford, this lo. of luly. 1593.
Yours euer to commaunde,
lohn Thorius.
336 LETTERS AND SONNETS.
Sonet.
T\Efamd by One^ who moft himfelfe defameth^
Write worthy Haruey : for the wife applaude
thee :
Shame be his hyer^ that fowly himfelfe fhameth^
And would of thy deferued right defraude thee.
And I if you force the vndeferued wrong.
Wherewith fome fimple Ignorant difiaines thee :
7'ou in your Wifedome may exceede as long.
As he in Folly foolifhly dijdaines thee.
For Jharpe-eyde Equitie hath defer ide to all,
Tfi iniurious vayne, that Jettes his penne tofchoole :
VVhoJe railing tendes vnto your wijedomes fall.
And prooues all fonde, to prooue himfelfe a Foole.
Which monfirous Folly would be leaft in hafi :
As Wijedomes age will make him know at lafi.
lohn Thorius.
Inclojed in the fame Letter.
AND that I might not be held laft in remem-
braunce, though abfentjthat in your prefenee
haue fought the felfe-profFering caufe of after-
memory : I haue once more, (as he, that deuoteth
himfelfe, and his poore labours to your good
liking), how badly you may fee, but how hartely
I wifh you could fee, or I could fay ; writ thefe
my pure deuotions, and Zealous lines : with as
LETTERS AND SONNETS. 337
true define to honour yourfelfe, according to your
worth, as I haue bene wanting the defert, which
your curteous nature hath affourded me. I re-
queft Sir, but your acceptance, and your fauour,
which if I gaine, I haue got more, then my due :
and fo wifhing your continuall bhfTe, I ende, as
one with oft prayers defiring to be held.
Your bound by much defert,
Antony Chewt.
Sonet. /
Proceede moft worthy Lines^ in your difdaine,
Againft the falje Juggefiions you abuje :
VVhoJe rajcall Jiile defer ued hath to gaine
The hateful title of a railing Mufe.
Boubtleffe the wifeji, that fh all chaunce to read you^
In true ludiciall of a quiet thought^
Will giue applaufe vnto the wit^ that bread you^
Andyoujhall winne the good, that you haue fought.
VVinne more : and fince the foole defames you Jlill,
'The fooky whom Shame hath flained with fowle
blotty
Per forme on him your dif contented will :
Fame fhall be your meede : Shscme /hall be his lott.
Andfo proceeding, you fhall fo redeeme
The name, that he would drowne in blacke ejieeme.
Subfcribed, Sh : VVy :
for. Shores Wife,
H. II. 43
338 LETTERS AND SONiVETS.
Sur I'Apologie de Monfieur le trel-do6le &
tref-eloquent Do6teur Haruey : par le
Sieur de Fregeuille du Gaut.
Celuy qui prouoque publie Ja defence^
Pent auecques rail'on Ja caufe deploy er ;
La Loy de 'Talion ne pent moins^ quottroyer
lufi permijfion de repay er l' offence.
Mais celuy qui enfle^ a efcrire commence ^
A diffamer autruy^ tachant a /^ employer :
De droit ne peut pretendre adueu ou bon loyer^
Ains Vinfame intent e luy vient pour recompenfe.
Taime / pourtant par tout vn ftile modere^
Mefmes ft on rejpond au Jot demejure ^
Car on na point raijon d'imiterjajottije.
Marrijui mon d^ Haruey de te voir prouoque,
Mais tref-aije quejiant indignement pique ;
Ta Do^e rejponje eji eloquent e Cs? rajjije.
His Sonet, that will iuftifie his word, and dedicateth
Nafhes S. Fame to Immortalitie.
A Dame J more Jweetly braue^ then nicely Jine ;
Tet finCy asfineji Gentlewomen be :
Brighter y then Diamant in euery line ;
Is Pennilesjo FVitleffe Jiill ? quoth She.
If Naih will felly gnafh, and rudely flafh :
Snip-fnap a crafh, may lend S. Fame a gafh.
LETTERS AND SONNETS. 339
Skill read the Ryme^ and put it in Truthes purje :
(Experience kijjeth Reconcilements hand) :
If warning-peece be Jcornd^ Spite may heare worje :
'Though Looue no warriour be^ Right leades a bande.
How faine would Curtefie theje iarres furceaje ?
How glad would Charitie depart in peace ?
But if Sir Rafh continue ftill Sir Swafli ;
He Hues, that will him dafh, and lafli, and fqwafh.
Haec quoq ; culpa tua eft : haec quoq ; poena
tua eft.
An other occafionall admonition.
Fame rowj'd herjelfe, and gan to Jwajh abowt :
Boyes Jwarm'd : youthes throng d : bloudes /wore :
brutes reard the howt :
Her meritorious worke^ a Wonderclowte :
Did euer Fame Jo brauely play the Lowte ?
I / chaunc'd vpon the Ryme : and wondred much
What courage of the world, or Mifter wight
Durft terrible S. Fame fo raftily tuch.
Or her redoutable Bull-begging knight.
Incontinent I heard a piercing voyce,
Not Ecchos voyce, but ftiriller then a Larke :
Sith Dejliny allottes no wijer choyce,
Paftime appofe the Pickle-herring clarke.
(^uiet thy rage. Imperious Swifti-fwafti :
Or Wo be to thy horrible trifti-trafti.
EJi bene, non potuit dicere : dixit, Erit,
340 LETTERS AND SONNETS.
An Apoftrophe to the Health of
his abufed Frendes.
Liue Father Jweet : and mifcreant Varlets dye^
'That wrong my 'parent Harty and brother Eye.
Deerejt of Eyes, contemne thy caitiue foes :
Kindefi of Hartes^ enioy thy firme repofe.
Sky, with a -patron Eye afpe£i that Eye,
That Eye, ejpoufed to the Virgin Sky.
Art, with a Loouer hart preferue that Hart,
That Harty denoted to the heauenly Art.
Bleflings, defcend from your Empyreal throne.
And lend a bounteous eare to Juppliant mone.
Ambrofiall fpringes of cleereft influence,
Fountaines reftoratiue of cordiall blifle,
Deigne Zeale proftrate your tendreft indulgence.
And fouerainly redrefTe that is amifle.
L'enuoy.
Volumes of Thankes, and Prayfe, your fiore combine
In pajjionateji Hymnes, and Pfalmes diuine.
LETTERS AND SONNETS. 341
The Printer's Pojlfcript.
|Weet Gentleme, hauing committed the
Premifles to the PrefTe, and acquainting
certaine learned and' fine men with fome
other of the commendatory Letters, and
Sonnets of M. Thorius, and M. Chewt: there
was fuch an efpeciall hking conceiued of two
other their writings, that I was finally entreated,
or rather ouertreated, to giue them alfo their
welcome in Print ; as not the vnfitteft lines, that
haue bene publifhed to interteine lafie howers, or
to employ drowfie eyes. Sometime in the braueft
fhowes there is little performed : and fometime
a poore Publicane may worke as great a worke
of Supererogation as a proude Pharife. I am not
the meeteft to blafe other mens armes : and they
are beft furnifhed to be their owne tongues, that
can fo well pleade for themfelues, and their friendes.
I can but recommende their learned exercife, and
mine own vnlearned labour, to your gentle accepta-
tion.
342 LETTERS AND SONNETS.
'To the right wor/Iiipfullj my very ajjured
frend, M. Do£four Haruey.
TV /TY filence thus long, good M. Dodour
-'-*-*- Haruey, was not occafioned either by
forgetfulneffe, or by negligence : but rather for
want both of conuenient leafure, and of fufficient
argument : being very vnwilling either to fpend
time often in writing of vnmateriall lines, or to
trouble any efpeciall frend with reading them.
Yet becaufe amitie is maintained by this loouing
kinde of intercourfe , & becaufe Cuftome hath
allowed, that Affedlion induced, to exprefle a
carefull memory of the continuance of frendfhip,
by writing euen vpon fmall, or no occafion :
though the Letter were figned with nothing elfe, /
but. Si vales, bene eft : ego valeo : left longer
filence might caufe me to incurre iuft reprehenfion,
and that you may receaue fome flender token of
my often thinking on you : I fend you enclofed
three Stanzaes, though fimple in conceit, or other
regard, yet were they equall to my good will,
l4iey would, vndoubtedly excell, and ftiould be
x/fome way futable to your right excellent giftes.
If they pleafe, or not difpleafe you, and may feeme
worthy, or not altogether vnworthy to ferue as
foiles with my other Sonnets, which you receaued
before, to thofe much worthier Verfes, which you
LETTERS AND SONNETS. 343
haue of much happier Poets, then mifelfe : you
may therein do your pleafure, whereto onely they
are confecrated. Thus hoping that you are per-
(uaded of me, as of one afFedionatly your owne
to vfe, and commaunde at your appointment, I
leaue you with my moft harty, and humble recom-
mendations.
Oxford: the 3. of Auguft. 1593.
Yours alwayes at commaunde,
lohn Thorius.
Stanzaes.
Among the Greekes^/weet Homers copious Verje
Foregoing times to Fames Jwift winges commended :
'The Latins y Virgils noble worke reherje :
Nor yet in thefe were auncient pray/es ended.
Demofthen's richjiile^ thorough Greece was blazed^
And Tullyes forcing toungue made Roome amazed
Our mode me Age to egall with the pajfed^
The Itahan pleajing Mu/e hath done her beft :
The learned French Pennes haue themfelues Jur-
pajfed:
And worthy Englifh wittes haue bannijht reft.
Midft whom^ who not emblajon Haruey's name^
Wrong him^ themfelues^ and Englands growing Fame.
344 LETTERS AND SONNETS.
Teelding j fond Na/h thy glory jhalt not fiaine^
But rather Jhalt encreaje thy prayfe hereby :
Thv frendes qfall know thy iudgement not Jo vaine.
But thou di/cernes where true defer t doth fly.
And thy defer t by Jo much /hall feeme greater.
By how much thou art knowne to know thy better.
lohn Thorius.
Sir, fuch a patheticall Afle haue I found deci-
phred in your moft learned and witty Difcourfe
of that poore Creture, as I know will proue the
eternall Memoratiue of one M. Nafh. Yet I by
Experience haue found more : that it is the nature
of a true AfTe, (to which Affe peraduenture this
was dedicated) that a greene higge being hand-
fomly tyed to his chappes, he no fooner fmelleth
it, but he followes his nofe fo farre, that he
icapeth fayre in vneeuen ground, if he breaketh
not his necke. And this Note I would not but
impart vnto you : as a Caueat worthy to be
remebred amongft other fecrets of that beaft.
For doubtlefle your philofophicall AfTe will make
Alchimy vpon it. I pray you difpofe of it at
your beft pleafure. When any other fuch Memo-
randum fortunes into my hand, you ftiall fee it :
and fo in haft recommending you to your better
ftudies, 1 reft Sir, at your feruice.
An: Ch.
LETTERS AND SONNETS. 345
'the AJfes Figg.
So long the Rhenni/h furie of thy braine^
Incenfi with hot fume of a Stilliard Clime y
Lowd-lying Nafh^ in liquid termes did raine^
Full of abJurditieSy and of flaundrous ryme.
So / much thy Pot-iefis in a 'Tapjier humour ^
{For thats the Qjiintejfence of thy Newgate fajhion)
Thy tojfepot maiefiy^ and thy Fame did rumour ^
In wondrous Agony es of an Alehoufe pafjion.
So well thy wydemouth'd, or thy Oijlerwhore phrafe
(Tet Gentry bragges her of thy lowjie degree)
Aptly hath knowne thine Armory to blafe
In termes peculiar vnto none but thee.
So (oon^fue Penniworth of thy grofer witt
(Tet thou art witty ^ as a woodcock would be)
More then autentically hath learn d to gett
Thy Mufe intitledy as it truly fhould be.
And now fo neatly hath thy railing merit
(I fhould hauejaid Ramme-ally meditations)
Procurd applauje vnto thy Clarret fpirite^
Andjack-fopt mijeries of thy Confutations.
That now each luy-bufh weepes her Teares in ale :
The Fifh-wiues Commonwealth, alack forlorne ^
H. II. 44
346 LETTERS AND SONNETS.
Moornes in /mall drink, J/iarp, Jingle , fowrey and
fiale :
And thy long-booted gentry, ragged and tome
Wailes new petitions to the Diuels good grace :
Although the lajl^ God knowes^ gott little meede.
But t how' It to Helly when Jhiftes can haue no place ,
Perhaps to Hanging too, when time Jhall neede.
Tet jirjl wilt ride^ raile, ryme me downe to Hell :
(Oh but beware firange bugges at Juch a game) :
I haue a tricky to teach a Gooje tojpell
Himjelfe an AfTe, out -off his AfTes name.
An: Ch.
FINIS.
END OF VOL. II.
ivr-
Printed by Hazcll, Watson, and Viiiey, Livtited, London and AyUibTtry.
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