the arraignment of slander periury blasphemy, and other malicious sinnes shewing sundry examples of gods iudgements against the ofenders. as well by the testimony of the scriptures, and of the fathers of the primatiue church as likewise out of the reportes of sir edward dier, sir edward cooke, and other famous lawiers of this kingdome. published by sir william vaughan knight. spirit of detraction, conjured and convicted in seven circles vaughan, william, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the arraignment of slander periury blasphemy, and other malicious sinnes shewing sundry examples of gods iudgements against the ofenders. as well by the testimony of the scriptures, and of the fathers of the primatiue church as likewise out of the reportes of sir edward dier, sir edward cooke, and other famous lawiers of this kingdome. published by sir william vaughan knight. spirit of detraction, conjured and convicted in seven circles vaughan, william, - . [ ], , [ ] p. printed for francis constable, and are to be sold in pauls church yeard at the signe of the crane, london : . another issue, with title page and epistolarie preface cancelled, and cancel title page, of: vaughan, william. the spirit of detraction, conjured and convicted in seven circles. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of 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images - rina kor sampled and proofread - rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the arraignment of slander perivry blasphemy , and other malicious sinnes , shewing sundry examples of gods iudgements against the ofenders . aswell by the testimony of the scriptures , and of the fathers of the primatiue church as likewise out of the reportes of sir edward dier , sir edward cooke , and other famous lawiers of this king dome . published by sir william vaughan knight . london . printed for francis constable , and are to be sold in pauls church yeard at the signe of the crane . . to the lords of his maiesties most honourable priuie counsell . inimitation of that burgundian boo●c , that saluted the french king with a present of radish rootes , and also of the persians , who by reason of their countrey-custome durst not ire salutatum satrapes sine muner● magnos , greet their great lords without some gratefull gift : right prudent ●●dpr●●●dent lords , i present a meane obiect to your indicious sights . a meane obiect indeed , if yee regard the worth of the person that presents it , or the person whom it concernes , being the spitefull spirit of detraction , yet tollerable perhaps , if yee receiue the presentours readie will with the reflection of your comfortable countenance : but most noble , and worthy to be ennobled with your patronage , if yee respect the meanes and circles , ( as i know you doe ) whereby this spirit is coniured and conuicted , euen by the sword of angels , the mysticall sword , the word of god : and also by the sword of man , alexanders sword , the decider of our gordian doubts . vvith the former sword michea confuted the false prophets of samaria , michael cōfounded the detracting dragon , and michaels followers here on earth the false prophet of our christian church , that d●ceiuer , that deprauer of the holy ghost , and of his pretious properties . with the latter sword men punish men malicious men . with this sword a king plagued midas for his doltish detractiō : & a queene plagued niobe for her courtizan comparison . vvhether these obiects be noble , tollerable , meane , or as waste leaues good for nothing , saue for apothecaries to wrap about their drugs , i submit them , and compromit them together with my selfe to your honors graue arbitrement , in hope that yee will ascribe all imperfections to my want of perfections , to the breuitie of time , and to the sodainnesse of the accident . for the worlds great thunderer hauing lately taken vnto him my deare wife by a sulphureous dampe of lightning , and shaken some part of my house with a thunder-clap , hath likewise strooke me with such an amazement in mine vnderstanding , with beholding out of my tabernacle of flesh and bloud the glorious gleames of his power , that truly i must needs confesse my selfe to be somewhat backward in penning and painting out this handy-worke of his , almost as ominous to me , as his hand writing was to balthasar in babylon . to this i may adioyne multitudes of impediments as well of publike causes and suites abroad , as also of mine owne priuate affaires at home . all which concurring vpon me in confused heapes , some by importunitie of office , some of necessitie , and some by sathans suggestion commmonly euery day since that fatall blast , caused such vnpolished points , as in the reading may occurre to your learned view . and yet for all this , right honourable , i had not so abruptly at this time hastened on mine abortiue worke to your presence , were it not , because i would stay betimes the forward steps of sathan , and also because i would stop the vnpure mouthes of pratling momes , and tatling niobes , who inter bacchanalia amidst their pots of drinke , their pipes of tobacco , and idle fits of iollity establishing the shallow foundation of their reports vpon the flying and lying rumours of licentious libellers , doe blasphemously blaze abroad to the derogation and preiudice of the powerfull lord of lightnings , that the diuell our spirituall tempter acted this terrible tragedie . some other times they giue out , that the same diuell coniured vp at mortall mens commaunds , tooke her away bodie and all , or at leastwise some principall part of her bodie . vvhich sacrilegious imputation as i know gods elect do alreadie both loath and laugh to scorne : so i doubt not but all others shall by this present treatise learne to leaue it off as a poisoned paradoxe . againe , there is not wanting a sort of suspicious critickes , who arrogating to themselues the gift of prophesie , or reuelation from aboue , doe make a taunting table-talke of this heauenly visitation in lieu of a grace or salt to season their meates withall , by attributing this vnexpected chance to some secret sinnes of hers . vvhich scrthian censure all her acquaintance will contradict , and condemne of calumniation . all her familiar acquaintance wil consent with one voyce , with one mind in the scrutinie of her triall , that she liued as innocently , as industriously , as honestly , & as humbly towards god and man , as any whatsoeuer in all her country , without deceit , without detraction . and if this be a demonstration infallible , that out of sure premisses we inferre a sure conclusion , that none dieth ill , who hath liued well , ( for a good tree euer beares good fruit ) and that we must iudge men by their liues , and not by their deathes , then dare i assuredly assume , that she died as guiltlesse as those , on whom the tower of siloc fell . by the stayres of hell she swiftly climed aboue the starres of heauen . by lightning flames ( as elias in fi●ry chariots ) her soule soared vp aloft into the region of eternall light . othersome in mine owne countrey more passionate , because i reforme disorders , and would redresse certaine misdemeanures whereof they claime prescription as an hereditarie or necessarie euill , doe euaporate these vncharitable speeches touching my proceedings , that god sent these prodigious euents , as prodromes and forerunners of his indignation conceiued against me for my seuerity of iustice . summum ius , summa iniuria . extreme iustice , extreme iniurie . which detraction of theirs i will only countermine with that graue authoritie , interpreting old augustines honest minde ; rash iudgement hurts not the person that is iudged , but rather him , that so rashly iudgeth , quia cu●nvolumus aliena per iram coercere , grauiora committimus , by reason that when we would correct the faults of other men in passion , our selues commit more grieuous faults . another kind of detractours measuring our actions by the ell of their owne guiltie consciences and vsurping the popish partes of ghostly confessors , doe parley in priuate among themselues , that our iust iehouah darted this lament●ole mishap , as a mysticall scourge for some silent sinnes of mine . at which accusation i will ●●t equiuocate , nor endeuour to acquite my selfe ●hereof with the presumptuous pharisee , for i frankly acknowledge , as one of adams progeny , that i am throughly tainted with the leprosie of sinne : whereof i expect no deliuerance at all by any earthly aesculaptus , saue onely by the fiery serpent which healed the israelites . i am carnall as s. paul said , and sold vnder sinne . yet notwithstanding , if sinne present doe not please me , i know that sinnes past shall neuer harme me . but as there be differences and degrees in sinnes , wherein for the most part i shake hand with these detractours , so dare i partly aduenture to cleere my soule from one particular sinne , ( like as luther iustified himselfe from auarice ) that my nature euer abhorred iniustice or partialitie , though i might haue hazarded the loues of my neerest kinsfolkes . let impious ismael , and enuious haman ( whose words are swords ) combine together , let them throw forth what detractions they can , like stumbling blockes in my way : i passe not for them . on the contrarie i will glorie with that gentile in tacitus : fulgorem bonorum à me nunquam praelatum , excubias ac labores vt vnum ex militibus pro incolumitate imperatoris malle . that i neuer preferred bright shining goods , but chose rather watchings and labours , as one of the common souldiers for the emperours safety , and for the wea●● of my countrey . such disgracefull libelles spurging vp from the stemme of blasphemous detraction were diuulged and dispersed abroad in all places farre and nigh . vvhich when i had throughly ruminated and reuo●ued in my mind , looking withal into the depth of their cankred corruptions , how that our heauenly king is highly iniured thereby , as also how that his diuine titles are daily dishonoured , despised , and detracted with their wilfull , wanton , and vnwise speeches , whereby that member or outward sheath wherein our thoughts are folded , which should bee the faithfull interpreter ●the soule , oraculum animae , speculum mentis , miraculum naturae , is commonly peruerted from christian puritie to wilfull blasphemie , so that nazianzens saying is verified in our age , linguādimidiam humanorum vitiorum partem sibi vend●cat , halfe the vices , which we commit , are committed by the tongue . nay , our whole life is full of the tongues wickednesse : tota vita nostra linguae delictis est referta , as basil wrote . at this prodigious degeneration my spirit seem'd to sparkle , as a blazing starre within me , portending miseries to such mischieuous wretches , yea , it burned as a blast of fire in the furnace of my bodie , incensing the principall powers thereof , ( as kindes of greene fewell ordained for this purpose ) to consume some of those saplesse shrubbes , or at least ( as smoking firebrands ) to terrific children from playing too much with sacred mysteries , from laughing , like vnnaturall cham at noahs nakednesse , from mocking at elishaes reuerend head , and ( to speake like a poet ) from plucking ouerlong at iupiters beard , from polluting their fathers ashes . these , these motiues , right noble lords , enforced me to expose abroad mine vntimely embrion , not altogether shapt aswell as i intended , nor yet growne to that maturitie , as the satyrist answeredin defence of virgils aeneads . vt ramale vetus vaegrandi subere coctum : like an old bough full ripe with barke . but what perfect essence nature denies vnto it , or what complete forme art conceales from it , i humbly craue that all may be construed in good part by your honorsboundlesse bounties , wherto , as to a diuine oracle or discreet rhadamanthes , i flie for verdict in the behalfe of this worthlesse worke , which once againe i dedicate dijs tutelaribus to your heroicall vertues , eyther by them signed ominously with print of chalke , or with coale , or ( according to the greeke custome ) with the blacke letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 destinating death , to be censured worthy of immortalitie and of euerlasting cedar , or else to be cancelled in perpetuall obliuion and cymmerian darkenesse . to the readers . readers , whether ye be men or women , kinde or curst , friendly or frumping , all is one to me . i respect not your kinds , kindred or kindnesse ; your kinds being but natures instruments for propagation of mankinde . and for other respects , which are worldly , i force not at all , for truth is spirituall , essentiall , internall , and cares not for outward formalities . onely i weigh your tongues the detracting instruments of sathan sor both your genders , to the pretudice of your deere soules . in your tongues i finde no more distinction or denomination of male and female then i finde of your soules , which likewise are ne●ther male nor female , but al one , all alike in both your sexes . i finde this originall accident coincident aswell to tongues as soules , that there be good aesops tongues , and euill aesops tongues ; the good ordained to heauenly hymmes , to ioyfull iubilees , to angelicall alleluiahes : the euill tongues to taunt , to detract , and with iobs wife , to curse god and die . ye daughters of eue , misconster not my simple speech . i taxe not all your tongues in generall . there are voices of angels , voices of men , and voices of diuels . the first are heauenly ( as i said before ) being sweet smelling sacrifices of christian quiristers , or holy oracles of the inward man. the second earthly , as sounding brasse or tinckling cymbals . the third hellish , as the roaring of a rauening lion. the first i commend as the rare song of a blacke swanne . the second i meane to amend as the penitent crie of the prodigall childe . the third and hellish voyce of the spirit of detraction i commit as the parisians mattens , or scicilian euen-song into the dungeon of hell , where is weeping and gnashing of teeth . these diuersities of tongues and voyces sprang vp from the same tree of good and euill . out of the same eue ( like lycurgus his whelps , or whelpish twinnes ) came caine and abell . vertuous dames , let it suffice , that for your sakes i spare to play the satyrist against the detracting niobes of this age . onely i controule them with a gentle checke ; and because you pleade in their excuse , that they be the weaker vessels , and not enabled with such a noble courage as the man : therefore i giue them the milder bridle , the golden snaffle . curteous readers , i speake not to you : for they that be whole , neede no phisitians . captious readers , on you i call . behold , here are bridling bits for your byting mouthes . readers , yeeld to your riders , shew your selues pliable , peaceable , and ready to receiue conuenient chastisements . let not your customary hold of f●asting fellowship , of giddy gossipping , or of tobacco taking , with-hold your mindes from our cursory lectures . resist the diuell , and he will flie from you . but i pray , what phantasie drawes your wits astry , ●ee sharpe tongued souldiers of the forlorne hope ? yee that were wont to daunt your foes brauely in the field , to conquere kingdomes , and beate downe the enemies of christ in forraine soiles , why become ye now-adaies so effeminate , as to conuert your swords into words , your powerfull prowesse into pratling parlance ? why degenerate ye from your famous auncestours ? too true it is , that ouer-much ease mars your generous spirits , welfare makes you wanton , and prou●nder prickes you forwards to turne deeds into detractions , and in stead of christian resolution , to wage warre with your tongues , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to incline to swinish companying , carousing , and tobacconizing : where many foule faults flocke together , and ( as the nature of sinne is to multiply ) according to our sauiour christs words , where one wicked spirit is suffered to inhabite , there he brings in other in-mates , worse spirits then himselfe ; specially the spirit of detraction first gets in his head like a cunning foxe , and then by little and little enters in with his whole body , to the vtter ouer throw of mans little world ; so that christians fall out to be antichristians , apostles apostates , and manly souldiers scoldes and scoffers . to come neerer vnto you , what is the reason that this renowned people , who claime themselues from brutus , are become so brutish , as to be addicted to gossip-ales , bride-ales , and to bacchanales , and consequently to detractions and descanning of other mens destinies ; yea , and otherwhiles to discourse of gods secret iudgments ? omne vitium habet patrocinium : no vice without a cl●ake : no sinne without some apish apologie . these iolly fellowes being driuen to this exigent , doe confesse , that corrupted custome brought them to such vitious habites . o cruell custome ! o hatefull habites ! which worke the fatall and finall ruine of soules and bodies ! neuerthelesse , as there is no custome but may be altered , so for mine owne part i cannot beleeue , that custome alone causeth man ( a creature enriched with diuine reason , and enf●offed with free-will and election in many things , specially in naturall and humane things ) to carouse , and then to reade stammering lectures , both on the sacred power of god , and on their simple neighbours soules . for some carouse of custome , some of wantonnesse and company . some againe delight therein , being sophistically perswaded , that the excessiue vse thereof auailes much for their healths sake , as a purger of superfluous rheumes . others fauour tobacconisme , because they would not seeme ouer-nice , melancholicke , or men by themselues in the singular number , and also because tobacco might serue them in stead of salt or drie leaders to drinking , and consequently vnto detracting : but for the most part our caual●ers and gentles of the first head sucke in the smoakie vapour of tobacco , because they might counterfeit themselues gid●y or drunken ( for it is no shame to be drunke with tobacco ) when they want copie of matter or store of discourse . then they fame themselues so long rauished as it were in an e●tasi● ; vntil after a thorough per ambulation of their barren wits , and after long houghing , halking and hacking , they haue coined some strange accident worthy the rehersall among their boone companions . then as though they started out of an heauenly traunce , and as the satyrist writes : mobile colluerint liquido cùm plasmate guttur . hauing their throats wel washt with dreggish drugs : they recount tales of robin-hood , of rhodomonting rouers , of donzel del phoebo , of a new anti-christ borne in babylon , of lying wonders , blazing out most blasphemous newes , how that the diuell appeared at such a time with lightning and thundring maiestie , much about that horrible manner , as the glorious god appeared on mount horeb , raised tempests both on sea and land , not inferiour to those stormy heteroclites of the west indies , called the furicanoes , shooke the foundation of the earth , battered such gentlemens houses , and if they had not suddenly blessed themselues better , he had carried away with him men , women , houses , and all right into hell . these or such like feeble fables doe they scatter abroad among their foolish auditors , while in the meane time , the diuell , the schoole-master of all lewdnesse , appeares no where more forcibly , then in the very midst of these vncharitable readers , yea , and perhaps his spirituall p●yson or poysonous spirit is exhaled and exhausted with their tobacco and draughts of drinke into their mustie mindes . o tongue , how is thy perfection peruerted , thy sense depraued , thy sound degenerated ! how comes it to passe that the soules embassadour is become a turne-coate herald ! expectaui legatum , inueni heraldum , i expected an honourable embassadour , but haue found a huffe-cap herald , as our late queene elizabeth of famous memory sometime nickt a presumptuous embassadour of polonia . i expected to heare nothing but truth out of the mouth of gods similitude , specially , to his neighbour in christ , to christ in his members . but ( alas ) i finde nothing but lies and libels . omnis homo mendax . i expected for reformation , but haue met with ruinous relapses . o tongue , tongue , how miserable are the effects of thy motions ! being made for a watchfull clapper to the bell of gods temple , to pray for grace , to comfort the sicke , to confirme the penitent , to confute the absurd , to confound the detractour , why ringest thou out such paltry peales ? why ragest thou against thy masters will , against thy selfe without iust cause or neede ? in thy youthfull time thou crakest and vauntest of thy vaine worth , bursting thy lungs welnigh with windy bragges . in thy more mellow or maturer age thou standest elated in thine owne conceit , as though thy hoarie colour hath added vncontrouled trust and truth vnto thy stale assertions . in all the progresse of thy wagging , in all thy proceedings , thou abusest thy proper function : for which the lord will not hold thee guiltlesse at that vniuersall synod , when the heauens shall be folded together , like a booke , when our consciences , the true table-bookes of our soules shall lie open without lies against vs , and we shall yeelde account for euery idle word . these things expended and examined by me in the ballance of vnderstanding , and fearing least i might participate with them in their derogatory crimes , or encurre the penalty of trayterous misprision towards our righteous lord for my cowardly conccalements , if according to that measure of spirit , which he hath bestowed vpon me , i reproued them not : therefore haue i published this humble treatise , that therein , as in a glasse or map , they may behold the reflexion of their filthy faults extinguished and extirped . what do i know , whether the great god hath deliuered me from diuers dangers for these or such like purposes ? to this end was i b●r●e , that i should doe my best to glorifie god , and edific my countrey . to this end i wish with all the veynes of my heart , that what ability of wel-saying and wel-doing is defectiue in mine owne person , the same by the diuine bounty may be liberally supplied to all others in this present booke . and that the readers hereof may learne in sparing speech to follow the examples of the holy prophets and apostles , who for their honest admonitions and humble exhortations were ouercast with a cloude of scorne among the reprobates of this world ; or at least wise , that they imitate some of the heathenish philosophers , namely pythagoras , who imposed decennale silentium , ten yeares silence on his schollers , or socrates who for many howers together would sit silently musing on the wonderfull workemanship of god , or arcesilas , solon , and other enemies of detraction . to this end i heartily wish , that all they , which finde themselues subiect to this spirit of detraction , may be terrified from that idle vse with such magicall motiues of michaels mysteries , as i haue herein inserted , like as if the vtopian syphograunts , the athenian ostracisme , the romane censors , the spanish inquisition , or as if the statute de scandalis magnatum , being as it were naturalis feritatis mastix , the scourge of sauage nature , had straightly bridled their lauish tongues within the precincts of their teeth and lips . vos o patricius sanguis , queis viuere fas est occipiti coeco , posticae occurrite sannae . to the cvriovs painters of circles . if these lines or leaues of my circles drawne from the center to the circumference be not all equall , or if the points and prickes of euery line answere not the mathematicall proportion of the circle , thou knowest , that veritas non quaerit angulos , truth respects not angles , triangles , quadrangles , nor artificiall curiosity . i care not for the enticing words of worldlings wisedome , but i couet the spirit of euidence and power . i couet matter more then method . and yet i labour so to linke them , that the line of nature may stand coupled with the points of art , that both from the center of truth be caried to a christian circumference : for euē as the gifts of the holy ghost be distributed diuersly , and in diuerse measures to gods children , some hauing but one grain of faith being conuerted in the euening of their liues , and yet by grace adopted & adiudged worthy to receiue the like equal crown of glory , the like equall wages , as those , which laboured longer in the lords haruest : so ( to cōpare little things with great ) let thy grace ( ingenuous reader ) or gracious construction counteruail the vnequal lines of my circles . where they exceed in their dimensiue quantity , there oppose their distributiue quality for a counter-ballance , et sic omnes lineae ductae à centro ad circumferentiam sunt aequales . the first circle of the spirit of detraction , conivred and convicted . di●ided into lineaments . lineament . i. to whose capacity the description of spirits is difficult , and to whose it is easie . the authors inuocation to the godhead , through whose only operation the spirit of detraction is to be coniured and conuicted . that which is inuisible , transcendent , and not to be vnderstood in the land of mortall creatures , ( such as is the description of spirits ) cannot distinctly be disposed according to the prescription of curious artists : by reason that our knowledge here on earth is subiect to mutations , vanity of vanities , varnished only to the outward man , and quickly vanished either through distemperature of the braine , olde age , or death : and also , by reason that a spirit in substance & subsistence is supernaturally whole without multiplication , diuersity , or part , somewhat prodigious vnto natures view . yet notwithstanding these infirmities , we may conferre about the metaphysicall mysterie of spirits , contesting with the sword of the spirit , the word of god ; not for haughty ostentation , but for humble edification , comparing spirituall things with spirituall things . the naturall man perceiues not the things of the spirit of god , for they are foolishnesse vnto him neyther can he know them , because they are spiritually discerned : but he that is spirituall , discerneth all things . he that submits his knowledge to the touch-stone of knowledge , to the highest power , scorning all peacocke-plumes of apocry●hall tradition , and of old adams impurities , discerneth all things . the clerkes of china say , that themselues do see with two eyes , the europeans with one eye ; and that all the rest of the world are starke blinde , not hauing any eyes at all . euen so the soules of the supernall china , the church truely triumphant , by looking on him , which ouerlooketh all things , doe spiritually discerne all things , and do know as they are knowne . the regenerated christian discerneth ( though glimmering wise , or winking through a darke glasse with one eye ) many things apperteyning to the lowly workes and louely fruits of the new man , which is renewed into knowledge after the image of him that made him . but the naturall man confined within natures compasse , can neuer discourse , no nor dreame once of diuine affaires . while the flesh preuailes against the spirit , our knowledge is as it were stifled with a deadly earthly dampe , and cannot appeare in that conspicuous maner , as when our epicurean natures become curb'd or crucified . there is such iustling and bustling , such strining & strugling betwixt the flesh and the soule , that gods peace is oftentimes to both their miseries infringed . the mistresse therefore must straightly correct her seruant , and that betimes , before she attaine vnto her stubborn age , left then she chuse rather to breake , then to bow vnto her wholesome will. the austere consideration of this our humane fragility , caused the apostle to write after this manner : i tame my body , and bring it into subiection , lest while i preach to others , i my selfe become a cast-away : for the soule that walloweth in sensuality , in fat , blood , and grosse humors , can neuer enter into the speculation of spirituall comfort . the smokie vapours , which breathe from thence into the braine , doe interpose a darksome mist of blockishnes before her eyes of vnderstanding ; whereof let a fat paunch beare me instance . how cau'st thou ( saith the satyrist ) meditate on any thing praise-worthy , which hast such a large ewer hanging forth a foote and a halfe from thy body ? — cum tibi , calue , pinguis aqualiculus propenso sesquipede extat ? like as a candle put in an earthen pot , enlightneth onely the pot , but being therhence remoued into a lanthorne , illuminates the whole roome with a farre greater splendor then before : so the vnderstanding spirit of man , eclipsed with the foggie interposition of sensuall pleasures , lies infatuated and besotted , like an abbey-lubber , not once able to crie out , abba , father : but thence recalled by the holy spirit of god , and refined with competent fasting at due times , with contrite humility and conuenient meditations , it forgets the vanities of this cloudy world , and frames it selfe wholly to spirituall contemplation . and finally , separated and singled out from the bodies prison , it shines brighter then any starre . then reason shines without eclipse of errour , wisdome without ignorance , and memory without obliuion . then shall we be able to contemplate with the eye of faith , the awefull maiesty of the mighty trinity , the in effable and inestimable felicity of our fellows saints . then shall we comprehend the mystical messages of the heauenly spirits , ascending and descending in chariots of sacred fire , to the behoofe of our christian brethren , and inuisibly instructing the church on earth ; like as themselues are both instructed and inspired of their prince of zeale . but what am i , that presume to weaue a worke of such wonderfull forms in such a base and broken loome ? how dare i , with king vzziah , burn incense vnto the lord , that am not sanctified , nor of the tribe of leui ? how dare i , that am in his presence more mean then the meanest moth or atome , more abiect then any ant ; how dare i , being so mean an abiect , aspire to set forth the obiects of his wonderous workes ? retire , o my soule , to the soule of thy soule , the life of thy life , the lord of life , as to the celestiall center of all perfections . the sun-shine of his mercie may dispell thy darkesome scurfe of leprosie , & dispence with thy bayards boldnes . behold thē , most mighty monarch , thy poore publican afraid of thine anger , ashamed of his ignorance , conuerts himselfe vnto thee . correct by the inspiration of thy spirit , this aspiring enterprise of mine , which i intend for the discerning of spirits , and disabling of the maleuolent spirit of detraction . o lord of incomprehensible goodnes , graunt me my suit : & because i am a m●n of vncircumcised & polluted lips , let one of thy glorious winged seraphines touch my mouth , that being purified , i may vtter nothing but truth . the way of man is not in himselfe neither is it in man to walke and to direct his steps measure thou my steps o heauenly spirit , mortifie my ●o●uptuous thoughts of flesh and blood , lighten mine internall eyes , that i may lift my lumpish spirit to spirituall cogitations , and apply my misty minde to thine eternall influence , which cannot be seene at all with mortal sight , but onely with most pure intellectuall minds , as thy seruant augustine confessed : trinitas diui●arum personarū non nisi purgatissimis mentiꝰ cernitur . the eye of sense and the eye of reason are both too dimme for discerning thee . o illuminate my soule with the eye of faith ; so that my flesh being yoaked to my soule , my soule vnto reason , my reason vnto saith , i may couragiously conquere and coniure downe the scrich-owle of darkenesse into the dungeon of hell . purge me with thy precious pilles , lest in reprehending the spirit of detraction in others , my selfe do fall into the same traines , by the she suggestions of that euill one , who watcheth hourely ( like a wily wolfe ) to circumuent thy silly sheepe . and thou my soule , praemonita praemunita , fore-warned fore-armed , do thy best to charme this spitefull spirit , with charitable characters of deepe diuinity : when he ascended vp on high , he led captiuity captiue , and gaue gifts vnto men . by vertue of these glorious gifts , the gifts of the spirit , by the crosse of our sauiour christ , coniure him vp and downe , that his cousenages and cheating craft may appeare to his clawbacke clients . to all other charmes the adder is deafe ; hee stoppeth his eares , and will not obey , charme we neuer so wisely . iesus he knowes , and paul he knowes , but who are we ? it is impossible for any kingdome to continue long , which is at iarre and warre within it selfe . to what purpose then stands medaeas magicke in firreting out of fiends ? to what end seekest thou , o sibill , to coniure downe cerberus the hel-hound of darkenesse ? what auailes your cunning , o circe and calypso ? can degon stand before the arke of god ? no certainly . therefore in vaine doe medaea , circe , calypso , and sibilla labour to exercise their exorcismes and shallow sorceries within the circle ; nay within sight of that fielde , where one graine offaith is sowne . in vaine serue witches wreathes where god is worshipped . in vaine sings he , — bacchare frontem cingite , ne vati noceat mala lingua future . with bacchar binde the poets brow , lest wicked tongues him ouerthrow , though men speake neuer so precisely , neuer so pregnantly , though they speake the wordes of angels ; yet if their speeches be not filed within the circle of diuine wisdome , nor link't within the chain of christian charity , the church of god will neuer repute so catholike and so potent a spirit as this of detraction quite coniured & conuicted . for ( as that roman criticke girded a vicious senator , saying , who can abide to heare thee iudge like graue cato , whom the world knowes to be as greedy as crassus , and as gluttonous as lucullus ? ) truely , for my part , i cannot more fitly compare such glozing scholers , then to a kind of glow-wormes , which because they gliue & shine in the nights , the weaker sort of people haue mistaken for sprites and bugs . they therefore , that will rightly ouerthrow their spirituall foes , must not shoot outwardly into painted ceremonies , but into the source and spring of goodnes . descend then , yee fierie pillars of faith , and quicken our incomposed chaos . disperse away our egyptian darkenes , that we may passe on our iourney by night as wel as day , not only through the red seas of detractions , but also through the dangerous deserts of this world , into the land of promise , the land that flowes with milke and honey of eternall life ; where our consciences shall for euer rest secured from all future furies . lineament ii. . that the true meanes to conuict the spirit of detraction , is the meditation on heauenly mysteries , and on the operation of goodnes . . mans curiosity in prying into gods nature , stinted by a non vltra . . the description of some of gods attributes . . that his description is too excellent ●or mans apprehension . . that good or euill cannot come to mankinde without his will. before i sound out the poysonous power of the spirit of detraction , it is necessary first , that i begin with my homely talent to discourse somewhat of his immensiue glory , who is prima veritas in essendo , & dicendo , & primus omnium motor : the first verity in being and speaking , and the first mouer of all ; and so by degrees to descend into the numbers and attributes both of the good spirits , which attend their creator , and likewise of the bad spirits which beleaguer vs with their spiritual suggestions out of darknesse . in the meane time , i adiure and coniure thee , thou false spirit of detraction , to be silent , and not to interrupt my consecrated speech . auoyd satan , auaunt taunting tempter . auoyd i charge thee , in the name of the great iehouah . auaunt , againe and againe i charge thee , by the omnipotent spirit of the word incarnate , by all the names and meanes , which are warranted vnto vs in holy writ o blessed names ! o blessed means , which preuaile against the gates of hell ! o blessed vicar of christs church ; gods register of charitable charters , which inrols within the booke of my soule , i meane , within my conscience , this warrant of faith , that serious speculation on heauenly mysteries , and on the operation of goodnesse , ( and that with admiration rather then with affectation ) treades downe the head of that olde enchanter , and quite tramples vnder foote his false faculties ; whose spirituall spite sophisticate with subtle spels , with sardonicall sports , and siren-like songs , i doubt more then all the papists palpable spirits and reall diuels , deuised for the most part to gull the simpler sort . o father of al things visible and inuisible , if i presumptuously prie into the maze of thy mysticall nature ( as somtimes did a philosopher of greece ) the more i muse , the more i stand amazed . i finde those auncient characters of non vltra somtimes engrauen on hercules his pillars , firmely imprinted in my curious braine . my soule sees no other obiects then infinite entity , eternity , immensity , immutability , impassibility , immortality , all life , all motion , all goodnes , all truth , all vnity , all perfection . o my soueraigne god , if i contemplate thine vnderstanding , my poore vnderstanding being but a sparkle in respect of a world of fire , failes me , and , as a candle at the flash of a strong lightning , suddenly extinguisheth : for in thine interminate vnderstanding there resides infinite wisdome , omnipotency , prouidence , predestination , true reason , true knowledge , and the representation of all thy workemanship . if i enter into the speculation of thy gracious and inexhausted will , i shall want words significant to expresse the singular proprieties which depend theron , as comfortable grapes , on one goodly cl●ster or bunch . thy charity , thy iustice , mercie , clemency loue , patience , magnificence , with other attributes which we doe not deserue to know , attend on thy powerfull will. o mighty deity of vnsearchable worth , as thy prophet dauid said , such knowledge is too wonderfull and excellent for me , i cannot attaine vnto it . whither then shall i goe from thy spirit , or whither shall i goe from thy presence ? if i climbe vp to heauen , thou art there : if i goe downe into hell , thou art there also . thou beholdest all our doings with exceeding patience . thou art wholly in the world ( as mans soule is wholly in the braine and body , and dispersed through euery part of the same ) and seest as in a manifest map all the world ouer . thou art present with vs in our closest counsels , in our closest closets . thou art deck't with light as it were with a garment . thou art most glorious in heauen , as mans soule in the head is most conspicuous , and therehence ( like the sunne with his influence ) illuminatest all places , and searchest the very secrets of our hearts and reines ; for the light dwelleth with thee . thou art a most pure , perfect , and actiue forme , without any mixture or composition of matter or forme , or distinction of parts . thou art the beginning and the end of all things ; the beginning without beginning , and the end without end . to end before i haue scant begun , thou art al sight , all hearing , all vnderstanding , all reason , the origen of all goodnes . totus oculus , totus auditus , totus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , totus ratio , fons omnium bonorum . thou art aboue all things , and yet not elated . thou art in all things , and yet not concluded . thou art vnder all things , & yet not restrained . thou art great without quantity , good without quality , iust without wrath . all our ioyes , al our pleasures , al our profits , all our welfare arise from thy fruitfull bounty : as on the contrary , all our losses , all our crosses , all our misfortunes proceed by our deserts , from thy iust conceiued fury when thou sendest out thy spirit , we are recreated . when thou hidest thy face , we are troubled . whither then shall we , miserable caytiues , flie ? whither ? from our displeased god , to our pleased god ; from our angry father , to our patient father . where shall we finde goodnes , but with the author of goodnes ? omne bonum à deo profluit , in eundemque tanquam in causam principem & finem vltimum , reflectitur . euery good springs from god , & againe the same returnes to him , as to the soueraigne cause and last end . he , euen he it is , that subsisteth aboue vs through his prouidence ; round about vs he substitutes his angels , as it were in fiery chariots , in vs he breathes his fiery comforter . he maketh his an gels spirits , adhis ministers a flaming fire . lineament iii. the admirable incorporation of the three persons in trinity . their mystical operatiō vnfolded according to our resonable capacities how god is said to be in heauen . after what manner the trinity doe differ one from another , eyther in appellation or in operation . that the pagan poets , like apes , aymed at gods mysteries by their darke allegories . if imeditate on the admirable hypostasis of the deity . i am rauished with an extasie , to behold their heauenly harmony , their consort , their consonance , and their proportion . goe , said our sauiour christ to his disciples , and teach all nation s' baptizing them in the name of the father , of the sonne , and of the holy ghost . the father vncreated , the glorious word begotten of his euer-being substance , the holy spirit of comfortable loue out of them both producted . all three ( like wieke , waxe , and light ) incorporated in one glorious torch , as the beames and influence of one sun , or as waters of one fountaine , or as peter , paul , and barnabas , all three building vpon one rocke , and preaching the same doctrine : or as will , vnderstanding , and memorie , the reflecting image of the deity in one soule , equally partakers of one vndiuided godhead , one light , one power , one beginning , one maiesty , one glory , and one authority . thus hath this one diuine spirit three peerelesse properties ; the hauing of euery which property is called a person ; a terme , which we giue to shew the peculiar being of a reasonable spirit : which word person also the gramarians haue distinguished according to mens common conference , into notorious appellations . as when god speakes of himselfe , to signifie his inexplicable essence , he speakes in the first person singular , iehouah , i am that i am . i the lord thy god. when after deliberation , he vtters out his determination : then the whole godhead , with a cleere distinction of the personall functions , speaks according to mans capacity in the plurall number , let vs make man : that thereby we might note his deliberation before his determination , & then both of them made manifest by his omnipotent word . and forasmuch as a peron is nothing els but a body , or a spirit seuerally singled out by himselfe ; & forasmuch as euery thing in the godhead consisteth substantially by it selfe , without the helpe of any other , therefore are his seuerall properties or functions , to demonstrate the particular or personall orders and operations of gods will and being . in like sort , there be two kindes of persons : the person of his spirits essence , and the person of his spirits properties . the person or being of his essence is but one , the persons or subsistences of the properties be three distinct , euery one a spirit by himselfe , euery one a liuing god by himselfe , and yet all one spirit , one liuing god. the father , or the first speaker , is god by himselfe and of himselfe , and therefore the first being or person . the sonne or word is god by himselfe , and not of himselfe , but of the father or speaker onely , and therefore the second being . the holy ghost , or holy loue , is god by himselfe and not of himselfe , but ioyntly of the father and the sonne , and therefore the third being . there is no difference at all betweene the speaker , the word , and this loue , but onely in the reciprocall relation of one to another : for in respect of their being & beginning , which was coeternall before al worlds , before all times or termes of times , they are one essential , one equall , and one transcendent person . but in respect of order in their heawenly hierarchies , of their offices , operations , and effects , ordayned among themselues by their owne diuine decrees , and also in respect of the three records on earth , or sacramentall types and mysteries of water , the word , and the spirit , there are said to be three , the father , the sonne , and the holy ghost , which beare record in heauen : three persons distinguished really in respect of their personall properties , but indistinct essentially in respect of their perpetuall power . i say in respect of originall order , of christs mysticall marriage with the freckled or spotted spouse the militant church on earth , in respect of his office in mediating for sinfull men ; an office too meane for the sacred maiesty of god , and in respect of his humanity , that was crucified for the elect by gods promise euer since adams fall , or perhaps before his fall , lest the whole generation of mankind had beene vnder a iust anathema or excommunication , the sonne was and is inferiour to the father , and submitteth his will to the fathers will , as himselfe protested : not as i will , but as thou wilt , o father . and so the holy ghost is inferiour to them both , in regard of his humble function of vice-gerencie or deputation in comforting and instructing the sinfull sonnes of adam . these seuerall assignements of offices they appointed to themselues in their owne praedestinated wisedomes ; wherein though they all conspire , yet ( as i said before ) one of them hath the name of primate , in regard of order , but in regard of their eternity and omnipotence , none is greater or lesse then another . for this cause it is written , that the father created the world , the sonne redeemed it , and the holy ghost sanctifieth it : and yet they are but one in effect , in their ends one god , one omnipotent power communicating to three persons , to three properties , as one center to three lincs , all in all and three in all . as no man can come to the father , but by the sonne , so no man can come to the son , but by the holy ghost : for we are sanctified , because we are redeemed , and we are redeemed , because we are elected . pater eligit , filius diligit , spiritus sanctus coniungit , & vnit . the father electeth , the sonne loueth , and the holy ghost conioynes , cements , and vnites together . the father eternall in the consubstantiall word , the word in him , both in the coessentiall spirit , and the spirit in them both , doe all three co-operate , co-adiute , and worke according to their own counsell for the good of their creatures , for the honour of their heauenly hierarchy . the father begetteth in loue and iustice , the sonne begotten in loue and righteousnes , and the holy ghost proceeding from them both in loue and grace , doe mystically teach the inward man that sees with the spirituall eyes of faith , what care the godhead takes for the restoring and repayring of that breach and lapse , which the imbecility of mans brittle condition , together with sathans subtilty , caused vnto all posterities . and thus god manifesteth this three-fold distinction vnto vs , that his elect might apprehend the mysticall operation of their soules saluation , in the effects of his iustice , grace , and loue. againe , lest for all this i seeme obscure , i will exemplifie the vnited substance of the trinity more familiarly : yet with this prouiso ; that the words of zophar to iob may be read as a preamble : canst thou by searching finde out god ? or canst thou finde out the almighty to his perfection ? that surely were to scale the heauens , or build another babel . in a spirit there is neither part , diuersity , nor multiplication , but wheresoeuer the spirit is , there is the whole spirit ; as the soule of man is not part in the head , and part in the foote , but the same whole spirit , which is in the head , is vndiuided , entire , all and the same in the foote ; neuerthelesse it appeares more eminent in the head , by reason of the soules more notable operation there , mans head being the noblest obiect , the noblest organ of the body which the soule doth like . so in this spirituall substance of god , there is no part , diuersity , nor multiplication , but euery thing in god is god , and the whole and the same substance of his spirit : for where one of gods vertues are , there also himselfe and all his vertues are , as the influence of the sunne . but we commonly say , our father which art in heauen : not that he is altogether locally circumscribed there & secluded from all other places , but because it pleaseth his glorious maiesty , for the honour of his power , to impart his diuinity there most cleerely among his vndefiled and vnspotted creatures , which ( as like to like , pure to pure ) doe answere and satisfie the pleasure of their mercifull creator . so that god is in heauen , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , for the rarenesse and excellency of his operations , in that purest place . and surely god dealt like himselfe , like a gracious lord ▪ thus to communicate his soucraigne perfections to that choise place amidst his choysest creatures , restrayning the same from vs poorepilgrims , who for the brittlenesse of our e●rthly mould , being clothed but with dust and ashes , full of corruptions , could no more then phaeton or icarus stand iustified before his sunny presence . for when his heauenly highnesse vouchsafed to guide and goe before the israelites out of egypt , his magnanimous spirit , that could not brooke impurity , was moued to such impatience against their sinnes , that he was faine to withdraw his strong and powerfull presence from their weake complexions , lest , as himselfe said , he should consume them in the way . to returne and retire backe towards the entire essence of the trinity , i beleeue that gods properties , as i wrote before , cannot be diuided into parts , portions , or parcels : but that euery quality in god is god , and the whole substance of his spirit : and so the speaker in gods spirit , is gods spirit , of the whole substance . the word in gods spirit , is gods spirit of the whole substance . but herein is their difference , that the father is the speaker onely , as begetting the word : the sonne is the word onely , as the word begotten . and the holy ghost is holy only , as proceeding from the mutuall loue , and from the mutuall wils of the father , or the speaker begetting , and of the sonne or word begotten : so as the speaker in god is god , the word in god is god , and the holy loue in god is god. but yet the speaker is not the word , nor the word the speaker , if we regard the order and mysterie of their operatiue offices , though both be god : for the one is the father begetting , and the other , i meane , the word , is the sonne begotten . the propagatour or producer of sanctification or holy loue in god is loue , which loue is god. and loue produced in god , is loue , and is god ; but the producer of loue , is not loue produced , i say , the will of the father and the sonne , being the producer of loue , is not the loue proceeding or produced , that is , the holy ghost , though all be god in substance and power , but differing in the manner of their operation : for the father is loue onely , as transferring loue to the sonne ; the sonne is loue , as transferring loue to the father ; and the holy ghost loue onely , as it is transferred , produced , and proceeding from them both . thus the whole trinity according to the substance of loue , agree all together in one : for euery one of them partaking of one godhead , partakes also of the attributes thereof , of loue , of wisdome , and others ; onely they differ in the order and maner of their loues , or of their wisedomes productions . in like maner , the father is wisdome ontly , as begetting or producing wisedome ; the sonne is wisedome onely , as wisdome begotten or produced of the father ; and the holy ghost is wisedome , as it is produced from the ioint and mutuall will of the father and the sonne ; so that wisedome is not the father as it is wisedome , but as it is wisdome begetting or producing ; neyther is wisedome the sonne as it is wisedome , but as it is wisedome begotten and produced of the father ; nor is the holy ghost wisedome , as it is wisedome , but as it is wisedome produced or proceeding from the father and the sonne . whereby good christians may note the manner of the difference , how that loue producing , loue produced of the father , and loue produced both from the father and the sonne , be three distinct things . and so are wisedome begetting , wisedome begotten , and wisedome proceeding , three personall properties , distinct in the relation of one to another , though indistinct in respect of their essence and eternity . to wind vp this discourse in a word ; when i pray to the father , i pray with feare , fearing his iustice ; when i pray to the sonne i pray with hope , hoping for mercy ; when i pray to the holy ghost , i pray with admiration , admiring gods loue , in mitigating the seuerity of iustice , with the sweete streames of mercy towards the penitent sinner , through the spirituall apprehension of iesus christ crucified . this the pagan poets of elder ages ( like guilty conscienced caiphas ) were constrained to confes , when they painted out minerua , their goddesse of wisedome , begotten in iupiters braine , and when they fained also , that bellona , their war-like goddesse , was conceiued and begotten in a goddesse fist ; for indeede the origen and roote of mans wisedome ariseth vp at first out of the braine , and his strength out of his hand . both which serue for instrumentall agents , to display out those worthy vertues of strength and wisedome . marke well my words , muse vpon them , thou , that meanest to mortifie the outward man , and to be conuerted into the inward man , into a new christian soule . maruell not at this distinction of mine touching gods properties ; for i distinguish them not , but into persons onely for order sake , and that to the intent that thou mayest obserue his manifolde loue towards mankinde , whose reasonable capacity his sacred maiesty inuites by such a plaine distinction of personall functions , to the mysteries of our soules saluation , namely , to know our election by the father ; our redemption by the sonne ; and our sanctification equally breathed from them both in loue and wisedome by the holy ghost , who ingraues , as with a seale , these diuine mysteries in our conuerted consciences . and euen as these poets ( like apes ) glaunced at gods personall properties , by such allegoricall examples : so did they expresse their descending downe to men , in varieties of shapes , after the imitation of the scripture ; where it is said , that iacob wrastled with an angell , that abraham feasted three angels , vnder the habite of pilgrims , and that the holy ghost descended like a doue , at the baptizing of christ. sometimes those poets brought in their gods , disguised as men , to feast with philemon ; some other times as heyfers , swannes , and in a golden shower , as iupiter to danae ; so that this verse may wellbe his : non frustra dictus bos , ouis , imber , olor . courteous reader , here is in explicable admiration , but no admirable explication , nor yet any application worthy the least glimpse of his glorious name : for the least sillable of this word iehouah , imports a more miraculous mysterie then slesh and bloud can possibly perceiue . if his very name , which no man knowes but himself , containes such hidden wonders , exceeding all the anagrams , artes , and etymologies of the world ; much more mystically ought wee to conceiue of his vn-reuealed essence ; contenting our selues onely with the scriptures phrase : for a godly ignorance concerning such deepe matters , downe poyzeth a world of adams knowledge in good and euill . lineament iiii. the description of our sauiour christs incarnation . in what maner he tooke vpon him our infirmities . his terrible passion and death . his resurrection and ascension . that he alone is our mediator with the father . his comming to iudgement . from the vndistinct substance of this omnipotent godhead , ( as fire from fire without diminution or waste ) came the light of life , the reasonable word , which was euer with god before the beginning of the world , the image of the inuisible god , the first borne of all creatures , in whom all things consist , by whom and for whom god made all things , the bright sunne of our soules horizon , the giuer of counsell , the mighty god , the euerlasting father , the prince of peace , the diuine oracle , the paschall lambe , the womans seede , which must tread vpon the serpents head , our heauenly fathers ambassador to mortall men , the lion of the tribe of iuda , iacobs shiloh , which must gather the people to gether , the repayrer of that breach , which was made by adams fall , betwixt the angels and mankinde , the prophet whom god promised to raise vp like vnto moyses , the angell of the great counsell , the roote of lesse , which shall stand vp for a signe to the people , and the nations shall seeke vnto it : the life of the liuing , the death of death : the head corner stone which the foolish builders reiected , the brazen serpent , which the lord commaunded to be set vp , as a signe to them that were slung with fiery serpents in the wildernesse , for their recouery : the stone hewed out of the mountaine without hands , which breake in peeces nabuchodonozors glorious image , representing the monarchies of this world . the virgins sonne emanuell , of whom esay foretold king ahaz . this lightsome word or lord of peace , to fulfill his fathers predestinate counsell for the restitution of mankind , which fell from the state of innocency , to the intent that the sauage wolfe might co-habitate and conuerse together with the silly lambe , vnder the same roofe of rest , that the parents hearts might be reconciled towards their children , and the children towards their parents , that the stony flinty heart might be taken away , and the tender fleshie heart restored to the second adam ; that the different and disproportioned tuncs or thoughts of our mindes , moulded after the diuers and different motions of the planets at our nat●uities , might at length , after the manifold crosles of this world , agree in one , in the vnity or vniforme harmony of the spirit : to this end , i say , this prince of peace , or peaceable abel , the onely wisedome of all diuine creatures , descended downe from his fathers bosome , and was made flesh ( by the al-quickning breath of gods owne essence , co-operating in the virgin maries wombe , the second eue , but refined and regenerated ) at bethlehem , the citie of dauid , a poore citie of iewry , in a vile beggarly stable , where he suck't the dugges , that rul'd the starres , suxit vbera , qui rexit sidera ; about that very time , when all the world was chalked , or rather charmed in the circle of peace , by vertue of augustus caesars soueraignty ; in token whereof the romanes did shut ianus his double porch , iani tanuam , ( from whence the moneth ianuary is denominated ) which lay open before in time of open or ciuill warre . while he liued on earth ( which , as some write , was three and thirty yeares ) he laboured ( like a woman with childe ) with our infirmities , but after a diuine maner . he was ambitious : but how ? ambitious onely to aspire vp into the theater of the crosse. he was affected with concupiscence : but with what concupiscence ? not with sinfull , but with celestiall concupiscence . he was affected , but not infected ; for he onely longed and lusted after mans saluation . o ierusalem , how willingly would hee haue gathered together thy strayed young ones , euen like a carefull henne , hadst thou repented ! hee was angry : but how ? not to reuenge ; for he requites good for euill , and prayes for his very foes : onely hee was angry without sinne for zeale sake , ad detestationem peccati , non ad vindictam . he was enuious ; but in what sort ? not ex vitiata natura , of corrupt nature , but for conscience sake , that the diuels kingdome became daily augmented . he was ignorant of some things ; for he knew not of the day of doome : but his ignorance was simple and not sinfull ; harmelesse and not erronious , in desiring curiously to know those secrets , which did not befit the sonne of man to know . he was troubled with feare in his agony : but with what kinde of feare ? not with feare of death satisfactory , to repaire that breach betwixt the angels and vs ; but with naturall feare , which impaires the animal faculties , according to the nature of mans sensitiue appetite , which trembles at the sense of terrible torments . in this maner did he take vpon him our infirmities , not by way of inherent spotting , but by way of necessary influence , like vnto that prince of starres , which pierceth and passeth into impure obiects , and yet himselfe is not subiect vnto impurities . besides these burthensome infirmities of ours , which he tooke vpon him in his loue and charity towards the sonnes of adam , let vs reuiew his painfull passion . amidst the bryers and brambles of sorrowes , he shewed himselfe as the rose of patience , he shined as a lightning cynosure among the thankelesse sayling iewes . he carried our sorrowes , sorrowes without number , which our humane natures could neuer beare . he suffered intolerable flouts , intolerable torments , intolerable death , beyond all the degrees of comparison ; dura verba , duriora verbera , durissima fata . no torments were like his torments , for hee suffered for all our sinnes . whereunto i might adde the tendernesse , softnesse , and delicatenesse of his body ; which being materially formed onely of a pure virgins nature , without coniunction of the male substance , could not but feele such tortures more grieuously and gripingly then any other . what shall i speake of other sensible motiues , of his agonies , the treachery of iudas , whose feete he disdained not to wash but a little before , the iewes ingratitude , and aboue all , his fathers anger in iustice heaped vpon him for our misdeedes , thoughts , and vaine wordes ? and because it was requisite , that god in his iustice should punish sinne in man , which man committed ; therefore the word of god , our mercifull messias , tooke on him mans shape ( euen as man in paradise was shapt after his spirituall nature ) to suffer for man what was due for mans transgression , euen vile pouerty , conflicts with the world , temptations of the deuill , feruent wrastling with sinne , bloudy sweates and agonies , opprobrious vsages by the deuils procurement , a drench of bitter gall , opposite to that fatall iuyce of adams apple , woundes in his side to the effusion of bloud and water , the mysticall seales of his last will to the church , the one prefiguring baptisme , the other the communion , both to bathe our sinnes ; sorrows of death , a second death , hellish torments both in body and soule , an eclipse of the deity from his sunny soule . all these in humane paines ( wherein the whole wrath of god , due to the sinne of man , was for a while included ) did our sauiour christ in this world , before he gaue vp the ghost , accomplish and consummate . and thus god to saue the sonnes of god , like a louing sheepheard in the behalfe of his sheepe , or like that zealous law-giuer , which drew out one of his owne eyes , instead of one of his sonnes eyes , who by the law was condemned to that kinde of punishment for his adultery ; i say , thus god , voluntarily to sustaine and support the man-hood ( which of it selfe was altogether impotent ) for the vanquishing of death , and for our redemption , became man , and was put to shamefull death vnder pontius pilate , president of iury for tiberius caesar the romane emperour : according to that prophesie : after threescore and two weekes shall messias be slaine , yet not for himselfe . and as another recorded . iesus shall be openly declared within . yeares ; and after the same yeares shall my sonne christ die , and all men that haue life . he died for a while , that he in vs , and we in him might liue for euer . he died , or rather , as an ancient father testifieth , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . he became a sacrifice for all sinners , that were willing by repentance to reforme themselues . and , as the prophet foretold of him , he was wounded for our infirmities , and his soule was made an offering for sinne , for our sinnes , whose burthen hee bare vpon his diuine shoulders , which neither sampson , golias , atlas , hercules , milo cr●toniates , nor all the strong-back't porters of the world , were all their forces conioyned together , could euer beare . so insupportable are the sinnes of our humane natures . the third day ( as ionas out of the whales belly , or to speake poetically , as arion in the deepe seas on the dolphms backe ) hee rose vp inuested with his immaculate soule by his appeased father , who ( as dauid prophesied ) would not leaue his soule in the graue , nor suffer his holy one to see corruption . and againe in another place , he would , like a louing shepheard , feede him in a greene pasture , and lead him forth besides to the waters of comfort , yea , though he walked through the valley of the shadow of death . he died as a lambe , but rose as a lyon. heauinesse endured for a night , but ioy came in the morning . in the morning he rose ; he rose as the morning sunne , that like a bridegroome marcheth out of his chamber . he rose to runne a gallant race , as a giant refresht with wine . he that but a little before , as an abiect among men , was crowned with a crowne of thornes in a ridiculous manner , rose vp in triumph the third day , crowned with a glorious garland , to raigne for euer aboue all the angels in heauen . and after that hee had conuersed with his disciples forty dayes here on earth , and shewed himselfe to more then fiue hundred brethren at once , making his resurrection manifest by many signes and tokens , and palpably opening himselfe vnto them , and particularly vnto thomas didymus , whom in the rest of the apostles presence , he caused to put his hands into his sides , that thereby he might confute his incredulity : hee then ascended vp to heauen in their sight , where he sits in his humanity , preferred at the right hand of god , hauing all power giuen him of the father ouer all things , farre aboue all rule , power , might , and dominion , and aboue euery name that is named , not onely in this world , but also in the world to come , as thousand thousands of angels and saints proclaymed with a loud voyce in heauen . worthy is the lambe that was killed to receiue power , riches , wisdome ▪ strength , honour , glory , and praise . without the intercession of this reuiued and rightly respected lambe , the iust god-head will not accept the prayers of flesh and bloud , be they neuer so humble , neuer so vrgent . on this mysticall lambe , on this sacred flaming serpent , fixe wee our internall eyes , fixe wee our thoughts , that are so stung by the sinfull serpent , and our god is pleased . as contrariwise , he is displeased , if we craue the assistance of any other saint , or angell , power , or principality . there is no health to man , saue onely by thy meanes and mediation , lord iesus ; that boughtest the same ful dearely with thy blood innocently shed . there is but one god , and one mediatour , as thy chosen vessell shewes . it is farre better to trust gods word , then the bonds of saints , who indeed are but creatures , and no creatours . they are gods members , the spirituall citie and temple , wherein his workes of mercy shine , but they are not the builders of this citie or temple , to whom diuine honour is onely due . who can preuaile more with the father then the sonne ? who with the sonne , then a penitent soule , whose conuersion the whole quire of heauens inhabitants doe likewise most ioyfully applaude ? o man , how deepely art thou indebted vnto thy creator , which for thy deliuerance out of the dark dungeon of death and errours , hath appointed this great angell , to be thy redeemer , mediatour , and soueraigne iudge ? we should blaspemously detract from thine omniscience , o lord omnipotent , if we retained any other attourney , any other aduocate , besides thy soueraigne maiesty . or if we were so credulous , as to vse any such mediation , farre be it from their submissiue thoughts , to vsurpe thy puissant place ; which alone hast the fathers key of fauourable grace , the same to open or to shut at thy soueraigne pleasure . diuine honour belongeth only vnto thee , which thy seruant peter well acknowledged , when as he would not suffer cornelius the captaine to worship him ; but tooke him vp , saying , stand vp , my selfe am also a man. the like disswasion vsed thine angell to iohn : see thou doe it not , for i am thy fellow seruant , but worship god. thou art iealous of thine honor , and limitest thy creatures to their conuenient functions , for the glory of thy name . cultus & adoratio nulli creaturae concedi possunt , sine diuinitatis iniuria . worship and adoration cannot be graunted to any creature , without wrong to the godhead , as an auncient father testified . and as another learned doctor taught , maledictus omnis homo , qui spem habet in homine , quamuis sanctus sit , quamuis propheta . cursed is that man which putteth his trust in men , though they be saints , though they be prophets . is it not then a wrong , a blasphemous wrong , to the whole maiesty of the sacred trinity , for a man to distrust christs absolute soueraignty ouer all principalities , and his diuine knowledge ouer all the world ? and doe we not distrust these prerogatiues of his , when with a blinde zeale we deuoutly suc vnto inferiour persons , as though our sauiour were otherwise occupied , or that he loued state and pompe ? doe not we distrust , when we repeate ouer , as persius his parrots 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , often greetings to our lady , yea , millions of aue mariaes ? when we reade our ladies offices , our ladies psalter , or when we trauell in pilgrimage for her sake , & for satisfaction of our sinnes , to lorette , to guardalupe , or to montserrate ? no doubt , but that herein we distrust his diuinity , and detract first from the father , who sent his sonne in person among his vnthankefull tenants , raised him from death , and set him on his right hand , inspiring him with his omniscience , whereby he might know the very secrets of all hearts , and refresh them that were laden with the burthen of their crying sinnes . then , we detract from iesus christ , when we foolishly and phantastically despise his word , not onely refusing to beleeue in his crosse , to be saued through his merites alone , through his sauing name alone , ( for what else betokeneth the name of iesus , but an al-sufficient sauior ? o iesu esto mihi iesu ) but also hoping by the moone-shine in the water , by other mens deserts to obtaine remission . and lastly , we detract and wrong the holy ghost , when we compell him with his spirituall gifts to depart away sorrowfull from the mansion of our soules , being willing to performe and execute his office , in testifying and wittnessing to our consciences , our saluation through christs onely merites . let me doe good workes , let me ( like zaccheus ) giue halfe that i haue to the poore , let me fast , let me represse the perturbations of my minde , by taming my body with discipline , or with whipping ( as some papists doe , ) or by launcing and wounding of my flesh , after the example of baals priests : yet if i want faith and loue , faith to beleeue onely in christ , and loue to liue as a member of his mysticall body , reiecting all other helpes whatsoeuer ; i am an anathema , an accursed excommunicate out of his faithfull family . neuerthelesse , god forbid , that i should proue so ingratefull vnto the mother of my sauiour , that i should forbid honest-minded christians to yeelde her memory that reuerence and reuerend regard , which is not repugnant to the diuine maiesty , or offensiue to his iealous spirit . for i holde it a very laudable custome , that the monuments of her name , vertues , and conception , be preserued from obliuion and extinction , by an anniuersary or yearly renewing of them vpon those festiuall daies , as our church hath destinated for the celebration thereof . as i defie those which deifie her memory and person , in saying vnto her , o sauuoresse , sauue moy : o my sauiouresse , sane me : so i defie those which defie her memory and person . this the scripture warrants ; this my earthly soueraigne witnesseth and confirmeth in these wordes : she is as she prophesied of her selfe , that is , she is blessed among women , and all generations shall call her blessed . to steale more fire with prometheus from gods licutenant , i confesse , that i dare not mocke her , and blaspheme against god , in calling her , not only diua but dea , and praying her to command and controule her sonne , who is her god and her sauiour . in he auen she is in eternall glory and ioy , neuer to be interrupted with any worldly businesse . but to returne vnto mine owne opinion , whereto i will not binde others ( the same being no matter essential of faith ) i am of the minde , that the angels and saints of heauen , in the beholding of the godhead , do know many things here on earth , especially , the estate of their elected fellowes . for proofe whereof , we reade in the reuelation of st. iohn , that they glorified god for iudging the great whore : and as christ himselfe said , there is ioy in heauen among them at the conuersion of sinners . ( so i daily see some mortall men from these westerne parts of the world , extending their knowledge to the proprieties of sundry minerals enwombed within the center of the earth , to both the poles , to the equinoctiall line , to the tropique of capricorne , to the east , to the indies : to the superiour bodies , to their constellations , to prophesie of eclipses , and to ayme at mens silent imaginations , and at their secret inclinations . ) yea , and the saints doe pray for our repentance , though we cannot pray to them , without detraction and blasphemy against iesus christ , who is the sole and onely master of gods court of requests . therefore let it suffice , that i honour their memory , as the chiefe elders and pillars of our christian corporation , as men inspired of the holy ghost for our edification in our redeemer ; but in no wise will i pray vnto them , for feare of that iealous eare , which heareth euery word . they neuer died for the heauy burthen of my cole-blacke sins , ( themselues being adams sonnes , as well as i : ) but thou , o christ , thou , and none but thou alone , didst die for me . no man can come to the father but by the sonne : for none but thou alone , o sonne of god , could conquere death . besides thy selfe , o mighty conquerer , i trust to find none other helper . to other helpers i may hopelesse say with that holy man ; silly comforters are yee all . thy godhead is neuer asleepe , neuer so cumbred with businesse , but thy grace will bee ready at all times , day or night , to receiue a chauncery bill from thy reformed creature . this liuely faith thy seruant chrysostome commended in the woman of canaan : see ( saith he ) the wisdome of this woman : she requesteth not iames , she goeth not to iohn she beseecheth not peter , she respecteth not the whole company of the apostles , she seeketh no mediatour ; but in stead of all these she takes patience for her companion , whom she chuseth to be her aduocate , and so she commeth directly to the first fountaine . to conclude this chapter or line of my circle , hereafter in the fulnesse of time , i know that thou wilt surely descend in the cloudes , o humane god , with terrible maiesty , accompanied with multitudes of angels , to seuer the tares from the good seede , the reprobate from the elect , the dead in faith from the quicke in faith , and from those which thou shalt find liuing at thy comming : at which time the triumphes trumpet shall sound , and in the twinckling of an eye all men shall rise vp with eternall bodies , bodies without maime , without deformity , without difficulty ( which before were resolued from dust into the first elements , now new like verdant trees , reuiued bees , or like the phoenix that flourisheth out of his owne ashes ) and euery one shall receiue doome according to his own merites , in the mercy of christ , without partiality ; and that out of his mouth , who is a perfect man himselfe ; i say , according to his owne merites , not as merites , the authours of his happinesse , non vt regnandi aut mercedis causam sed vt viam regni , retributionis regulam , not as the proper causes of saluation , but analogically , as the way to heauen , as iacobs ladder , as the ensigne or euidence of faith . this vncorrupt iudge will pronounce sentence of damnation against stubborne sinners ; and their punishment shall bee in hell , which hath varieties of torments ( euen as heauen hath many mansions of delights ) all of them aboue mans strength , aboue mans patience to endure . there , is the stinging worme , that neuer goeth out , vnquenchable fire , fearefull sights , and the absence of gods glory ; where the rich glutton sought but a droppe of colde water , and could not obtaine it for the cooling of his scorched tongue : ( and yet poore caytife ) nolens volens he must eternally endure more grieuous paines , more griping paines , then phalaris his brasen bull . o eternall time , without terme or space of time . o eternal time , shal i terme thee ? which caust neuer be mesured , neuer circumscribed , neuer comprehended by the vnderstanding of mortal man. o eternall time , which after many millions of yeares , after an hundred thousand thousand years , will be to the damned soule but the beginning of his damnation . o what a terrible torment it is for a man to imagine , that he shall burne in the bottomles pit of fire and brimstone so huge a time , without end , without defect , without hope of redemption . o eternall time without end , whose finall terme we can assoone conceiue , as the time before the worlds creation , as the beginning of gods being . o lord graunt vs the grace to thinke on hel-torments lest we fall into hel torments . on the contrary , if we conforme our liues according to our masters life , endeauouring not onely by fight , but also by flight to auoyde the contagion of sinfull nature , in steade of our ragged coate of corruptions , we shall be clothed in the robes of angels , in long white robes , standing before the lambes throne , in the heauenly paradise ; where we shal shine in the same crown of dignities , where we shall sing sweet tuned songs , and salute one another in the same priuiledge of immortalitie . thus will this triumphant iudge reward the righteous with the presence of gods glory , with glorious happinesse , with happy ioyes , and with a ioyfull perpetuity thereof for euer and euer , world without end . all these vnspeakeable hopes will he fulfill at his comming ; which as yet the father in his prouidence prolongs , vntill the iust number of them which were sealed and predestinated to euerlasting life be complete , vntill his foes be made his foot-stoole , and vntill he hath subdued quite and trodden vnder foote the diuell and his rebellious angels , whose poysonous power , euer since the first mans fall , possessed the soule of man , by mans owne willing election . when all things shall be subdued vnto him , then shall the sonne himselfe be subiect to his father , who did put all things vnder him , that god may be all in al ▪ neither doe i confound the vndiuisible substance of the deity , or the subsistence of the person , though it seems diuided to the outward man : for i confesse the vnity and identity in our messias : euen as the reasonable soule and flesh is one man ; so god and man is one christ , by the vnity and vertue of the holy ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . all honour , laud , and glory be ascribed vnto thee , o father of prouidence , which hast made vs meete to be partakers of this heauenly vision ; by whose power our sinfull soules in the blood of his crosse are regenerate and reconciled vnto thee . lineament v. the description of the holy ghost . how the catholike church was preserued from vtter ruine in time of poperie . that the misprision and contempt of the holy ghost , wrought the ruine , first of the easterne church , and then of the westerne . why this third person in trinity is peculiarly termed holy. the manner to discerne them that be possessed with the holy ghost , and why s. paul in his epistles salutes men in the name of the father , and the sonne , omitting the holy ghost . what it is to sinne against the holy ghost . the authours supplication to the trinity for his presumptuous discourse . ovt of the incomprehensible deity likewise issued the spirit of spirits , the third person in trinity , our holy iehouah , as the meane of the other two diuine persons , namely , of iehouah vnbegotten , and of iehouah begotten : i say , the meane of the vnbegotten and begotten in respect of the elect produced , propagated , or rather proceeding from both their wils ; the oyle of gladnesse , the fiery comforter , the messenger of zeale , the schoole-master of true loue , the miraculous power of god , the finger of god , which wrought miracles , and plagued the egyptians , the treasurer of sundry pretions iewels , as of prophesie , faith , charity , diuersities of tongues , and other diuine gifts , the water of life , the wel of water , springing vp vnto euerlasting life : the mysticall seale of loue betwixt the father and the sonne ; or to speake more naturally , the sacramentall influence of both their actions , immanent and transient . euen as it pleased god at whitsuntide , about seuen weekes after easter , and after the redemption of the israelites from the bondage of egypt , to giue them the law of the tenne commandements at mount sinai , and that not priuately , but publiquely before all the congregation ; so it pleased his diuine maiesty at whitsuntide , about seuen weekes after easter , being the time of our redemption from the bondage of hel , to inspire his elect with his holy spirit openly , before many witnesses of parthians , medes , elamites , and men of diuers nations , as it is written , suddenly there came a sound from heauen , as of a rushing and a mighty winde , and it filled all the house where they sate . there appeared vnto them clouen tongues like fire , and it sate vpon each of them . and they were all filled with the holy ghost , and began to speake with other tongues , as the spirit gaue them vtterance . but here is the difference worthy of obseruation , that euen as there on mount sinay , iehouah the sonne descended downe to the israelites with fearefull thunder and lightning , to signifie thereby the wrath of god the father , for the breach of his lawes : so here iehouah the holy ghost descends ( as the angell of christ ) not in fire of fury , but in fire of loue and zeale ; not with the loud voyce of a trumpet , but with the sound of winde , making a peaceable and still noise , because the gospell comforts the deiected man. this is that spirituall angell , which inspires the angels of heauen to honour their creator , which breathes into them the knowledge of all goodnesse , which sanctified the virgins wombe , which reuealed to the prophets mysteries , and things to come . this holy spirit regenerates the inward man , quickeneth our dull mindes , ( like as the sunne with his vegetatiue heat nourisheth the barrennest earth ) and insinuates himselfe into the zealous professours of the gospell effectually , mystically , and miraculously . this is that spirit of god , which moued at the creation of the world vpon the face of the waters . this is that spirit of sanctification , which descended down from heauen in the likenesse of a done , and sate vpon our sauiour christ. this is that spirituall light , whose vniuersall presence is neuer absent from the lordes spouse , the catholicke church : euen as hitherunto euer since the ascension of our sauiour , his pure power hath vouchsafed to preserue her from vtter damnation in some countrey or other . when idolatry ouer-swayed these westerne parts of the world , doubtlesse the lord had his spouse eyther in moscouia , greece , armenia , aethiopia , or some other region : and perhaps in one or two housholds , as heretofore fell out in adams , noahs , and abrahams time . this the apostle in the apocalyps manifesteth , when as he prophesied , that she should flie into a wildernesse , and soiourne therefor feare of the dragon , or antichristian deceite ; while faith was departed , and gods two testimonies lay dead and despised . o yee that go vnder the naked name of catholikes , marke how well the concordance of these three places propheticall answeres your stentorean vociferation , on priestly succession . it is dangerous to measure illumination , or any other mentall gift of the holy ghost , according to mistaking times , or mens traditions : for the gold-smith that softneth , hardneth , and tempeteth the mettall at his owne free and secret pleasure , may cause his old iewels to be newly in request , and distributed againe , as it were by degrees , or nurses milke by little and little , for our reconciliation to the lord of life , the lambe that leades to the liuing fountaines of waters , or to these royall magazins and shops of the spirit . euen as this spirit speakes in the hearts of true gospellers , without any noyse of wordes , and moueth them oestro miraculoso ; so the misprision of this al-quickning spirit , made our forefathers subiect to schismes , heresies , and superstition ; and wrought the ruine of the easterne church , their chiefe imperiall citie of constantinople ( as it is said ) being taken on a whitsunday , our festiuall time of the holy ghost . and at this day , if we strictly examine our consciences , we shall finde the originall fountaine of all our errours , detractions , defamations , and other infinite pollutions , to arise from our hardnesse of hearts , in not glorifying our most glorious god , and seeking after this spirit of consolation , who is the third person in trinity . as our sauior christ said to his disciples , go and teach alnations , baptizing them in the name of the father , the sonne , and of the holy ghost . and as the apostles taught , there are three which beare record in heauen , the father , the word and the holy ghost , and these three are one . but why is the third person in trinity peculiarly termed the holy spirit ? is not the father holy , and the son holy ? god forbid that i should hold the contrary . the father is a holy spirit , and the sonne a holy spirit ; yet notwithstanding , because holinesse or sanctification towards mankinde proceedes from loue , which loue is sent or produced from their mutuall will ; from the father by election in loue , and from the sonne by his word and redemption in loue , this holinesse , as a tertian or third influence , proceeding out of two diuine respects towards , the saluation of mankind , is rightly attributed to the third person in trinity , as to the ambassadour of both their willes : so that the whole trinity partakes of the same . holines , of the same loue , of the same will , of the same spirit , of the same godhead , of the same vnity ; as s. paul very manifestly expresseth in these wordes : endeuourye to keepe the vnity of the spirit , in the bond of peace ; one body and one spirit , euen as ye are called all in one hope of your calling ; one lord , one faith , one baptisme ; one god and father of all , which is aboue all , and through all , and in you all . so that whatsoeuer name or power is ascribed to anyone peculiar person of the trinity , the same is meant of the whole trinity . the father is called the spirit of god , the sonne the spirit of god , and the holy ghost the spirit of god : yea , the father is the spirit of him ( of whom s. paul speakes ) that raised vp iesus from the dead ; the sonne is that spirit that raised himselfe , and the holy ghost the same spirit . the sonne is the father , and the holy ghost is in the father : the sonne is the euerlasting father . this the prophet witnesseth , when as hee names christ , the mighty god , and euerlasting father . but when they are seuerally named or distinguished into persons , that sense or morall is to be vnderstood parable-wise , as including the mysteries of our saluation , which our humane capacities cannot otherwise rightly apprehend . for euen as a prince in his prudence , loue , an i wisedome ; and for the more honorable establishment of his monarchy or kingdome , authorizeth his sonne , and some other as his chancelour , to impart his lawes vnto his subiects , and to gouerne them in order , whereby their power becommeth equall ; so let vs conceiue , that the glorious trinity is but one diuine and essentiall power , all alike , all equall , and of one authority ; onely for the glory of the godhead , and for the mysterie of our redemption , the trinity is really distinguished to the view of the inward man , whose wil is stirred vp to meditate vpon the personall relation of their functions and offices , which they deriue one to another . but how shall we discerne who is possessed with the holy ghost ▪ to be possessed with the holy ghost , is as much to s●y , as to be possessed with the giftes of the holy ghost , namely , with saith , humility , and other diuine gifts . of these his gifts some are visible , some in●isible , some abundant some restrained . with the former the apostles and prophets were miraculously inspired ; with the latter all we , who according to our christian profession , doe protest to fight in this life against the world , the flesh and the deuill doe hope to be possessed through grace , according to the measure of christs gift . the branch that drawes not iuyce and life out of this spirituall vine , is adiudged dead : for what amity can there be betwixt light and darkenesse , betwixt life and death ? the chiefest gift of the holy ghost is saith ; which is a spirituall light , enlightning our liues with the gospell , & with the beames of good workes , causing vs to loue all men after his owne example , who communicates his sunne to the iust and vniust . and if we may lawfully boast of any gifts of the holy ghost , ingraffed by his powerfull maiesty in our hearts , then surely may wee glory of our illummation , wherwith we are enlightned vndeseruedly in these daies . neither is it possible for vs in these dayes to obtaine a more visible measure of spirituall gifts , by reason that our mindes are captiuated vnto coueteousnesse , enuie , and other vncleane thoughts , by reason that our bodies are pampered with gluttony , drunkennesse , eating and drinking without appetite or necessity : and by reason that we dare not , in respect of these pollutions , and of our vnworthinesse , communicate one with another the lords holy supper but very seldome ; whereby the gifts of the holy ghost might be multiplied and increased in vs. as long as we are carnal and worldly minded , our soules are farre from these gifts of the spirit , which the apostle likewise calles the fruits of the spirit , as loue , ioy , peace , long suffering , gentlenesse goodnesse , faith , meekenesse , and temperance . they that are christs , doe endeuour to follow his fathers will. and what is the will of the father ? euen our sanctification and vnion in the spirit . for euen as the carnall coniunction of man and wife makes of them one flesh ; so the spirituall coniunction of christ and the sanctified soule makes of them one spirit , so they that are vnited in the spirit , are vnited in their willes ; and they that are vnited in their willes , are vnited in their actions . they that follow christs actions , doe labour in all humility , to attaine vnto these gifts of the holy ghost . but first , they must tame their bodies with fasting . and here i giue you one note worthy the consideration , that whereas s. paul in all his epistles makes often mention ▪ and sendeth often salutations in the name of the father , and of the sonne , not ioyning the holy ghost in plaine litterall wordes with them , he doth it , because it was the holy ghost himselfe that spake through the mouth of paul in those epistles . and whatsoeuer he wrote , he wrote by commandement and inspiration of the holy ghost , whose office and function was to signifie vnto the church the will of the other two persons in trinity . so that the naming of the holy ghost was needlesse , while the elect vnderstand , that it was he which spake , and that paul was no other then as moyses to god , or as baruch to ieremy , that is , the notary or scribe of the spirit ; and as it is else-where specified , a chosen vessell . this himselfe protested in these words ; if any man thinke himselfe a prophet or spirituall let him know , that the things which i write vnto you are the commandements of the lord. there is no sinne more detestable , nor more difficult to be forgiuen , then the sinne against this spirit of god. dost thou wantonly detract from god the father , and denie thine owne and the worlds creation by his omnipotent word ? search the scriptures , repeale thy detractions , and vpon thy recantation thou shalt receiue remission . dost thou blaspheme the sonne of the euer-liuing god , and belie his incarnation , his passion , his resurrection ? reade ouer the new testament , remember to compare the same in an euen ballance , with the prophesies of esay , and the rest of the lords holy legates , and it may be , thine eyes will be opened , and thou wilt renounce thine errours by the bright light of the holy spirit . but , silly soule , what wilt thou doe , if this glorious spirit comes not neere thee ? where then wilt thou expect forgiuenesse of thy blaspemies ? nay , how caust thou expect , or aske forgiuenesse , seeing that without his operation the fruites of repentance can no more spring in thy faithlesse heart , then the apples of paradise could fall into the hands of tantalus in hell ? all other sinnes are pardonable , and therefore termed debts or trespasses : onely this sinne against the holy ghost is treason in the highest degree , against the whole godhead his crowne and dignity , by reason that his personall subsistence was produced both from the father and the sonne , and propagated vnto vs euen from our baptisme ; so that to sinne against his authoritie , is to sinne against the whole maiesty of the sacred trinity , and against our owne soules , being created by the father , redeemed by the sonne , and sanctified by the holy ghost . chiefly , those reprobates are guilty of this vnpardonable sinne , which sometimes hauing had great feeling , great vnderstanding of the word of god ( and perhaps especiall inspiration of the holy ghost , as ananias and saphira had ) if such persons afterwards without neede do fall into malitious apostasies , causelesse hypocrisies , and contumacious blasphemies against the sanctified church of christ in their words , works , & thoughts , ending also their liues without repentance , doubtlesse they incurre the penalty of this irremissible sinne for this their spirituall fornication . but to discerne who they be particularly that offend in this height of sinne , in my iudgement very few or none can vndertake that charge in these dayes , because we haue not that gift of the holy ghost , namely , of discerning spirits , as apparantly as the apostles had . to conclude these excellent exorcismes against the spitefull spirit of detraction , o ●riumphant trinity ▪ distinguished really , and indistinct essentially , not into three gods ( as that holy martyr protested ) nor into three incarnated ▪ but into three of the same degree , of the same honour , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , whose powerfull maiesty vnited and identified in one eternall deity , the celestial spirits loue to contemplate , and we earthly pilgrims long to see , here i your vnworthy seruant , prostrating my soule in all humility , doe craue remission in the dust and ashes for my simple speaking of your intellectuall substance . o god of endlesse bounty , direct my vnskilfull pen , that it stray not too much from the rule of verity , nor lay down any thing but with reuerend shame of my blinde and bluntish ignorance , concerning thy heauenly vertues , thy blessed guarde , and holy hoste ; let them which reade this treatise , beare nothing in their hearts away , saue that , which is conformable to the square of wholsome doctrine . inflame my spirit with true zeale , the true seale of thy sacred spirit , that it may soare vp like an eagle , to the sunne of thy grace , with feruencie founded on diuine discretion ; for feruency is but foolish fury without diuine discretion . lineament vi. their heresies conuicted which detract from the seruice of god , because they see him not with their corporall eyes . the knowledge of god proued by an instance of our carthly king , who is knowne throughout great britaine of all his subiects , though not of all wito corporall sight . the excellency of his spirit aboue the rest of his subiects . meanes to know god. why mortall men cannot see god ? many of vs detract from the seruice of god , because his maiesty is not so familiar , as to speake vnto vs visibly , at conuenient seasons ; as though so high a maiesty should debase himselfe with euery sinfull creature . it is reported , that the king of china will not be seene abroad among his ordinary subiects aboue once a yeare . and yet we wanton worldlings would limit our great creator to sight and daily conference . god is a spirit , not bound to any bodily organ , but ( to compare his greatnesse after flesh and bloud ) euen as mans soule when it is separated from his body : his power is infinite , immensiue , incomprehensible , and no more to be seene , or sensibly vnderstood of flesh and blood , then if a man should measure the waters in his fist , or the heauens with his span , or if he should weigh the mountaines in a ballance . all people are in comparison of him , but as a drop of a bucket-full , or as grashoppers , or as nothing , or as nothing lesse then nothing . no earthly man can erect a statue , or a carued image according to his likenesse . no gold-smith can couer him with golde , or cast him into a forme of siluer plates . o lord , who is like vnto thee ? no man can enter into thy counsell , no man can finde out thy secrets , or attaine vnto this perfection . thou art higher then heauen , deeper then hell , the measure of thee is longer then the earth , and broader then the sea . though thou turne all things vp side downe , closest them in , and gatherest them together , who will turne thee from thy purpose ? worldly sight is one thing , and diuine knowledge another thing . the one is subiect to insumities and errours ; the other is insallible , certaine , and can neuer saile , cyther with olde age , wounds , or false specta cles . the one is the instrumentall light of the body , to guide a man in his worldly busines : the other ( i meane ) mentall knowledge , is the euerlasting lampe of the soule . this latter i pray god instill into vs. as for the other , it cannot absolutely be termed perfect , before it be first sowne in winters corruption , and before ( like ripe corne , growne with full and glorious eares ) it rise vp glorified in the summer of immortality at which time , both lights and sights , externall and internall , being by the diuine bounty become eternal , we shall both see and know aright in all perfection , almost euen as god himselfe seeeth and knoweth vs at this present . quid est quod non videant qui vident●m omnia vident ? what thing shall they not see and know , which alwayes see and know the authour of all sight and knowledge ? in the time of their visitation they shall shine , they shall shine as amiable as the sunne , more admirably glorious then moyses , who was faine to put a vaile before his face , by reason of his ouerbrightsome beauty , though he saw god but for a moment , and that imperfectly : for all light proceedes from him . in his light we shall see light . but ( quoth the spirit of detraction ) how can we know him whom we neuer saw ? o vaine spirit , if thou knowest his lawes , and fulfillest them , thou knowest god. as for example , let me instant in our earthly king : for mine owne part i neuer spake with . king iames , nor euer saw his face ; yet notwithstanding i verily belecue ▪ that i doe know him : i know him to be our king by publique proclamation , by his decrees , by the vnifom●e consent of all his subiects . my conscience perswades me , that he is the diuinest and deuoutest prince , that euer swayed the diademe of this monarchy , and aboue all the rest of his kingdome that he is possessed with the gifts of the holy ghost . the reasons that thus moue me to conceiue so wonderfully of his worth , are these : first , the obseruation of his life vnblemished by generall report , and free from suspicion of vnseemely actes . then , the consideration of his faith , wisedome , and milde spirit , made vulgarly manifest by his learned bookes and speeches in the parliament house , whereof some are extant in print , settles my knowledge of his excellency of spirit : vt i●rem cala●●o fulgur inesse suo . that i would sweare his pen did lightning flash . to these i adde his miraculous preseruation continually from his cradle ( he being the onely childe of his parents ) in such tumultuous times , vntill this golden time of the gospell . and , to omit many garboiles of ciuill incendiaries for the subuersion of his life and state , i will onely content my meditation at this time with the consideration of two principall treasons , inuented by sathan , against his annointed person . the former earle gowry entended to effect . the latter the papists purposed to perfect . in the former god suffered sathan to lead him for a moment into his castle of calamity ; but presently he sent his angell to deliuer him , as peter out of herods prison . in the latter god suffered sathan to plot , plant , and place his ordinance in order , for the vtter suppressing and supplanting of his whole estate , but suddenly the worlds great watchman confounded his boutefeux , as the builders of babeil . in both i obserue , that the diuine maiesty respects this innocent prince , & in his loue vnto him vnexpectedly rips vp the very bowels of treason , euen when sathan assures himselfe of his fatall haruest , and is ready to reape his hemlockes almost ripe : then god prepares a feruent east winde in one night to destroy his poysonfull weedes , like vnto ionas his gourd . o mighty god , who can prie into the treasury of thy counsels ? what man purposeth thou disposest . thou reuealest the deepe and secret things . thou knowest the thing that lieth in darkenesse : for the light dwelleth with thee . we thanke thee , we praise thee . o thou god of our fathers , that hast giuen our king wisdome and strength , and hast shewed him the thing that he desired of thee . thou hast declared his matter vnto him . when his wisest counsel ors missed to expound tressams intricate letter , more intricate then sphynx his riddle , the holy ghost lent the king himselfe the key of knowledge , the key on which millions of liues depended , wherewith he vnlockt the memorable morall of the aenigmaticall letter , memorable indeed vnto all posterities . all which circumstances doe certainely argue the profoundnesse of his capacity , and assuredly ascertaine my soule , that the faculties of his soule are effectually inuested with some attributes of the deity , for the glory of god. after the like manner , let vs comprehend the knowledge of god , who is our spirituall king , and king of kings , ( for what signifieth this word god , but an omnipotent spirituall king , creator of all things ? ) and we shall spiritually attaine to his diuine knowledge , though we see him not with our bodily eyes . let vs grope after him and we shall finde him , for he is not farre from euery one of vs ; in him wee liue , wee moue , and haue our being . when we endeauour with all our hearts and humble soules , to keepe his commandements , we may boldly say that we do know him . when our mindes are sanctified through stedfast saith intentiuely on iesus christ , as the diseased israelites became healthfull with regarding the brasen serpent , we may assuredly affirme that we do know him . most happy are they which neuer saw christ , and yet beleeue in him . neyther doe we want other cuident meanes , and motiues to stirre vs vp to the knowledge of the godhead or spirituall power : first , naturall reason sheweth , that some glorious soule , full of perfection and power , created the world and the creatures thereof ( for they could neuer make themselues ) which the prophet dauid confessed in these wordes : the heauens declare the glory of god , and the firmament sheweth his handy worke . next , his church or faithfull congregation , of adam , abell , seth , henock noah , abraham , and others , transferred by successiue tradition his knowledge to their posterities . thirdly , his knowledge hath beene reuealed by the holy ghost to moyses , samuel , the prophets , and lastly by the messias himselfe , through apparitions , miracles , lawes , ceremonies , and temporall blessings . fourthly , to draw neerer vnto mans capacitie , which depends most vpon sensible obiects ; mention is made by moyses , how god caused him to stand in the caue of a rocke , and putting his hand vpon him he did shew him his hinder parts , not suffring him to see his face . whereby the secuced saduces collect the godhead to be corporall . but the naturall man perceiues not the things of the spirit of god. for by his hinder parts , a● the picture of his spirituall substance , is shadowed the glimpse of his glorious influence . by his hand , is figured his al-puissant power . by his face , the fulnesse of his sunny glory . and where eyes are ascribed vnto him , what other sense is meant , then his prouidence and knowledge ? thus god sometimes speakes naturally according to our naturall apprehension . in conclusion , let it suffice our curious braines , that god is a powerfull spirit , not to be felt palpably with mens hands , nor seene with mens eyes ( i speake not of christs glorified body being humane , which thomas dydimus felt after his refurrection ) by reason that the light of his spirit is too conspicuous , glorious , and ouer-bright for such weake , terrestriall , and brittle senses . neuerthelesse it pleased him to appeare vnto ezechael in the similitude of fire from his loynes downewards , and of brightnesse like vnto amber from his loynes vpwards . s. iohn in the iland of pathmos on the lords day rauished in spirit , saw one like the sonne of man , with his head and haires as white as woolor snow , with his eyes as flames of fire . his feete were like vnto fire brasse , burning in a fornace , and his voice as the sound of many waters . his face shone as bright as the sunne in his strength . whereby we may gather , that god is a spirit , not able to be seene of dust and ashes , vntill the same be better purified or purged from worldly concupiscence ( for flesh and bloud cannot enter into heauen ) and vntill our soules become refined and regenerated , not with purgatory flames , but with the spirit of god the fiery comfirter . this is the reason , that the elect of god doe stoutly maintaine , that his diuine maiesty being a spirit cannot rightly be worshipped but in spirite and minde , which in truth fals out most rightly , when the spirit through faith becomes eminent , and when the body through fasting lieth vanquished . lineament vii . the description of some of the good spirits , which attend on their creator in heauen . their offices . names . greatnesse . leauing aside dionysius areopagitaes nine orders of heauenly hierarchies , which he termes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as an ouer-curious work for our weake capacities , i will relate the differences of such good spirits , as wee finde registred in the word of god , to the entent that the spirit of detraction may tremble the more , when he hears their energie and efficacy expressed , their energie and efficacie which they possesse by the sight and light of the heauenly sunne . michael the archangell is the great prince which stands for the lords people . and , as st. iohn recordeth in his diuine mysteries , there was a battell in heauen : michael and his angels fought against the dragon , and his angels , whom they ouercame by the blood of the lambe , that is , by christs innocency . this michael ( as many suppose ) is no other then our sauiour christ. for euen as by the dragon , the arch-spirit of sinne is parable-wise included : so by this michael , the archangel of saluation might very well be figured . by michaels angels i vnderstand his glorious spirit , his oracles comprehended in the scripture , the intercessions of saints for our conuersions , zealous bookes published by many good men for our edification in christ , besides our faithfull hearts prepared to heauen by deuout prayers , and necessary mortifications of our lustfull bodies . by the dragon the serpent , or deuill i expound the contempt of the holy ghost , the deprauing of his precious gifts , the spirit of detraction , the spirit of enuie , the spirit of vncleanenesse , and other sinfull spirits repugnant to the pure spirit of god. for ( as s. paul confirmes the selfe same ) because they regarded not god , therefore god deliuered them vp into a reprobate minde , to doe those things which are not conuenient being full of all vnrighteousnesse , fornication , coueteousnesse , malitiousnesse , full of enuie , &c. in some places angels are termed the starres of god : for euen as starres doe shew the light of heauen vnto vs , shining onely to our outward sight ; so angels signifie to the inward man , the heauenly light of the sun-shine of grace . where mention is made of the seraphins , we may coniecture , that for our weakenesse in nature and easie instruction , they appeared with wings to the prophet , crying one to another , holy , holy , holy , the lord of hostes ; the whole world is full of his glory ; as a prefiguratiue reuelatition , that the word of god , the gospell of christ should flie ouer all the world , and fill the same with his glorious power . in like manner , their description with wings portends their cele●ity , and swift readinesse to succour vs in extremity . another prophet layeth downe the forme of the cherubins in this manner ; euery one of them had foure faces , and euery one foure wings , and the likenesse of a mans hand was vnder their wings . vnder which vision we may containe the similitude of the foure euangelists , with christs hand , or with his holy spirit transported into the foure quarters of the world , into the east , west , north , and south , according vnto the foure ages of the world , vnder adam , noah , moses , and christ , which is the last , and renueth vs to euerlasting life . among others of gods spirituall ministers , which his maiesty sent to mankinde , one is named gabriel , an angel that appeared first to daniel , when he prayed to haue that performed of god , which he had promised touching the returne of the people from their captiuity in babilon . while he was speaking and praying , euen the man gabriel , whom he had seene before in a vision came flying and touched him : the said gabriel came afterwards to zacharias the priest , to shew him the natiuity of s. iohn baptist , and was also sent to mary the mother of christ. an angel called vriel reproued esdras , because he seemed to enter into the profound iudgements of : god. and there ieremiel an archangell confirmes the wordes of vriel . raphael one of the seuen holy angels , which goe forth before the lord , tooke the shape of a man , and fellowlike , conuersed with yong tobias , vntill he brought him home safely from his great iourney ; bound asmodeus the lustfull spirit , and restored to olde tobith his sight . now it remaines , that i shew what angels be : angels are ministring spirits sent forth to minister for their sakes which shall be heires of saluation . the holy ghost in the scripture expresseth their outward formes , particular names , and numbers in plaine termes , to make their embassages and messages of greater reckoning to our terrestriall senses and simple vnderstanding . their mansions be diuers , as our sauiour testified : my fathers house hath many mansions . their multitudes infinite : thinkest thou ( said christ to his disciple , which smote the high priests seruant ) that i cannot now pray to my father , and he will giue me moe then twelue legions of angels ? these be they , whose loude voyces that profound diuine heard , saying , praise , honour ▪ glory , and power be vnto him that s●teth vppon the throne , and to the lambe for euermore . these be they , whom our sauiour christ prophesied to send against the day of iudgement , to gather together his elect from the foure windes , and from the one end of the heauen to the other . these likewise be those diuine ministers , which at the end of the world shall goe forth , and seuer the bad from among the iust , and shall cast them into a fornace of fire , where there shall be wayling and gnashing of teeth . in the holy scriptures we reade , that holy men , such as aaron , the prophets , and priests were called gods or angels , because they resembled them in proprieties and perfections : for euen as it is the office of angels to praise god in purity of minde and sanctification ; so likewise it is the duty of ministers to preach and teach the word of god without hypocrisie , negligence , or worldly craft . the second circle of the spirit of detraction , co nivred and convicted . lineament i. . the true application of the abouesa●d coniurations : that the names of other good spirits be manifold and diuerfly taken in the holy scripture . after what manner sinne , the messenger of sathan stings vs. by what meanes we may repell the stings of sathan . that it is hard to iudge of our spirituall stings , and from whence they come . the meditation of these mysteries ( i hope ) will shake the power of our spiritual tempters , and shape our humane wils after the refined mould of the inward man : so that we prostrate our selues before our heauenly lord , humbly prying into our owne vnworthines , and putting off our vncleane s●oes before wee touch his holy mount ; so that we employ our knowledge , in testimonium veri , non in adiutorium falsi , for the glory of god , and not for the support of sinne : so that also we apply our contemplation of his saints , for admiration and not for adoration , applauding their happy estates , with the acknowledgement of our owne vnhappinesse . for who can thrust peter into gods throne , were he ne're so glorious a saint , without apparant treason ? downe then yee detracting soules , into your earthly caues . without the mediation of christ , god is a consuming flame ; wherefore approach not neere this flame , lest ye be consumed . diue rather into your owne weakenesse , and thinke on nothing so often , then on christ lying in a vile manger , or on christ crowned with a crowne of thornes , or on his guiltlesse body nayled to the crosse of infamy ; and no doubt but the effects of grace will follow . where other good spirits are mentioned in the word of god , and how one rested vpon many , and many vpon one , i am not of the minde that they were reall , corporal , and palpable spirits , but rather diuine gifts or supernaturall vertues ▪ conferred vpon the soules of the elect by the lord for his glory . god tooke off the spirit that was vpon moyses , and put it vpon the seuenty elders ; and when the spirit rested vpon them , they prophesied . in sundry places of the scripture we reade , that the spirit of the lord possessed many , where they became notable eyther for prophesies , valour , or other rare properties : which spirits must not be ballanced by proportionable quantity , but spiritually construed by operation and quality . which exposition i haue laid downe ( as i haue some of the premisses ) of set purpose that the reader may not be mistaken in conceiuing the spirit of detraction , and other sinfull spirits to possesse mankinde really . the holy ghost fell at one time vpon many of the apostles and others ; which is as much to say , that the pretious gifts of the holy ghost , of prophesie , of diuersities of tongues , of faith , patience , and other vertues inspired these seruants of god , whom his wisedome selected and sealed to that degree of sanctification , as the potters vessels , for such honourable seruices . contrariorum cadem est ratio . by the knowledge of goodnesse , let vs gather the knowledge of the opposite , how the diuell by his spirituall nuncioes of sinne , as by detraction , malice , and such others , possesseth the negligent sonnes of adam , not with reall formes , but with spirituall suggestions and spiritual operations . god turnes away the influence of his countenance from his degenerate children ; then sathan embraceth that aduantage of opportunity , and with his pestilent breath bloweth into the principall parts of mans body and soule . he impoysoneth the humours of melancholy , choler , and gail , enuenometh the lodge of imagination : then the possessed is sranticke or lunaticke . the bloud and seede he tickleth and tainteth with honied lechery , and hateful luxury : then the patient becomes passionate in his body , prodigall of his bloud and seede , and proude of his supposed power . for how can it otherwise be , when the body is tempted to receiue into it superabundance of iuyce , of immoderate meates and drinkes ? must not consequently euery naturall body vent out what is supersluously gathered within it ? but , o thou great gouernour of the world , whose will is vnsearchable ! no mortall man can mortifie his longing conceits , his lustfull concupiscence , without the mortification of his body by fasting , neither can he mortifie his body by fasting , without powring out many piteous petitions before the seate of thy mercy . nor yet can man ( o sinfull man ) powre out his petitions intentiuely before thee , except it were giuen him from aboue , and except he were in his conscience compelled by the operation of thy spirit , to craue daily for perscuetance in his prayers and petitions . to finish the abouesaid point of sathans stinging , whether these plaguy temptations be verily , or figuratiuely , the diuels spirituall power , or the wrath of god inclosed in vials , as is allegorically specified in the apocalyps , it is hard for man to iudge ; for both might well be inflicted on vs , seeing the vngodly is a sword of his , and nabuchadonozor is termed his seruant , or executioner to reuenge his iust conceiued anger against the israelites . the winde blowes , and with his furious force ouerturnes a forrest of wood , and ouerthrowes whatsoeuer it meetes ; yet no man knowes whence it comes , or whither it goes . euen so it fares with these turbulent spirits : well may we ayme at their mediate manner of infections ; but it is a very difficult matter to discourse iudicially of their immediate stinging . sure we are , that none escape without them . lineament . ii. the originall ro●te of detractions and other pollutions ; and whether the spirit of detroction and other sinfull spirits , which possesse mankinde , be reall spirits or stings of the diuell ? the fight betwixt the knowledge of good , and the knowledge of euil . that the good gets the victory ouer the euill . that the diuell cannot harme a man really . in the beginning god made all creatures good and perfect , though afterwards through presumption , arrogancy , and detraction they became sinfull . his omnipotent maiesty being righteous , and dwelling among them , in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soule with their vnlawfull deedes ; and at length finding no stedfastnes in his seruants , and laying folly in his angels , most iustly condemned them , & threw them down into hell , where he hath reserued them in euerlasting chaines , vnder darknes , vnto the iudgement of the great day : where , in stead of eternall glory , they liue tortured with eternall infamy , in stead of happy light they see nothing but horrid night , in stead of holy knowledge they feele nothing but hellish ignorance , in stead of perpetuall ioyes perpetuall paines . how greatly then are our superstitious worldlings bewitched , that authorize diuels in multitudes , and with corporall shapes , that is , with bodies subiect to handling , hauing of necessity longitude , latitude , & profundity , otherwise called thicknes , presently to appear at the lure of mortall men , and to command the heauenly powers for satisfaction of their phantasies ? let it suffice , that we belecue the holy ghost hath omitted nothing pertinent to our saluation ; let it suffice , that we arme our soules with the spirituall corcelets of faith and charity , against the most terrible encounters of diuellish sinnes , propagated vnto the children of adam , from the arch-spirit of sinne . vt mures in muris , sic satellites sathanae in cordibus nostris delite scunt : as mice in walles , so lurke the messengers of sathan in our hearts . let it suffise our curiosity , that sinne is a roaring lyon , a spirituall diuel , and that a reprobate minde fraught with vile affections , like canckred poyson , killes both body and soule . there is a seede of man , which is an honourable seede : the honourable seede are they that feare the lord. there is a seede of man which is without honour : the seede without honour are they that transgresse the commandements of the lord. this latter seede is the deuils sting , spirituall temptation , spirituall detraction springing of melancholy and corruption of humours , which can neuer possesse vs , while we obserue that golden rule : watch and pray , that is , praying alwayes in all supplication , and watching for the same purpose with all instance for all saints . the chiefest diuell on earth , vice-roy to the chiefe serpent of hel , is the knowledge of euil , euen as the chiefest god on earth vice-roy to the arch-spirit of heauen is the knowledge of goodnesse ; both which good and euill we know euer since the eating of the forbidden fruite , which man had not lusted , except god had commanded the contrary . deteriora sequor : sinne took● occasion by the commandement , and deceiued vs. so that we left the tree of life , and tooke the worst . the knowledge of euill is sinne , or worldly craft . the knowledge of the good is the seruice of god or innocency . assoone as adam had eaten the apple in the garden of triall , his eyes were opened , and he knew the differences both of the good and euill , yea , he was made partaker of euils and miseries , as well of equity , happinesse , and innocency . o what a diuine mysterie is this ! mans body and soule stands almost in suspence , in an equall ballance betwixt god and the serpent , betwixt innocency and sinne . or more mystically to compare our states ; we stand in this world like our sauiour christ , cruelly crucified betwixt two theeues , the one penitent , the other desperate ; the one acknowledging his deity , the other blasphemously detracting from his innocent life . euen so doe we wade betwixt good and euill , betwixt the spirit and the flesh , betwixt peace and warre , betwixt heauen and hell , betwixt life and death , betwixt vertue and vice ( xenophons pathes for hercules in his youth ) betwixt light and darkenesse , betwixt truth and falshood , betwixt loue and hatred , betwixt ioy and sorrow , betwixt eternity and time . gods spirit of goodnesse seekes to winne vs by infusing into our intellectual senses , faith , loue , truth , and other vnderspirits of his . our ghostly tempter , wicked sinne , the old serpents sting inwardly prickes our soules to know euill as well as good ( for malum cognitum facilius euitatur , euil being knowne is the more easily auoyded ) to permit wantonn●sse , licentiousnesse , detraction , and other petty petulant spirits of sinne vnto our children in their tender age , that they may leaue them of the sooner in their riper yeares , according to the prouerbe , a wilde colt will proue a good horse , a rude youth a good man , and a young diuell an old saint . god labours to mortifie the body , that the soule may see his godhead . the diuell by sinne his earthly substitute , deceitfully aduiseth to pamper the body with daiaty delicaci●s , that the soule being stupefied may behold nothing but perpetuall darkenesse . god pronounceth rigorousnesse vnto them which fall , but towards thee kindnesse , if thou continue in kindnesse . the diuell whispereth into thy heedlesse heart , sisaluaberis , saluaberis , if thou shalt be saued , thou shalt be saued . if thou be reserued among the remnant of baals seuen thousand , according to the election of grace , what needest thou make this world thy hell , thy body thy crosse , thy contentment thy discontentment ? if thou be not predestinated vnto saluation , wilt thou enioy a double holi ? therefore while thou hast time , cheerish vp thy body with all kindes of sports and pleasures . laugh and b●fat : i am veniet tacito curua sexecta pede . anon olde age with stealing pace will come . ah poore soule , how art thou entangled , being created after the image of god composed for his spouse , endowred with his spirit , redeemed with his blood , accompanied with his angels , capable of happinesse , and partaker of reason , as a learned spaniard in imitation of father bernard , broke out into admiration : o alma hecha a laimagen de dios , compucsta como para esposa , dotada consu espiritu , redimida consu sangre , accompanadae consus angeles , capaz de bienauenturanza , participante derazon . why dost thou follow thine enemy , and forsake thy maker , o heauenly soule ? why dost thou offer vnto the diuell the fairest , and the sartest of thy flocke , and leauest vnto god a leane and a lame sacrifice ? wilt thou draw vnto the diuell thy sweetest drinkes , and vnto god thy sowrest dregges ? o carelesse creature ! say not , god hath caused thee to erre for he hath no need of the sinful man. he made thee from the beginning , and left thee in the hand of thy counsell , and gaue thee his commaundements and precepts . he hath set water and fire before thee stretch out thy ●and vnto which thou wilt . before thee was life and death , good and euill . what liked thee , was giuen . which excellent doctrine another confirmed : thus saith the lord , behold i set before you the way of life , and the way of death . say not thou , i am besieged with diuels , with reall spirits out of hell . for in thy center , o intellectual soule , is imprinted the very character of gods owne essence and three persons in trinity ; insomuch , that thou resemblest the diuine hypostasis , and indiuisible vnity , and also possessest immortality from the father , vnderstanding from the sonne , and sanctification from the holy ghost . all which concurring in one identified essentiall vnion , make thee a perfect soule , without blemish . let not thy fall from that blessed state discomfort thee . the bloud of christ ( if the fault be not thine owne ) doth ( like a lauer ) purifie thy sins , though they become as red as scarlet . these theeues of the deity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as a very ancient father terms them , can neuer harme thee really , howsoeuer their spirit of detraction , as false spectacles to multiply thy feares , layes downe that humourous tradition before thy simple sight . seest not thou , how those spirits , which dallied with the holy water , dare not once come neere our reformed church ? as there be degrees of sinnes , so in my iudgement these deluding spirits neuer appeare but to the grossest sinner . where a man hath but one honest man in his house , there that house prospereth better then if that one were absent ; for that hee terrifieth the rest from cousenages and conspiracies ; so where one godly man dwelleth , there the diuell dares not draw neere . lineament iii. that all wicked spirits ordinary and extraordinary doe issue from the same head . that they cannot harme a man really , without his owne naturall or wanton motion . their varieties proued out of the scripture , where saules lunacie is censured . that the spirit of detraction attendeth on all the said spirits . even as good spirits or vertuous motions issue from the godhead , as from the cleere fountaine of goodnesse ; so wicked spirits and vnbridled affections , fetch their pedegree from the deceitfull serpent , w●h allured eue to insring the lords commandement . for his malicious spirit repining , that man , a new made creature , found more fauour then himselfe ( belike long afore an out-cast from gods presence ) turned about the weaker vessell , the simple woman , and makes her an instrument for all their ouerthrowes together . they were all of them accursed , mankind destinated to death , the serpent to darkenesse . since which time , continuall calamities and phantasticall spirits , the blacke guard of sinne pursue mankinde , till death gets the vpper hand , and looseth the soule out of her prison of flesh and bloud . i say , vntill death , as gods sergeant , doe attach our bodies vpon debt due vnto nature , and our soules vpon sinnes committed against the authour of nature . these sinfull spirits like baites of sweet poison , or sugred gals , possesse olde adams progeny , according to the variable and voluble dispositions of the patient . these , not vnlike to mice , lice , lawlesse lawiers , or noysome vermine , by sathans spirituall suggestion doe endeuour to infest , molest , and sift vs as wheate . they had their beginning at the fall of the diuell and his angels , who are throughly possessed with all the said qualities , working diuersly by the meanes of the same spirit . the spirit of detraction , the spirit of enuy , the spirit of pride , and such like vitious spirits , proceed from one roote , from one serpent , that olde impostor . i am setled in this opinion by the apostle , who proued the identity of the holy spirit by the like reason . the body is one , and hath many members . and againe , there are diuersities of gifts , but the same spirit . to one is giuen by the spirit , the word of wisedome , to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit . to another the operations of great workes , to another prophesie , to another the discerning of spirits , to another the diuersities of tongues . all these things worketh the same spirit , distributing to euery man , as it pleaseth him . from one tree came many branches of euill : by the inticement of one serpent came all these spirits of ●rrours , which ( like venemous stings ) incite vs to vngodly actes . and yet for all this , i denie not , but there are malicious spirits as well as ministring spirits , diuels as well as angels , the one attending on lucifer the prince of diuels , the other on michael the lords chiefe angell , both inuisibly attempting to work vpon the will of man vehemently , or by leisure , as god commands them , either for the knowledg of goodnesse , or for the knowledge of euill . neyther will i here omit to interpose another opinion of mine , concerning the diuels force , which is , that god the reuenger of iniquity , commands the diuell , as his executioner , to pursue the reprobate sometimes by immediate causes , and somtimes by mediate and second causes ; by immediate , when the faculties of the soule are by his spirituall spurres extraordinarily possessed with frenzie , sury , and such like ; by mediate causes , when the instruments of the body are by his spiritual enticements tempted to receiue into them more then suffice nature ; so that the veines ouerflow with blood , the gall with choler adust , and the liuer with lust . but in my iudgement , with the former extraordinary or miraculous causes the diuell cannot harme a christian mans body really , ( howsoeuer i thinke of the soules immediate obsession ) or harme the least part of his body . surely i belecue , that god reserues that palpable reall power , as a prerogatiue to himselfe , to his owne angels , and to his second causes in this world ; to himselfe , as when pharaoh and his aegyptians were miraculously plagued with lice , and other annoyances by the singer of god or when he caused his angel for dauids fault to smite the israelites with p●stilence . but thou wilt aske me , how can a christian bee frantick by the diuels meanes , and yet not really hurt by him ? by him , by the diuels immediate reall force ? nay , principally by themselues , and by their owne filthy bodies , which suffered themselues at first , to be gluttonously carried by their owne appetites , and by the diuels spirituall suggestion . if they had eaten lesse , and drunke lesse , such corruption of humours could neuer taint them , neither could consequently frenzie possesse them . and also if they had in time sought for grace by daily prayers ( fasting being a coadiutour vnto them ) god would haue hearkened vnto them , and healed their indispositions . but on the contrary it pleased his maiesty to harden some , to lead them into temptation because they might acknowledge his iustice and omnipotency , and also serue for monuments to terrifie the wauering minded . to returne vnto my former matter , as all wicked spirits and vitious purt●rbations sprung in mortall men , by meanes of the said arch-spirit of sinne , so likewise by him they worke many and sundry operations . moyses made mention of the spirit of iealousie . esay of the spirit of errour . the lord permitted alying spirit to goe out , and be in the mouth of all ahabs prophets , to en●ice him into the battell against the sirians . another prophet relateth of the spirit of fornication . and as s. paul records : god gaue them the spirit of slumber . the spirit of god departed from saeul , and an euill spirit was sent from god , to vexe him . therefore his seruants aduised him to seeke a cunning player vpon the harpe , whereby he might be refreshed and eased . what sense more naturall to our capacities can we gather by this euill spirit , and the easie cure thereof , then that it was eyther a kinde of lunacy vsuall in that hote countrey , a fit of melancholy , or a falling sickenesse ? for the cure whereof , his seruants ( by whom i vnderstand his phisittans ) hauing experimented belike , that none other medicine then musicke could auaile him , or perhaps not hauing such insight in phisicke as we haue , wished him onely to comfort his heart with ioyes , and ( as we vulgarly speake ) to keepe doctor merriman company . to this opinion of mine i adioyne another reason ( whereof we must not descant ouer-curiously ) that god predestinated purposely this extraordinary accident vpon saul for the aduancement of dauid , who vpon this occasion happily composed many of his psalmes , and confirmed the vertues of his spirit , and also by this accesse into the kings palace , he gained vnto him the mindes of his chiefe captaines and officers ; besides he got by this familiar frequency in the court his education , and experience in matters of ciuill policy , which otherwise he could hardly in humane probability obtaine , by reason that hee was brought vp but simply among sheepheards . this i write not of any blasphemous purpose to restraine the lords miraculous power , but that we may obserue his prouidence in vouchsafing to worke by ordinary and naturall meanes . but admit , that the literall sense be admitted ; what absurdity can ensue thereof ? for the diuell in his fall hauing wholy lost the musicall consent , and melodious concord which was ensused in his soule at his creation , could hardly digest dauids hymmes and harpe , the same being quite disagreeable to his discording and disproportioned nature , i say such diuine musicke reduced the extrauagant thoughts of saules soule to such an excellent harmony and quiet tune , that the diuell durst not abide that sweete tempered sound . ouer all the abouesaid wicked spirits , the spirit of detraction awaiteth . doth the lord send his terrible thunder , his glorious lightnings , as warlike alarums to rouze vs vp from our sleepy sinnes ? behold the spirit of detraction at hand , and attributes those strange signes to the prince of this world , his lord and master the diuell god ( quoth he ) is the author of goodnesse , quiet , and neuer int●rmedles with thunder-claps , stormes , or tempests . non illi imperium pelagi sc●ptrumque tridentis , sed mihi sort : datum — that great command with triple forked mace , by lot to me , and not to him be ell . as neptune spake of himselfe to aeolus , such hereticall paradoxes as these he inspires mens braines withall , and rammes them , as with a strong beetle , into their shallow hearts . liues a man in loue and charity with his neighbour ? againe , the same spirit of detraction appeares , sowes idle tales of dilgrace , whereby they may goe together by the eares , and empty their virulen : galles with most violent reuenge , the one against the other . art thou chole●cke ? beware of saules spirit of lunacie ? art thou merrily disposed at games and sports ? thou shalt be sure of sathans spiritual sting , and be throughly possessed both with the spirites of blasphemy and detraction , although thou perceiuest them not visibly with mortall eyes . to be briefe , he will neuer be spiritually wanting to any man. to a man in prosperity he sends his spirit of pride , to a sinner despaire , to married soikes the spirit of iealousie , to children the spirit of disobedience , to courtiers the gliuing pompes or vanity , to preachers the spirit of false prophesie , to the subiect the spirit of rebellion , to friends the spirit of inconstancy , to seruants the spirit of ingratitude , so that there be few men in the world , but their wils are possessed with some spirit or other . i passe ouer many other spirits , which beare dominion among vs , as the spirit of lechery , the spirit of drunkennesse , the spirit of gluttony , and the damnable spirite of auarice . all which as rotten branches , i know to be descended and deriued from one tree the tree of the knowledge of good and euill , by the subtle temptations of the sneaking snake of sinne , the angell of perdition . lineament iiii. why god giues vs ouer to be tempted by sathan . after what manner the diuell vseth now a-dayes to ensnare vs. the diuels policy for the circumuenting of soules . among vs in this reformed realme , the diuell dares not appeare in outward formes of illusion ( like the man in the moone ) by reason that the sun-shine of gods word is too strong for his faithlesse spirit ; yet notwithstanding , because we might cal to memory our sraile natures , together w th our soules stupidity , ouer-whelmed with grosse humours , ouer-mastered with perturbations , winking and looking through carnall windowes , and spectacles of errour : and because we might implore our creators assistance according to our bounden dueties , god permits sathan in respect of olde adams transgression , spiritually to inter●use necessary prickes into our fleshly thoughts , yea , and to interrupt vs in our most zealous offices . which moued a reuerend elder of the church to complaine after this manner : in my prayers i repeate oftentimes what i gaine , and oftentimes i am distracted with some filthy imagination , to doe those things which i blush to speake . but , me thinkes , here i heare one of his disciples disputing , that god seeing he is the author and imparter of goodnesse , will not suffer any of his adopted children to be enchanted and entrapped by sathan . for the solution of this presumptuou● scruple ; ( which i take to be but a knot in a rush ) i constantly aucrre , that god is all goodnesse , and as he is most good and mercifull , so is he most just . his vnspotted maiesty could doe no lesse then inflict punishment vpon his new creature ( albeit with anguish of spirit , like a pitiful earthly iudge that pronounceth iudgment with teares against malefactors ) he could doe no lesse because of his future glory , and because of his former commandement to adam , then giue verdict of death against them ; which aduisedly being referred to their owne counsell , they being at that time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , free , and at their owne liberty , preferred death before life . god did well therefore to trie mans faith betimes , before he graced him with further fauours . the procurer he more seuerely punished . and because the diuels familiarity with the woman occasioned mans fall ; for this cause did god set perpetuall enmity and hatred , euer since the beginning til the worlds end , betwixt the womans seede and the diuell : yet with a limitation , that the diuell should continue his illusions towards vs , that he should exhale his poysonfull puissance against the reprobate , and with might and maine pursue all excommunicated rebels . thus the diuell according to gods curse rageth against vs , and , as it were famished with hunger of our damnation , like a roaring lyon , he lieth in wait to deuoure vs. but as long as we endeuour to serue god in loue and humility , he can but bruise our earthly heeles , and sting vs with necessary temptations for the soules edifying . our sauiour christ treads downe his malicious head and hellish force , so that we shall at last preuaile and triumph in the celestiall paradise , which is a thousand times more glorious then that hortus conclusus , the garden empaled , the paradise of proofe , where wee were content to bee bewitched in hope or worldly wisedome . since printing sprang vp ( which perhaps is a worldly instrument of the fiery spirit of life , that after three dayes and a halfe came from god , and entred into the lords two martyrs , the olde testament and the new , i meane into their preachers , whose bodies were laid in the streets of spirituall sodome , and egypt , and yet not quite buried nor abolished ) and since we had the vse of books , wherein mans manifold knowledge of good and euill is apparantly decyphered , and the diuels deceitfull trickes discouered to persons of all condition : now , as a subt●e states-man , he works another course to bring our soules in thrall ; by stratagems , by politicke practises vnder hand he inspires indulgent parents to make their children free in their nonage , before they be poudred with heauenly prudence , that the prouerbe might be verified of them ; soone ripe , soone rotten . scilicet ingenium & rerum prudentia velox ante pilos venit . — too soone before their beards bud forth , they come to be states-men of worth . hauing thus obtained the parents consent , he turnes about his free-made youths , and traines them ( as sertorius the children of the portingalles ) after his own mould to detract , to lash out fearful othes at euery other word , to reade baudy ballads , books of his own apostles , euen of aretine , of machiauell , of rabelais , and of our english cast-awayes ; and afterwards he confirmes them with spirituall suggestions in all abhominations to the losse of their soules and bodies . the best of vs sometimes hee possesseth , with chymerizing pleddings , like ayri● castles , and ●●bbles ( as a mouse ) on our malignant hearts , as●ertullian ●ertullian termes martian . and although we haue both moyses , the prophets ▪ & firmiorem sermonem propheticum yet he rufsles among the robes , & inaudita fundu oracula , as my l. of northamp●on said of the diuels pouder-plot . to continue my subiect , seeing i haue aduentured in some places of these circles to borrow caesars inimitable muse to grace this worthlesse worke of mine , l●nd also ( heroycall lord ) your iudicious spirit for a season to your deeply deuoted suppliant in his greatest neede . lo , how my poore muse pants , eclipsed with your heauenly interposition ; and bids me , as a daily orator to the rayes of your nobility , betimes to betake my selfe vnto epicharmus his ancient oracle : — 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is , to whom dame nature doth deny to giue her gifts abundantly , they out of hand to auncestry , and to their noble kinne do fly . in the beginning of the christian church the very name of christ was sufficient to make sathan packe , and to quite the poss●ssion of tormented men , but he learned a more cunning trick of late vnder the banner of christ to fight against the lieuetenant of his imperiall maiesty . in one point i find no change , that is , in labouring and working by all meanes to draw men from their trust in gods directions to a tickle kind of confidence in themselves , and in their owne weake knowledge of good and euill , which our first parents so greedily preferred , non ex necessitate & fato , sed ex libero eligentium proposito , not by necessity not by destiny , but by their owne freedome of choise , as an auncient father writes ▪ lineament v. mans fall from the state of innocency is censured . curiosity curbed for intermedling with gods secrets . the first reason why man was not left altogether persect and incapable of sinne . the latter reason . wherehence it comes to passe , that in wicked men there shines some goodnesse , and in good men is found some wickednesse . in pessimis inuenitur aliquid boni , & in optimis aliquid pessimi . in the beginning god made vs all good , he made vs honest , simple , and pure , but through our ouer-scrupulous search after his secrets , through an ouer-curious oftentation of our owne worth , and of our owne righteousnesse , through our ingratefull negligence towards our heauenly father , and also through our sliding and slippery carnall condition , which could not be like the creatour in glory , we followed our enemies counsell , who likewise was created innocent , and an angell of glory , though afterwards he became a detracting diuell ; so that god made him not a diuell , but an angell . no more made he vs sinfull but simple . his al-secing maiesty foreknew these tragicke euents ; and yet for his honour , for the behoofe of elected soules , and for the replenishing of his kingdome hee formed both angels and men by grace and nature , and endowed them with free will and election for his greater glory . how should the good be knowne , if there were no euill ? what needes a monarch prescribe iawes and commandements to his subiects , were it not for the auoyding of vice ? by the fall of the wicked the good take exemplary feares . the fall of the diuell and his associates caused the rest , that remained incorrupt to looke more narrowly to their wayes , euen as the punish ments of some traytors make others true , who otherwise might haue erred in the like degree : yea , good men are confirmed in goodnesse by obseruation of the contrary , which is , euill . no maruell then , that god in his omniscience created man , whom he knew would afterwards rebell : for ( as i said before ) euery creature is corroborated in vertue , by noting the effects of the contrary , which is vice , whereby we may gather , that no wicked thing was immediatly created by god , and that we hapned vpon wickednesse by the fragility and weakenesse of our natures ; which is also signified by that auncient father : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . for all this curious braines will not leaue off plodding and practizing of profound problemes . why ( say they ) did god fashion man of such a brittle state ? wherefore made be not all men of the same manners and condition ? why did he create man so imperfect of such a tender ticklish forme ? o foolish fondlings , who are ye that presume to dispute with god ? was it not enough for your soules to be shaped after his diuinity , both in vnity and in trinity , with absolute and electiue power to slie from the wrath to come ? i tell you , there was no reason , that petulant children should possesse all their fathers goods . which of you i pray , will disrobe himselfe of his temporall glory , or diuide it with your inferiours ? worldly potentates can endure no corriuals , nor by their good wils any equals . and should god share with his creatures his most soueraigne perfection , which they could aswell moderate , as phaet on the chariot of the sunne ? but to yeeld some satisfaction to your curiosities , i beleeue that god framed man after this manner for two respects : first , because that the creature might differ from his creator , who alone is perfect . the soule therefore must content her selfe with that vocation , which god hath limited vnto her . seeing that she knows her owne weakenesse , she must not presume on her imperfect strength ; seeing that she hath experience of errours , she must wholy with feare and trembling relie on the mercy of god , who like a tender mother , attendeth on his crazed creature , and like a milde phisician , out of her relapse worketh an antidote to preserue her from falling . she may be shadowed because she is not god , but she can neuer be extinguished , because she came from god. potest obumbrari , quia non est deus , extinguinon potest quia est à deo. well may we stumble , but through the grace of god we rise vp quickly . we may be as blacke as jet , but as true as steele . we may be blacke , but yet comely , as the tents of cedar , and as the curtames of solomon . though we be rebellious by nature , yet we may be regenerate by faith . though we be excommunicated , we may be absolued by the mediation of our sauiour christ , and obtaine againe our former simplicitie and state of freewill , which in that first golden age , and time of famous memory we most wilfully lost . though we be but babes , we may grow vp to be perfect men in strength and vnderstanding , and so at last to a greater measure of sanctification . though we enioy not perfection , we retoyce in our redemption . and though our mindes in naturall faculties do follow the temperature of our bodies , yet in supernaturall speculations we abandon & abhor it . another reason why god created man so imperfect ( if i dare call him so ) was , because that mans soule , like mortall eyes , which cannot behold the summers sunne at noone ; or like the owle , which is bedazeled with the day-light ; i say , because the soule being ●ncarcerated and enchamed in the massie substance of the flesh , was not capable of that excellent perfection . therefore we must not impute our imbecillity and imperfection to gods want of power or impotency , but to his vnsearchable will ( who after adams creation left him to himselfe , puris naturalibus , to the capacity of his owne nature ) and to our owne earthly tabernacles ; which could not participate , by reason of our weakenesse and wantonnesse of flesh and bloud all the glorious attributes of the deity . for this cause did christ descend into the flesh with lowlinesse of spirit , and not with lofty glory . so that his kingdome , as himselfe answered pilate , was not of this world . for this cause the israelites could not away with the lords lightning thunders , and glorious voyce on mount sinai , but requested moyses to stand betwixt them . let not god talke with vs , said they , least we die . for this cause s. paul wrote to the corinthians : i gaue you milke to drinke and not meate , for you were not yet able to beare it , neyther yet now are ye able : ye are yet carnall ; nay such is our sottishnesse , that we endeuour not to attaine vnto a glimpse of the lords glory : we presume vppon delayes : we procrastinate the time , and neuer care for mortifications of the flesh , being the ladder to heauen and chiefe meanes to obtaine faith , loue , and charity at the hands of god. a preacher is but a bookish fellow : sanctification is but curiosity : to doe well or ill is allone . thus doe the sinfull sonnes of adam trust too much vnto predestination , as though they were made priuy of gods inuestigable will. but to winde vp the trueth in a word , the preaching of christs crosse is foolishnes vnto them that perish , but vnto them , which are saued , it is the power of god , and wisedome . as there is no foole to the olde foole : that is , to the worldly selfe-wise ; so contrariwise there is no wisedome comparable to christian simplicity , which through faith thinkes it enough , that god calles him to his court , though not to his councell . lineament . vi. a meditation upon sathans stinges , occasioned by an unsoined dreame of the authours . whether the dragon which s. iohn saw fighting with the ar●bangell , was reall or spirituall . whether the serpent which deceiued hue was reall , or spirituall , or both ; wherein the manner of her deceiuing is laid downe . thus are the very best , like beastes , subiect vnto these spirituall flings , some more , some lesse , according to the quality of their fleshly vessels . to this purpose it will not be immateriall , if i insert a meditatiue conceit of mine , wherewith i was vnfainedly possessed of late : vpon sunday night , being the fourteenth day of ianuary last , . i fell into a deepe study concerning our knowledge of good and euill , procured by the infernall snake . i lamented mine owne weakenesse of nature , that multitudes of sinnes should treade and trample downe my christian vertue . i sorrowed in spirit , that i could not free my soule from worldly concupiscence . at the last , after much striuing and strugling , the lords comfortable speech to st. paul came into my minde , my grace is sufficient for thee . whereupon considering my repenting heart , i resolued , that god suffered me to be thus buffeted and beaten with sardonicall sinnes , because i might acknowledge mine owne imbecillity , and submit the same to the perfection of christ , the propitiation for sinnes , who alone is righteous and holy. for the confirmation of this meditation , i was strongly assisted by this vnfained dreame . on that very night i dreamed , that i lay vpon the floore without stockins or shoes , and suddenly me thought one warned me , that i should looke vnto my selfe , for a snake lurked very neere me ; with which words being affrighted , i bestirred my selfe , and beheld the said snake about a yard or more in length , almost crept vnder me ; whereupon i vehemently cried for helpe to him , that warned me therof : who presently , as it were in a moment , with a weapon , which he had in his hand , hewed the snake in three or foure pieces . for all that , i was not deliuered from seare , i doubted his stinging part ; but he which smote him willed me in any case not to feare , by reason that his sting was of no sense , now that he had chopt him in pieces . with that i might see a smoake or breath arising out of the snakes diuided body . at which straunge sight , i prepared to hasten me away , lest this smoake being infectious , should ( like a pesulence ) empoyson my body : but notwithstanding all this my preparation , before i could get together my stockins and shoes , which were the impediments of my remoue , the smoake ceased on a sudden . whereupon i bewayled somewhat with my selfe , that i went no sooner away from that poysonous smoake , or smoakie exhalation , and because i preferred such trisling impediments before the security of my life ; which i imagined to be in some hazard , by reason of that my small stay . charitable reader , pardon me , if in rehearsall of this dreame i disquiet thy delicate minde ; notwithstanding that our whole life is little better then a dreame . no man liuing can attribute lesse credite , then i doe , vnto dreames : yet neuerthelesse , forasmuch as now and then it pleased god to reueale secrets and things to come vnto his seruants by dreames , as sometime he did vnto ioseph and nabuchadonozor , we must not altogether neglect to make reasonable vse of them . as for example , the man which admonished me , i compare to our sauiour christ , who of his vnspeakeable mercy towards mankinde defendeth vs ( while we prostrate our selues in all humility , as in my dreame i lay vpon the floore ) from the hellish snake , who watcheth daily to vndermine our wils . and yet though his godhead hath trodden vpon sathans head , he permits him for his glory , for our triall , and also for some satisfaction of his iustice , to enuenom our humane willes , by reason of our tarditie and remistnesse in his seruice , but certainly afterwards he embraceth his elect again . and , like as i plaied loth to depart w th my stockins and shoes , for al that i saw the imminent danger of the poysonous snake ; so doth mankind attend to the toyish bables and triuiall fables of this world , while sathan bruizeth our worldly heeles , and casteth out of his mouth whole floods of spirituall venome , to surround and surprise our spirituall part with passions of enuy , malice , fury , and other infections , whereof the smoakie exhalation of my dreamed snake , might well be the representing image and idaea . and the rather i am inrooted in this opinion , because i know my reasonable will to be oftentimes tainted with the said spirituall smoakie venome , as i supposed in my dreame that i suckt the feeling , palpable , and sensible smoaky poyson of the mangled snake into my corporall breath . but herein consists my comfort , that euen as i suckt this last full sore against my will ; so nol●ns volens , whether i will or no , i am constrained to sucke into my humane soule the other smoky poyson of the passionate snake , which i pray the victorious treader downe of his malicious head , by vertue of his crowne of victory to conuert into the best ; so that my spotted spirit may be accepted in his presence for a contrite spirite . amen . as concerning that place of genesis , where the diuell is said to appeare in the similitude of a serpent vnto eue , and where in the reuelation of saint iohn , the dragon fought with michael in heauen , we must not iudge both of them to be reall serpents or dragons , but wee must thinke that this latter dragon , which saint iohn saw in a vision , might well be the spirituall sinfull sting , which the diuellish serpent left behinde him , in our fore-parents memories ( but there allegorically or mystically applied to the antichrist ) when wee incurred the curse of god in that earthly paradise , which ( as i take it ) was but the figuratiue touch-stone of old adams faith . and the former serpent in genesis was a reall serpent , the subtillest beast of the field , which god had made , abused by the captaine of subtilty , who not content himselfe to haue transgressed in heauen against his creator , did also according to the corruption of his spirituall nature , deuise to draw mankinde like vnto himselfe , to be partaker of his knowledge in good and euill , that is , of his worldly craft , and of his v●nemous . subtilty , for hee was double subtle , subtle as the subtlest beast of the field , and subtle in his diuellish nature , which in truth is the same which we call the maladies of the soule , or perturbations of the mind , by our philosophers named concupiscible and irascible , whereof the reward or rather reuenge was that threatning clause of god : thou shalt die the death . to this dcuise of the serpent the woman yeelded body and soule with her will she longed , the same being depraued by the creeping tempter , who by this time had likewise wonne her vnderstanding to encline ; the attributes of her soule thus seduced , the senses of her body presently consented . for the tree being pleasant to the eyes , and the desire of wisedome another mouing obiect , throughly perswaded poore eue to follow the serpents counsell . o cursed serpent , how subtle were thy practises ! first , thou chosest the subtlest beast , which god created ; then , thou creptst into his heart , spakest through his mouth , and seeing mankind too simple for this world , altogether innocent , holy , deuour , hauing his thoughts intentiue on his maker , and also seeing him like a childe newly borne , bedazeled with varieties of obiects , and prospects , and admiring at the wonderfull workemanship of god , which seemed the more strange vnto his senses , in regard that he was then vnexperienced , raw , and newly come into the world ; thou settest vpon the weaker vessell , knowing that the woman was as yet more simple then the man , as a creature formed somewhat after the man , and consequently of lesse experience , and of lesse perfection . but what gainest thou ? thy spirit limited to thy former home of darkning errors , and thy fatal instrument metamorphozed into a sneaking snake , to creepe vpon the earth , as thou didst creepe into his wit , and into the womans conscience . this is the righ : reward of disobedience , which afterwards lots wife receiued , though in some different manner . for her bodily forme was changed from a woman into a pillar of salt , like as the serpent was conuerted from the comliest shape among beasts , into the most contemptible creature which this world affoords ; i say , a creature , a monstrous creature in generall wordes , for a speciall or specificqe name can no logician rightly attribute vnto a serpent , which is fully growne . it is reported , that in the indies he flies , in noua zembla he fisheth at sea , and is there many yardes in length . wherby we must note , that the spirituall serpent houereth , fisheth , creepeth , compasseth the earth to and fro , and suiteth his power manifoldly ; all to the intent , that he may circumuent mans heedlesse will. lineament . vii . that the holy ghost applies the scripture vnto mans capacity . an admonition to the readers of the scripture . thus from the breach of the commandement came in the diuell , from the diuell came sinne , and from sinne came detraction , and other infinite errours . thus it pleased the holy ghost to speake parables , intermixt with palpable subiects , to vse metaphores and figures , to apply his key of knowledge towards the ward of mans crooked and crabbed locke . thus it pleased god to permit mankinde to fall , that some may rise againe , and that in reall and corporall formes after the maner of men , according to our weake capacities , which could not otherwise comprehend such mysticall reuelations , then by sensible apparitions and worldly examples . let vs then modestly content our selues with such knowledge , as the holy ghost hath inserted in the scripture for our admonishment , and not presume to enter into his spirituall secrets , no more then we would that our neighbours enter into the knowledge of our silent thoughts ; or no more then we dare breake into the priuie chamber of our earthly king , except we be called . howbeit for all this , i would not counsel you , that be preachers and seachers of christs flocke , to misconster these speeches of mine , or to vse them as yee vse your stirrops , in shortn●ng or lengthning them , according to your pleasures and phantasies , by collecting , that i disswade you or yours from searching out the depth of such m●steries and parabies , as the holy ghost hath left in the scripture●or ●or our monition in these latter dayes . in gods name , as he hath giuen vtterance vnto you , and reuelations in your spirits , labour to reape that spirituall benefite , to the edification of your churches . but aboue all things , before yee attempt such diuine prophesies , humble your thoughts with seare and reuerence , humble your bodies with abstinence and fasting at conuenient seasons ; seeing that bookish learning , selfe-conceit , and pampering cheere haue beene the chiefe obstacles , that carnall courtiers , presumptuous papists , and pompuous people could neuer attaine to the right knowledge of the scriptures , nor arriue aright at the hauen of truth : that , that saying might be fulfilled : the simple o● foolish things of the world he hath chosen to confound the wise . their hearts are indurate , their vnderstanding darkened . lineament viii . the election o● the protestants after the imitation of s. pauls graffing in of the gentles . means to discerne the antichrist by prophesies out of the scripture . meanes to discerne the antichrist by his pompous manner of liuing , and also by his detractions . bvt ( ye beloued of the lord ) detract not from the word of god , neither descant yee much vpon the bare letter . for i would not , that yee ministers , mistake this mysterie ; how blindnes is partly happened in the church of rome vntill the fulnesse of the elect be come in . and againe , through their fall . saluation is come vnto you to prouoke them withall , through their vnbeleefe yee haue obtained mercy . thus hath god reserued you and your flockes as a remnant according to his owne vnsearchable pleasure , and election of grace , without any deserts of yours at all . thus it hath pleased him , because he would haue his power knowne , to take compassion vpon some , and to harden some . and all this happily , because the man of sinne , the sonne of detraction might be reuealed in his time . conferre therefore one place of the scripture with another ( as i haue done here for the calling and graffing in of the protestants , and hardening of the papists ) conferre , i say , the conformity of the present state with the state past of the church ( olde age being another infancy ) and yee shall see , as cleere as at noone-tide , the true meaning of darke places ; which no man that stands vpon his owne high minde , and his owne merites can possibly perceiue . in like manner , doe ye desire to discerne the antichrist ? compare those things which are prophesied of him one with another , and yee shall firret him out : yee shall finde him cunningly crept into our christian church . euen as christ was a mysterie to the pharisies , so antichrist is a mysterie to the papists ; i say , a mystery , a mysterie , the mysterie of iniquity , which cannot distinctly be discerned , without the spirituall eyes of faith in the inward man. looke on him with your bodily eyes , and this alcimus will deceiue the very elect , if it were possible . in outward shew an angell of light , a sanctimonious elder , but inwardly a sacrilegious serpent , or a foxe in a lambes skinne . o antichrist , thy dragon is destroyed by daniels arte , by the bloud of the lambe thy beast is conquered . o false prophet , thy babylonian whore is become wrinckled , her beauty is faded , her wich-craft discouered , her force decayed , her superstitions defaced . what remaines ? thou art driuen to a narrow straight , to thy neerest shifts . post ouer thy title to another . perswade thy subiects , that a new antichrist ( but no mysticall ) is euen now borne in babylon . let iohn doleta with all expedition publish this in print . it is a point of policie to temporize , and to beare thy credulous catholikes in hand , least suddenly they flinch from thy yoake , and of romanists fall to be apostolickes . by the mysticall allusion of michea , that saw the lord putting a false and a lying spirit in the mouth of ahabs prophets , that claymed themselues ( like the pharisies and papists ) to be within the church ; yee shall gather with this , and with the reuelation of s. iohn , that these termes of decemer , salfe prophet , the worker of false miracles , which set to sale the bodies and soules of men , cannot bee applied more significantly to any other then to him , who went out from vs , but was not of vs. would ye answere their obiection , which alledge that the pope cannot be that great antichrist , because his holinesse denieth not the father and the sonne , nor exalteth himselfe aboue that which is called god ? turne them to the etymology of these words , iesus christ , that is , the al-sufficient and annointed saniour of the world , and tell them that the entire and whole vertue of the godhead is wounded , it besides him they vse any mediator to saluation . turne them to s. paul , and reade that the antichrist must sit in the temple of god. the pope sits ( not with peters humility , but with pompe and maiesty ) in peters chaire , in the mother church of the west ▪ being now become a cruell stepmother , and a common harlot , shewing that he hath authority to graunt indulgences and pardons , to release the paines of purga●ory , peremptorily to aduance his standard aboue the church , which is to magnifie himselfe aboue the holy ghost , by whom it is ruled vnder christ ; to consecrate beades , water , crucifixes , yea and the glorious body of christ , which is already consecrated in heauen . in which prerogatiues he extolleth himselfe aboue god , doing those spirituall offices which are flat contrary to gods word and law . likewise it is prodigious that such things be sanctified by sinfull man , specially since the ceremoniall law and partition wall betwixt the iewes and vs , is broken downe after the resurrection of christ. it is derogatory ( i say ) to his sacred maiesty that a mortall man vsurpe that promethean pre-eminence : for hee that commits such sacriledge aboue mentioned , doth vndoubtedly vsurpe the power of god in a high degree . he that vsurpes after this manner , detracts from faith only in christ iesus and from other gifts of the holy ghost ▪ he that detracts from these gifts of the holy ghost blasphemes , and he that blasphemes so high a maiesty , sinnes irremissibly , except the lords mercy left out some other exception , vnknowne vnto vs. thus ( christian reader ) shalt thou ponder other points of the bibles mysteries . and now seeing i haue sore-armed my ▪ soule with sufficient exorcismes , and methodically fished out the great leuiathan , let me anathomize the monsters principall members . lineament ix . the conclusion of this second circle , shewing that the spirit of detraction can neuer confound vs ▪ while we meditate with saith on christs passion . that we become guilty of his death , when we detract from his name or workes . the authors supplication against the spirit of detractum . shut fast thy mouth from lies and vanity , shoot in thine eyes to loue and verity , thou soule of mine , which euery day dost fall through sathans web into pollutions thrall . let faith inflame thy will to meditate vpon that flame in flesh incorporate , to see those wounds , which thou hast made so wide with dint of speare in his bloud ▪ gored side . a doues build in holes of rocks : but thou , my doue , b in holes of bloudied rocke must build thy loue . for while thou look'st with faith and zealous feare , how that his head a thorny crowne did weare , how pilates scourge his holy skinne did teare ▪ how his meeke soule both mockes and flouts did beare , and how his hands and feete were nailed to the crosse to ransome ▪ thee , and to repaire the losse , which lucifer with adders sting did cause to thee , when eue first brake her makers lawes . while thou with faith dost view this mystery , the fiery serpent of mount caluary no wile , no guile , no blacke tongues archery , nor selfe-conceit of fancies flattery . can flesh and bloud , the world or sathan worke against thy life . though pope conspire with turke , though haman with his counsellors combine : though machiauell complot with aretine to blow thee vp , vet thy essentiall parts shall stand vnshak't in spite of all their arts . wherefore yee winds of praise , yee wings of pride , packe hence , all sinnes , which vertues sonnes deride , yee grinning dogs , yee grunting hogs away , the night is past , and wel-come is the day . the day is come , to day without delay i must contemne such lust , vile dust , and clay . the bell rings out , the drummer sounds alarme , i must rise vp for feare of future harme . teares and prayers are my armes ▪ i must pray , and speake the truth without all faile to day . all haile , cleere day , long may thy sun-shine last without eclipse , or cloud , or winters blast . all haile cleere day , through whose reflecting beames broad waking i do see truths open glcames . i see my lord ( alas , what doe i see ? ) my lord and sauiour hurt . by whom ? by me . by me he lies with thoughts , misdecdes , and words wounded , as with sharpe thornes , or edged swords . i crucified my christ , i rent his name , i crowned thee with obloquie and shame , o lord of life , when i should worship thee , but blest art thou for all my blasphemie . all honour be to thee , o veritie , bright light of loue , one god in vnitie . and persons three in orders trinity , which canst me free from all such vanity , when it shall please thy gracious maiesty , my soule to veile with thy boundlesse bounty . though speech be winde , and schoolemens quantity , void of true sense , void of true quality : yet when the same doth thy sweet lawes transcend , lord , let my babling light on babels end . but for my soule , let no fond oracles her substance spill , nor stand as obstacles , eternally to blinde her spectacles , which thou hast clear'd by thy words miracles . the third circle of the spirit of detraction , conivred and convicted . lineament . i. the nature of the spirit of detraction . his obiections . the authours answere . the description of detraction . his companions . his paradoxes . abriese consutation . among such troupes of wicked spirits , which beleaguer the sinfull sonnes of adam none of them is so pernitious as this viperous spirit of detraction ; for by this turbulent motiō pluto himselfe , being an angell of glory , lost his former state , and likewise wee worldly weakelings deserue our creators curse vpon your selues and posterities . behold , yee brainsicke blabs , licentious libertines , behold your famous familiar , your spirit of detraction , coniured and conn●cted in a circle without crosses , without masses , without holy water , without pots of good liquor , or pipes of tobacco , ( the only moderne motiue of malicious detraction ) and that by no meaner weapons , then by the mysticall weapons of michaell and michea , the powerfull oracles of the great god. o what an vnaccustomed coniuration is this ? new lords new lawes ; masse-monging manacled ; diuels discouered ; and dare you c●nuict the auncient spirit of detraction , which by successiue tradition descended vnto vs well nigh a thousand yeares agoe , euen about the very time , when the pope and mahomet bought their puissant patents this for the east from the detracting dragon , the other for the west from his eagles wing , the emperour phocas ? dare you vilifie the soueraignty of bacchus and tobacco ? and aduenture to coniure vp such an omnipotent spirit as that of detraction without these belching belly-gods ? which our swintsh swaggerers extoll now-a dayes on the behalfe of this spirit , as chiefe purgers of superf●uous rheumes , preparatiues of heauenly dreames , visions , oracles , and supernaturall reuelations ? then farewell kinde neighbour-hood , farewell good fellowship , farewell table-talke , farewell descanning of destinies , farewell all trencher-knights , and readers of other mens actions . as the body is nourished with good liquor , the bones with marrow ; so is the soule of man with the perfume of diuine tobacco , and with the perfusion of detracting taunts . take away these two , the cause and the effect , the substance and the shadow : what is mans life but a drie discourse , a solitary ghost , mortified with melancholy ? veritas non quaerit angulos . the way of truth is plaine without turnings . i feare not to lay downe the truth , were my brother a tobacconist , a wine-bibber , or a false prophet . amicus socrates , amicus plato , sed magis amica veritas , socrates is my friend , plato is my friend ; but truth is my chiefest friend . the excessiue taking of tobacco , together with drunken fellowship , renew the forces of the detracting spirit , and likewise doe kindle the fire that was couertly raked afore vnder the ashes , for his malicious humour . which ( to describe ) is an embezeling of anothers glory , a wrongfull withdrawing of anothers power , and a blasphemous censure inuented and blazed abroad touching the creator or his creature ; which eyther may be termed a kinde of scurrility , or knauish carping , carpendi effusa licentia , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or else a doubling of the dogs letter rout of their snarling nostrils . to this i might adde , that they offend against the third commandement , namely , thou shalt not take the name of the lord thy god in vaine : and also against the ninth commandement , thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour ; which subiect themselues vnto this kinde of spirit . in the company of this wicked spirit ( as i said before ) many other spirits consort , such as our countrey-men call boone companions , yea more spirits then euer molested mary magdalen . the spirit of blasphemy ( as the shadow vpon the body ) chiefely awaites vpon him , and shares with him for the pretious soule of man. so doe the spirit of enuy , the spirit of hatred , and sundry other poysonous messengers of the common enemy the diuell , all ready sophistically to proue the idle phantasics and imaginations of shallow braines . would you coelo deducere lunam , draw the moone down from heauen , or the starres from the skie ? the spirit of detraction with his mates make for you . the moone is descended , and hath kist endimion , while he lay asleepe . the starres be fallen , and a company of drunkards at their taking of tobacco beheld them . according to that of the poet : cum bibitir conchis hinc iam vertigine coelum — ambulat , & geminis exurgit mensa lucernis . when wines are drunk , then heauen whirleth round , and candles two on boord for one abound . there are incubi , which haue lien with faire women , and tempted them ere now to plant actaeons badge on their husbands foreheads . merlin your brittish bardh , sometimes possested with the spirit of prophesie , was a bastard , begotten betwixt a goodly young diuell and a goodly young gentlewoman at old carmarthen merlins famous towne . nay more , the arch-diuel hath gotten the popes power , he hath gotten the keyes of heauen : he hath authority to binde , to loose , to diminish the paines of hell , to grant indulgences and pardons for one and twenty yeares of all manner of mortall sinnes : he powreth downe raine amaine at his pleasure : he terrifies the world with thunders , lightnings , and earthquakes : cornelius agrippa is a great man in his books , vseth him for his familiar , and by coniurations commands the clouds , and makes the planets executioners to plague his aduersaries . o monstrous blasphemie ! o preposterous absurditie ! will any man of vnderstanding giue credite to these idolatrous detractions ? god himselfe questioning with iob out of the whirle-winde , vtterly denies that diuine authority to any creature . canst thou ( said he ) send the lightnings that they may walke , and say vnto thee ; lo , here we are ? if baal be god then goe after him , but if the lord be god , why tempt you his patient spirit , in ascribing his dreadfull power vnto his enemy , that darkesome deadly fiend , which cannot helpe himselfe , or act the least matter of importance ? elias in annulling of baals power , manifested him onely to be god , which answered by heauenly fire . the diuell fighteth with none other weapons then with deceit . with deceitfull malice he stung christ , while he was on earth ; and with the selfe same weapons he stinges christians . christ in his members , now that he is in heauen . with deceit he tempted eue , and with deceit he persecuteth the woman of god , the church of christ : for euen as michaels weapons were the blood of the lambe and righteous deedes ; so the dragons weapons are lies and deceit . when lecherous church-men knew not how to cloke their lewd acts : & when noble floraes , that went currant for puritan nunnes , could no longer couer their impure debauchments and notorious baudries , then forsooth to salue their credites , they divulged abroad , eyther that the diuell ( who repined at their chaste ) blinded their sights with supposed bodies liues , much like vnto their louers , or else with surreptitious carcases out of graues , he committed carnall copulation with them . lineament . ii. notes to discerne the spirit of detraction . a limitation of speeches . even as the well manured earth brings forth seedes and graine for mans reiiefe ; and vnmanured gathereth weeds , mosse , and brambles : so the soule of man , if it be well erected towards god , and directed by his holy spirit , becomes diuinely disposed , but ill looked vnto , and let as a restlesse rogue , to straggle abroad among sathans sinfull spirits , is quickly surprised with the witty workema●ship of the wily serpent , and in a moment corrupted with the bane of heretic all doctrine . an hereticke i account him , who being a christian , contumaciously maintaines err●nceus opinions , or peremptory paradoxes , contrary to the best part of the church , as when you heare a creature abuse and abase his creators glory in fatl●ering his forcible workes vpon his enemy the diuell then expend and examine in the ballance of euen reason his vnreasonable detracting sentence ; and no doubt but the spirit of spirits will open your eyes , that you may perceiue the wicked spirit which haunteth him , and hunteth after his soule . secondly , obserue the quality of the person , which detracteth : seeing that it is a thing rare in a wise man to make the toyish tongue the oracle of preiudicate conceit , who from his cradle is otherwise taught to smother vp in silence both his owne ouer-curious inuentions conceiued of supernaturall operations , and also what hee knowes or heares exorbitant , friuolous , and redounding eyther to the dishonour of gods power , to the disparagement of his lawes , or to the disgrace of his neighbours same . and for the vulgar sort , their iudgement is crooked and confused , that they extoll showes and shadowes of truth , and cannot distinguish betweene necessary and superfluous speeches . thirdly , ponder his manner of speaking , whether as a passionate person in his furious mood , or in the bitter and incited anguish of his soule : whether the spirit of detraction tickles the possessed party at tableboord , at tobacco-taking , at gossipping ( for at those times people waxe giddy headed and phantasticall , by reason of the mouing of the blood and humours ) or whether his speeches tend for his owne vtility and profite , or for reuenge of supposed wrongs or emulous concurrence in worldly affaires . ex abundantia cordis os loquitur . out of the hearts abundance the tongue speakes . and as abundance of raine causeth riuers to ouerflow their naturall meeres , bounds , and bankes , and to breake with a violent deluge ouer into meadowes and plaine fields : so the heart boyling ouer with surious motions , will runne quite out of course and temper , except it be suffered to cuaporate and vent out by the mouth ( which stands like an open sepulchre , or a roaring gulfe ) whatsoeuer is internally conceiued and consopited . yea , i haue knowne some ( like women with childe ) sicke to the heart , till they were deliuered of their suspicious detractions or monstrous embrions . but thou , which art the pupill of silence , note , that a reuiler is a lier , and a lier is forgetfull , as the italian teacheth thee : maldicente è bugiardo , bugiardo , è smemorato . it is not my purpose by these obseruations , altogether to debarre discourses , and neighbourly confabulations , but my meaning is to disclose some meanes , whereby we might discerne the nature of this spirit , which tempts our common readers to vtter before god and man , such contemptuous contradictions derogatory to his maiesty , who heares with infinite patience euery word they speake . as my soule cannot brooke these false aspersions , and flying lies touching ones honour , ones honesty , ones life : so on the contrary , i cannot chuse but approue christian and ciuill conference sugred and seasoned with charity , loue , and humility , tending to the glory of god , the weale of our countrey , or the welfare of our neighbours . nay , i applaude with both hands all such confabulations , which are relished atticis aut socraticis leporibꝰ , with the sauorie smacke of pleasant conceits , not vitiated with the extremes of rude scur●ility , or of rough austerity , but richly refined with the golden meane , vrbanity or ciuility , which the grecians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . let the distressed ( in gods name ) poure out his grecuances familiarly to his friend , for that easeth the minde , and by talking in counsell with a faithfull friend , the spirits recouer their former vertue and strength . let preachers reproue their parishioners infirmities in priuate , and in any case let them not reprehend particular mens faults openly in the pulpit : for that place being generall , requires generall speeches . let them not rebuke any , but exhort an elder as a father , the yonger men as brethren : for there is difference betwixt exhortation and rebuking , and so there is difference betwixt rebuking mens persons , and rebuking mens vices ; rebuking to edification , and rebuking to desperation ; rebuking in patience , and rebuking in passion ; rebuking in priuate , and rebuking in publique : the one is proper to the temperate spirit of god , the other to the turbulent spirit of sathan . wherefore deare christian , refraine thy tongue as it were with a bridle ; for to what vse will thy house serue without a doore , or thy purse without strings ? lineament iii. that the imbecillity of our naturall dispositions tainted through the first maits sinne with curiosity , inconstancy , and negligence is the prime cause of the spirit of detraction . that our curious search after the supernaturall beginning of time worketh our confusion . of our curiosity . of our inconstancy . and of our negligence . ovr humane natures stained through originall concupiscence , cannot but be tossed and turmoiled with many impediments ; first , with curiosity to prie into other mens actions , and in the meane space to neglect aesops hindermost wallet , wherein our owne faults are registred . secondly , we are spotted with ficklenesse to change our purposes , as the chameleon at the sight of euery glozing obiect . lastly , through originall wantonnesse we become infatuated and stupefied , that we forget what we reade , or heare pertinent to our instruction in christ. here i could digresse and shew , that our philosophicall scanning of times and seasons , is the prime point of curiosity , and so the chiefe cause of our worldly sottishnes . we runne vpon things imagined to be done before the beginning of time , of adams time , whereas in truth this computation of time is onely humane , according to mans naturall vnderstanding , which otherwise could not comprehend this worlds creation . surely ( in my iudgement ) there is no respect in the other world of time , by reason that the excesse and abundance of heauenly ioyes drownes all the memory of time , like as a man that is spectator of a comedy , with the extremity of delight thinkes three houres no longer then one houre . the ioies of heauen are infinite , and cannot be circumscribed by time . there , dwels the great ichouah , who is alpha , and omega , the beginning and last , who will teach vs to measure time after another manner ; after a metaphysicall manner . this moued the angell to sweare , that there should be no more time . this moued the psalmist to say ; a thousand yeares in thy sight , are but as yesterday . go too then , yee astrologicall scribes , leaue off your curious computations : the time will come ( like platees wonderfull yeare ) wherein man-kinde shall neede none of your almanackes . but in the meane time , yee complaine ( and this complaint will last as long as your almanacks ) that there be other chronographers , or rather temporizers beside your selues . i graunt that there be two sorts of temporizing companions , which abuse the naturall quality of pretious time ; the one an hypocrite , which vnder the humble habite of a lambe , for luere sake deceiues his deerest friend , an intelligeneer , the disciple of machiauel , a iew that loues no man but for aduantage , that detracts from him , who hath best befriended him in his neede , an a theist , a dissembler , a neutrall ; that with the winde and time changeth his religion , amicus omnium , amicus nullorum , euery mans friend and no mans friend , a busie medler in other mens causes , a polypragmon , an apparitor that ( like a iudaes or simoniake ) liues by extortion , by the price of bloud , by enquiring from time to time after the sinnes of the people . the other temporizer is a philosophicall dunce , this yeare a thomist , the next yeare a sco●ist , an earnest plodder of supernaturall reasons , obstipo capite , infigens & lumine terram , with downe-bent head , and eyes vpon the ground , an obseruer of the least minute in horologie , and one that would faine intrude himselfe into the lords priuy counsell . the former kinde of temporizers inhabite in publique places about princes palaces , and ( like false achithophels ) long to manage matters of policy . the latter , as people addicted to more melancholy , retire themselues to monasticall habitations , where they meditate on their curious problemes , grinding the world as it were into oaten-meale in the winde-mill of their braines . and now to re-iterate curiosity , the primary cause of detraction , begotten by originall corruption , our incorrigible natures being let at random , left arbitrary to doe what seemes good in our owne eyes , tandem custode romoto , without orbilites our tutors crabbed countenance , without checkes or correction , encourage vs to waxe lawlesse and licentious libertines , worse then the busie-headed french , at whose dissolute carriage and audacious detraction i was much amazed , when in euery towne and village i heard them scot-free reuile and raile at their chiefe magistrates , with taikatiue curiosity , scanning their honest deedes . from whom , euen as we borrow new-fangled dresses , and courtly-complements , so doe we ( like curious apes ) receiue their poysonous adder of detraction . we see motes in other mens eyes , but perceiue not beames in our owne eyes . we note acutely with argus sight , one sinister acte perpetrated by another , but will not discerne our owne great and grosse crrours , though all others discouer them as easily , as huge , rockes or notorious shelfes . our owne transgressions we compare to mole-hils , our neighbors to the alpes or pirenaean mountains . the reason is , because our muddy minds shoote altogether outward , and winde not inwardly into themselues , according to the poet : tecum habita & nóris quam sit tibi curta supellex . dwell with thy selfe , and thou shalt know , how that thy store at home is low . next , we wander vp and down through our frailty in the maze or labyrinth of vnstedfastnesse , betwixt god and his enemies , the pompes of this world and carnall pleasures . god seekes to winne vs by inspiring men to write bookes for our conuersions , by sending zealous preachers into sundry quarters of the world , as loude trumpets to awake vs out of sinne and pr●uarication , and likewise to liue in louc and charity one with another . our inconstancy defaceth all with forgetfulnesse , we returne to our olde vomite , and chuse with foolish gryllus to retaine still the shapes of effeminate epicures and swine , rather then to be metamorphosed into mens formes , with the rest of vlisses his companions . wee are carried about in the voluble spheares of our owne waucring imaginations . to day we praise a man , to morrow we dispraise him . to day we pray to god for grace , to morrow we blaspheme his power with wordes of disgrace . to day our soules are calme and temperate , to morrow ouer-clouded with vnruly passions . nay more , we alter our opinions in one moment of an houre . romae tybur amo ventosus , tybure romam . at rome i long olde tyburs towne to see , and there i long againe in rome to be . ouer-cloyed in townes by reason of the vnwholesomnes and stricknes of the aire , we long to liue in the delectable coun●rey , free from those inconueniences , which annoy the townes : but presently tired in the countrey for want of pleasant company , we retire and returne backe againe into the towne , where with doubts of some infectious sickenesse , with disgust and discontentment to see daily factions , seedes of dissention , and other dislikes common to company , we wish our selues againe in the countrey . how soddenly doe our imaginations chop and change ? how in the twinckling of an eye wee suppose our selues at london , at oxford , at home , from home . yea , in a short time we imagine our selues safely arriued at the east indies for spice , in barbary for sugar , in china for silkes , in france for wines and salts : and all these merchandizes bought , brought home , and sold away in as small a space , as a man might repeat ouer the lords prayer . o fickle men , how are your braines and mindes thus intoxicated ? one while yee looke as amiable , as if yee had swallowed vp a hare , another while fleering , as if yee had swallowed vp a gull ; one while heauenly , another while earthly ; one while deuoute , another while detracting ; not one day in one moode or minde , but as the winde , wauering both in words and thoughts . the last impediment , which the first mans transgression subiected vs vnto , is a kinde of dulnesse or negligence ; with which we are so besotted , that we cannot open our eyes to behold what armes our sauiour christ left vs , not onely able to encounter this spirit of detraction , but also the arch spirit of all vitious spirits . by baptisme with future repentance he washed vs from originall corruption . by shedding his innocent bloud he ransomed our soules from hell : onely in recompence he expects thankfull minds of vs , with continuall exercise of prayers , with often communicating his mysticall body in reuerence , loue , and charity one with another , after that moralizing manner , which st. paul himselfe quotes downe to the quite confusion of poore-blinde papists , namely , in remembrance of him , in remembrance of him , for as often as yee eate his bread and drinke his cup , yee doe shew the lords death till he comes ; so that ioyning together , as louing members of one body , we might skirmish against our spiritual enemy , and against his spirits of sinne , which he hatcheth and fostereth for our bane , fall , and perdition . in a word , let vs account it a foule sinne for any man to be eyther ignorant or partiall in his own infirmities . and let vs censure other mens faults with fearefull consciences , or rather suspend our hasty iudgements , because we cannot distinctly discerne of spirits ; but let vs diue into our owne without doubts or scruples , because god gaue vs a mindfull monitrix within to looke our . lineament . iiii. that ill education is another cause of malicious detraction . that want of maintenance in the clergy is the cause of ill education . certaine moderne abuses taxed in some remote angles of this kingdome . thou mortall man , in thy young and tender yeares , being pliable and apt to receiue any impression , must out of hand be fashioned in the sharpe turning wheele of instruction . vdum & molle lutum es , nunc nunc properandus & acri fingendus sixe fine rotâ — in youth thou art as moist and softned clay , and must by teachers wheele make hast away . this counsell● direct to honest parents , my brethren in christ , whereby they may beware how they cocker and dandle their children in licentious folly . roses must needs wither , when they are ouer-growne with bryers and thornes , and children that are assayled with whole legions of affections must fall at the last , if they be not accordingly s●ccoured . which likewise that diuine philosopher ratifieth : a youth not as yet hauing fully and absolutely disposed himselfe to goodnesse is a deceitfull , cruell , and a most proude beast , vnlesse he be bound betimes with a schoolemaster , as with a streng bridle . certainly good education is the chiefest ebstacle and ba●re to the diuell●sh spirit of detraction . for when haue you heard any man ingenuously brought vp to detract from his creator , or from his neighbour ? he that toucheth pitch cannot but be defiled therewith : one scabbed sheepe may infect a whole flocke . and as the royall prophet saith ; with the cleane thou shalt be cleane , and with the froward thou shalt learne frowardnesse . as for you of the nobler and prouder sort , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , cousens to the gods of the earth , you that stand vpon phantasticall genealogies , bringing your pedegrees by a thousand lines and branches from gog and magog , measuring your deserts by descent , and not by vertues worth , yee , i mean ( queijs vinere fas est occipiti coeco , which perswade your selues , that it is lawfull for you to leade your liues carelesse , and to speake what you please concerning god or man ) yee are too high for my humble pen : i dare not admonish you for feare of an action on the case . nay few that vnderstand any thing must be admitted to your presence , and if any one be , yet dare he not instruct you for feare of displeasure , or if happily at any time he put you in minde thereof , no man will abide him . but why doe i wish men in their prime , in their growing time to be pruned with vertue , polished with learning , and strongly armed against the stormy spirit of detraction ? seeing they lacke profitable teachers to edifie their soules ? seeing our ghostly pastors in this remote place of the kingdome be ignorant themselues ? no other reason can be alleadged of this their ignorance then pure penury ; whereof the clergie ( especially ) here in our countrey languisheth . let me looke but in the neighbour-hood , where i dwell , and i finde within this one hundred twelue parishes , whose tythes and emoluments amount to a deepe summe in the yeare : some parishes yeelde eight score or nine score pounds a yeare : yea , the tithes of the least parish arise yearely to one hundred pounds : and yet notwithstanding all this , the poore curates receiue not aboue twenty nobles a piece in the yeare : out of which they be compelled to pay yearely fifteenthes , pro curations , and other exactions , as high as thirty shillings . so that the ministers pension is little more then fiue pounds . which beggarly annuity cannot maintaine him , no nor supply him with necessary rayment . neyther will any scholer of worth accept of such a meane rate . for who will rest content with drosse , while he may haue gold ? who will inhabite in a mud-wall cottage , if he may haue better ? nay , if some zealous men were willing to extend the talents of their spirits for our instruction , how can such poore pittances serue to keepe soule and body together ? venter nec aures , neque linguam habet . it agreeth with reason , that the industrious labourer , chiefly in the lords vineyard , should enioy his competent hire : for if maintenance and reward of trauell were taken away , learning must needes fall to ruine . this certainely is the cause , which marreth nurture , and consequently leaues our mindes barren , vntilled , and vnfurnished with true knowledge , insomuch that spacious roome is left for our spirituall enemy to enter , and to beleaguer with easie force the feeble forts of our soules . i will passe ouer with secret griefe and silence , how that thousands within this our countrey of wales resort not to church aboue once a yeare , their towneships or hamlets being distant from the church seuen or eight english miles . i could likewise produce many parishes which were not partakers of sermons in any mans memory , no nor , as farre as i can learne , their curates neuer graced them with one poore homily or catechisme . but because this latter point is a matter out of my element , neither inquirable nor determinable by my commission , and for feare least these ecclesiasticks of the positiue degree procure the thunder-bolt of excommunication against me , for intermedling with their frothy dregges , and for putting my strange oare into their barke , though it be to saue it from wracke , like vnto zealous v●zza , who rashly toucht gods arke , to stay it from falling : i will surcease my pen , and suspend my censure of their dregges and lees , in hope that they will conuert the same to better purposes , and distill their lees in the limbecke of reformation , to a pretious oyle of tartar , with which they being annointed and affected , may vent out godly doctrine , & goodly discipline , farre better then with the holy water , wherewith our missopecunifices , our masse-mongers thinke to chase away the spirit of detraction & other hellish spirits . to wind vp this discontented discourse of my countreyes leuites , i pray god that the french prouerbe , whereby they taxe a thing hard to be brought about , fall not our iust vpon some of their heads , that is , ily a plus de difficulte qu' a tirer vn prestre de la tauerne , that 's harder , then to draw a priest from the tauerne . more yet could i insert concerning the impediments of education in the land where i liue , which because the curiosity of our hodiernall wittes will sooner helpe to rebound with fr●mpes , then to redresse or pitty , i will forbeare them with a wary caution ; lest the enuious enueigh against my zealous muse ; lest also i seeme to kicke against the prickes , and striue against the heauenly power , which perhaps hath decreed such fatall fortune vpon these parts of the iland , for our fore-parents faults , and for our owne filthy facts . lineament v. that the secret and spirituall suggestion of the diuell is the third cause of the spirit of detraction . the cunning reasons of the diuell to confirme finne . there consutation . the diuell being a spirit inuisible to any mortali eye , by close and cunning meane blowes with his pestilent breath into the formost seat of our braines , when we be excommunicated from gods presence , and there wheeleth and circleth about our phantasies with a thousand colourable obiects , able to entrap another eue. thence gradatim by degrees his virulent breath , like the dragons venome , steales into our hearts , where hee moueth the bloud , peruerteth the humours , corrupteth them with sensuality , in such wise , that we detract ( like vnto wanton children ) our best benefactors , we long and lust after innumerable toyes , after varieties of women , wines , meats , apparell , caualeering companions , and other wordly vanities , openly repugnant to the lawes of god and true nature . among many slie stratagems , which he daily inuents to subdue our soules to his slauish yoake , this is not the meanest nor the slowest , that he enchants our willes with charmes of selfe-liking , such as goe beyond all the magicke spels of medea , circe , and calypso . assoone as we attaine vnto yeares of discerning good from euill , by his spirituall insinuarions wee flatter our sond selues with some imaginatiue excuse or other for euery particular sinne , which we commit . are we swolne vp with pride and ambition ? lo , sathan a friendly sophister , an aduocate without fees , out of our mouthes pleades , that the sonnes of zebedee sought for seates of highest honour ; and also shewes , that familiarity breedes contempt , that it graceth much a gentleman to shew some stately port , or portly state , that euery abiect treades vpon humilities backe , and that men must behaue themselues according to the times . ambition is an honourable thought of high spirits , a point of magnanimity , a lofty step vnto vertues chaire . are we angry , cholericke or franticke ? our bad angell sayes , it is but heate of bloud , a short vanishing vapour , a short fury . ira furor breuis est . patience is but a poets fancy to be practized by ignoble groomes , and dunghilled spirits . a cholericke man hath an honest heart . doth the spirit of fornication tempt thee to defile thy vessell with forraine seed , and to conuert the temple of the holy ghost into a denne of diuellish sports with venereous thoughts ? alas , poore brother , it is but a veniall sinne , a sinne of flesh and bloud , the least of a thousand sinnes , to which all the world is subiect . age will tame this sinfull spirit . is it possible for vs to be chaste , when iacob , sampson , and other patriarches could not liue without their paramours ? doth the enuious man pine away by reason of anothers prosperitie ? is he sicke at the heart with griefe to see his neighbour flourish like a palme tree ? inuidus alterius rebus macrescit opimis ? behold a friend in a corner , a friend at neede . sathan himselfe transformed into an angell of light protesteth , that it would moue a saint , yea , another caine to see his yonger brothers oblation accepted , and his graue eldership reiected . we are all borne of one father , terraesilij , all sonnes out of the same mould , all worthy to participate the like equal immunities , priuiledges , and fortunes one as well as the other . if thou delight in company and dost wallow in pleasure , as the sow in the mire : there 's one within thee , which will wrastle alone with many bookish preachers . he layes out in colours the sweetnesse of pleasure , the contentment of company , the auoyding of melancholy , the shortnesse of life , and therefore hang sorrow , kill care . let the spirit of coueteousnes possesse thee ; and hee will settle his possession ( which is as strong as eleuen points of law ) by teaching thee sophistry in stead of true logicke , by perswading thee that thou carriest an atlanticke burthen vpon thy poore shoulders . euristeus neuer imposed halfe such a cumbersome charge on hercules as god hath laid restlesse cares on thee , for an exceeding great housholde of wife , children , and lazie seruants , how caust thou cherish thy selfe in thy olde age , or arme thy selfe against worldly practises , without a large stocke ? et genus & formam regina pecunia donat . queene coine doth giue both kinne and shape . doth truth lay in their dish , that their teachers are dumb dogges , their preachers illiterate , or their companions detracting ? zachary was dumbe , the apostles vnlearned , and peter detracted in denying his sauiour . doth thy pilades , thy friend , thy second selfe reproue thee again for detraction and calummation ? thou hast more friends then one . thy genius , thy old familiar tels thee , that this other friend is malicious , he rebukes thee of hatred , and not of good will. a true friend will labour to conceale in the cap-case of silence the couert secrets of his friend , be thy iust or vniust , lawfull or vnlawfull , as that italian poet hath well aduised : — vn ' vero amico a dritto a torto doue esser preposto , se tutto il mundo lui fosse opposto . a trusty friend must stand with wrong or right , though all the world oppose his friend with might . wherefore was the tongue giuen to man , but to vent out what the heart conceiues ? all men are not learned in lullius his art , that they can discourse of euery extemporary matter . each man hath his proper gift : some men be apt to inuent , some other to controule , some to speake , as if their tongues were on wheeles , and some dare not speake , without precise deliberation : yea , some cannot finde matter to speake , vnlesse their wits were refined with tobacco good sack ▪ and sugar , or their senses rub'd ouer with other mens relations , tending to nouelties and strange reports . among which ranke range thou thy selfe , deceitfull sathans darling , and beleeue it from the most experienced politick , that if a man disclose vnto thee the secrets of his heart , it is a kind of morality or morall kindnesse in thee to poure out likewise the affects of thy heart , and to answere him in like proportionable measure . it is no wrong , while thou speakest by surmise , or by heare-say . admit it were true , then how can these critical catoes bend their browes against thee ? how can they m●●ly taxe thee , or commence suite , de libellis famosis , de scand alis magnatum , in the starre chamber , or recouer damages by way of an action on the case at the common law ? it is not amisse to bruite and blaze abroad doubtfull detracting newes , for it may be thou mayest be the motiue of his repentance and reformation . these spitefull spurious seedes of the spirit of detraction a deuout schoole ●a● points out in this ma●er : si paup●res vilem & ab●ectum ●e reputat ; si d●ues ambit ●os●m , auarum & cupidum ; si affabilts dissolutum ; si praedicator vel docter ●●moris vel humani fauoris quaesuorem : si 〈…〉 inu●●l●m ; s●●cum us hypocritam : si comedens vrc●rem . tha● is , if thou be poore , he reputes thee vile and obiect ; if rich amb●tions a ●●ggard , or couetous ; if affa●●e 〈…〉 ; if thou be a preacher , or a doctor then he accou●t● , thee a hunter after honour or popularity ; if silent , vnprofitable ; if fasting , an hypocrite ; if eating , a gl●tton . with these or such like mantles of subtleties the diuell vseth to shrou● his inueterate malice towards mankind ; so that we presuming on selfe-wit and selfe-will , care not what wickednesse we contriue , nor what vanity we vtter with our lips . nor doe we thinke that our most patient lord beholdeth vs , heareth vs , yea , and knoweth the very cogitations of our hearts , before we haue time to speake them . but because when we knew god. we glorifie him not as god ▪ neither are thankefull , therefore god giues vs vp to reprobate minde : that is he giues vs ouer to our owne lustes , to si●ne , tradimur sathanae , we are deliuered ouer to be tempted and seduced by sathan , we are excommunicated with caine from gods lightsome presence , barred out of the doores of heauen , and banished from bl●sle . and if it were lawfull for me to diue in the lords secrets , i would say , that the arch-diuell , that old serpent is let loose out of hell for a time to confirme vs in our reprobate natures . lineament . vi. the naturall manner , how the spirit of detraction enters into a man and possesseth him . another reason to confirme the premisses . how so vile a spirit as this of detraction can possesse a man pertaker of diuine reason , i cannot keepe close from my friends the naturall meanes : first , will being lady ouer the soule , ouer reason , ouer sense and imagination , loth to minister causes of discontentment to any of her subiects , lest her dominion through ciuill discord might become enfeebled , resolues to please all handes , sometimes bearing with one , sometimes with another , at last she is glad her selfe to yeeld her suffrage vnto the strongest party , in such wise that the spirit of detraction gets footing with other spirits of errour . wherein she resembles the machiauellian princes of this world , who complot by their peoples factions for their priuate gaine ; one while with the gnelfes , another while with the gibellines ; one while with the white rose , another while with the red rose ; one while with the vrsini , another while with the house of columna : vntill at length themselues by the iust iudgement of god feele equall smart , their owne estates turned topsie-turuy ; and vntill the triple crowned monarch be chased ( like the foxe out of his hole ) from rome to auinion . to adde another naturall reason for the enabling of the premisses , the spirit of detraction at the first by bribing of memory & sense hath accesse to the braine , which is the lodge of the imaginatiue lady , and by his double diligence insinuates himselfe into her amity . she a princesse of estimation and fauor with the heart , commends this spirit of detraction to her protection , as a minion or play-fellow to deceiue the time ( or rather her selfe ) and to discouer vnto her the diuersities of spirits , which might harme her eyther in detracting her credite , or in disposing her subiects to insurrection . here the spirituall hermaphrodite is let in at first by secret conuayances as a thiefe ( for as yet he dares not openly enter into the hearts palace for feare of the enuious nobles ) . but in processe of time hauing throughly ( like absolon or seianus ) stolne away the good consent of the heart , and now strongly befriended by her extraordinary fauours in this microcosme of man , he enduceth other humorous spirits to regard him , and in fine enticeth vnto him in the hearts metropoly , the greatest number of the purer vitall spirits , where he besotteth them and bewitcheth them with melancholy , rage , choler , malice , and other disordinate passions : insomuch that the soule , the hearts tutrix is likewise enforced nolens volens , will she nill she , to obey this vnworthy spirit . lineament vii . corollaries for the explanation of the premisses . where wicked spirits reside in man. wicked spirits inhabite both in the soule and body : some , as the spirit of malicious detraction , the spirit of hatred , the spirit of enuie , lodge in the highest and chiefest part of the soule , called the reasonable will ( which is seated betweene reason and sensuality , and apt to be applied to eyther ) and these are spirituall , materiall , not knit to any corporall organ or instrument . other some there be that dwell in the inseriour part of the soule , now will being altogether become sensuall , as the spirit of g●uttony , the spirit of lechery , and these are materiall , bodily , and apprendants to some corporall subiect , as rightly belonging to the sensitiue appetite . the former spirits are apprehended in the soule , before they descend to the bodies appetite . the latter two are conceiued with sensuall appetite , before it be throughly scanned in the reasonable will or soule , whether the acte committed be good or euill . this the auncient philosophers harp●d vpon , when they acknowledged in euery man three seuerall parts proceeding from spirituall and corporall fountaines namely , the intellectuall , which issueth from the soule in the braine , the irascible which issueth from the heart , and the concupiscible or longing part , which flowes from the liuer . of these the intellectuall while it remaines incorrupted , may be termed celestiall , being the little and liuely looking-glasle of gods own attributes . the other two being brutail may rightly be ascribed to the sensitiue constitution ; specially , when eyther through custome ▪ complexion , or through some accidentall course they become materiall members for the knowledge of euill . in like manner both these spirits irascible , and concupiscible , linckt in affinity with flesh and blood , may also proportionably challenge one vniuersall lodge in the body , as wel as the soule apart vnto themselues , i meane when they vsurpe a predominance ouer the rest of the passions ; and this is the heart : for who calumniates his neighbours good name and same and hath not the heart burning ? who is possessed with the spirit of lust , and seeles not his heart consenting ? who hates his neighbour , and perceiues not his heart panting for reuenge ? in the heart is the most concourse of humours , and there abounds much fiery heat , seeing that it digesteth the blood , which is sent from the liuer ; for euen as the eyes of maydes looke vp to the hands of their mistresse , and as the lesser wheeles in the watch waite vpon the greatest wheele : so all the members of the body depend vpon the heart their punctuall wheele and mistresse . lineament viii . that the spirit of detraction hath two principall instruments , the hand and the tongue . their apish trickes : their monstrous effects . a briefe dehortation from detraction . even as wise philosophers by signes and effects doe finde out naturall causes , by properties they found out essences ; and by leading sparres doe ayme at leaden mines ; so must we by some externall operations apprehend the instrumentall meanes , by which the froathy spirit of detraction manageth whole rablements of wrangling and ●angling actions . and these are two , the hand & the tongue : with the hand sathan procures a man to wri●e infamous libels , inuectiues , satyres , and disgracefull letters and times ( not inferiour to the popes thundring bulles ) against his powerful . makers name , or at least wise against his honest neighbours fame , yea though he be an hundred miles distant from him , with such violent and insupportable fury , that one knowes not , which is more dreadfull the pike o● the pen. such a one might well be called a calamoboas , that is , the lusty or lofty crier with the pen , as antipater in plutarch termed carneades the libeller . some other times a dumbe spirit possesseth our outlawed out-casts ; so that with dumbe shewes , winking eyes , wry mouthes , bended browes , pointed fingers , touch of fee●e , and other apish trickes , they tempt the patience of the godliest man. which beast-like vsage a moderne poet thus painteth out : me digitis monstant , subsannant dentibus omnes : hic aures asini , fingit & ille canem . with fingers point , with grinning teeth they flout me , one asses eares , he dogs tongue makes about me . the other and common instrument of the spirit of detraction is the tongue , which being ill ordered and tutourlesse may bee termed a leprous sinne , a contagious sinne , spreading farre and neere the hyperbolical deuises of the diuell by the mouth of the detracting spirit towards the credulous eares of mortall men . wherein it is a thing remarkeable , and worthy of graphicall obseruation to see how this small member can worke such turbulent tumults , throughout all the circuit of mans little world . the repercussion of it stirres the gall , enflameth the blood , netries the heart , and musters together all the mutinous powers of the body in reuenge of the other opposite spirit . but when all comes to all : truth is great and must preuaile . in cold bloud men of vnderstanding will grow to this conclusion , that the tongue endamageth three soules , the absent whom it backe-biteth , the present person which is attentiue , and the detractor himselfe , which bloweth the dust , and it reuerteth backe vnto his owne eyes . euill words corrupt good manners , and also bewray the motions of the heart : for euen as the tree of the fielde is knowne by his fruit , so is the thought of mans heart knowne by his words . where is charity ? where is taciturnity ? while the tongue becomes the diuels trumpeter , to sound out his malicious words of defiance ? o imprudent age ! o carelesse folke , which suffer themselues to be allured by hellish nighting-galles ! fistula dulce canit , volucrem dum decipit auceps . the fowler lures melodiously , while he takes birds deceitfully . in regard of which circumstances , let thy words be few , for as a dreame comes by the multitude of businesse ; so the voyce of a foole is in the multitude of wordes . and l●t those golden sayings of the apostle be firmely imprinted within the closet of thine heart : g●●ue not ( quoth he ) the holy spirit of god , by whom thou art sealed vnto the day of redemption . let all but ernesse , anger , and euill speaking be put away with all maliciousnesse . lineament . ix . the authors censure of certaine english pamphleters , and ballad writers , with an inuocation to my l. of canterbury for a reformation , not onely of these abuses in writing , but also of other enormuus committed against the church-can●ts . a description of good and euill writers . that there is a mixt morall kind of writing , seruing as the lesser ●ight for the conuersion of the naturall man. herein i cannot chuse but somwhat touch the apish spleene of certain english pamphleters , who to gaine themselues windy applauses and popular praises among sathans posterity ( like vnto erostratus who fired dianaes famous temple at ephe , sus , to the intent he might be spoken of in after ages ) do publish daily the puffed leauen of their phantasies , which the poet otherwise calles ingenij caprisicum , the wilde fig-tree of their greene wittes , or as we vulgarly say , their wilde seed oates . these bastard bookes , begotten in an euill houre vpon the effeminate aspect of venus and mars , i could wish to be suddenly suppressed , as monsters opposite to the sacred spirit of regeneration . and for this purpose i humbly inuocate on you ( my iudicious lord , great britaines metropolitane ) intreating your further vigilancy in rooting out those vaine vines , which according to the nature of ill weedes will in time ouer-grow your pruned plants . but who am i , that dare admonish the ambrose of our age , who with your heauenly food of ambrosia , manna , and nectar , doe nourish the soules of our christian church prouiding milke for their young ones , medicine for their sicke , and meate for their strong . right reuerend lord , i know it is presumption in me to discourse with so great and graue a personage . yet notwithstanding , because our english adage taught me this vncontrouled rule , spare to speake and spare to speede ; i will not spare to enforme your grace , what wicked weedes doe ouer-top the graine of my natiue soile . beside those rotten rootes of writing , the neglect of your constitutions and experimented orders , whereby our commissaries must not call to question the sincerer sort of people vpon bare and naked fame , for euery slight and slanderous imputation : whereby they are forbidden to prouounce definitiue sentence , without the aduice of discreet aduocates : whereby our proctors are charged not to frame their libelles without the opinions and hands of aduocates : and whereby their wrangling noyse in court is stinted : i say , the contempts of these and other your canonicall commaundements by your meaner officials ; which now in your first visitation may more acutely be espied , are the principall causes , that they of the layer and lower sort become more carelesse in their carriage , more addicted vnto detraction . for surely there is nothing in this spacious round or vniuerse of nature , which more resisteth the execution of lawes , then the ordinary heape of friuolous and froward suites , then the disobedience and breach of ciuill customes in men of higher note . these , and many other enormious crimes enuring the popular ranke to peremptory and pecuish thoughts , deedes , and speeches , your prouidence may expell for a time , if not quite extinguish and extirpe . your fame eternized through your euer-shining bookes , through your neuer-spotted actions may worke some miracles in the conuersion of our detractors . yea , your noble name , illustrious abbot , a name ( i confesse ) somewhat ominous among the aduerse side , the admirers of auncient abbeyes , i say , your very name etymologized from that abba of adoption , the sounding voyce of a sighing spirit , may serue as an instrument of the holy ghost , to transmute roaring lyons into lowly lambes . by our ciuill law wee hold that all monsters may be freely slaine . among the auncient romanes they burned their monsters with fire , composed of those woods commonly called vnluckie , namely , with bryars , brambles , thornes , hauthornes , and with others such like vnfruitfull and vnfertile shrubbes . after this manner ought our monstrous bookes and ballads to be vsed and interdicted , which licentiously detract from the euangelicall grauity . for to what purpose did the spirit of spirits , the spirit of eternall life enable vs to regeneration ? but onely because we should shew our selues thankefull for so soueraigne a fauour . and do we proue thankefull vnto him , when we abuse the talent which he hath lent vs , as prouident oeconomickes or stewards , to lay it out for his best behoofe ? no certainely , we are but loose and lauish stewards , when we beget and bring vp such monstrous embrions of bookes , like vnto our iolly hunters , which conuert their childrens portion to the vse of dogges . let industrious inquisitors critickly examine ouer most of such bookes , as are yearely imprinted in this famous citie of london , and they shall finde them fitter for vulcans fiery furnace , then for mercuries learned library . for my part i haue experimented , that when i laboured ( like the bee ) to sucke out some substantiall iuyce out of many of these bookes , i could not get one droppe to distill downe my painfull pen. when i would haue gathered golden graines out of cherilus his doung , in stead of gold i collected drosse . such detracting and deluding alchymists are our pamphleters . when i had imployed the vttermost of my deuoir analytically to draw the materiall points of a whole printed quire of paper into short springs and heads , in stead of matter i foundm alice , in stead of marrow detractions , in stead of method neyther rime nor reason . in a word , i found chaerilus to be a cursing barretour , and a common brawler , more worthy to receiue a thousand fillips or buffets , rather then one phillippine or rose noble of gold . there is a kinde of writing vnfolding the knowledge of goodnes , full of viuacity , full of vigour , full of that liuely vertue , which the poets termed salem & leporem , salt and serious substance to season our wanton wittes withall . this kinde of writing is the reflecting image of those two testaments , into whose despised corps the spirit of life after three dayes and a halfe entred , whose validity is so vehement , that they bring downe flouds of bloud from heauen , yea , and many sortes of plagues and vengeance vpon all malicious mortals . likewise there is a prophane kinde of writing , seruing onely as the instrument of the knowledge of euill , for taunts and temptations fraught with satyricall scoffes , with scurrility , with scogins sports , with amorous allurements , deuised by the diuell for the replenishing of his kingdome , and for open euidence of condemnation against the reprobate before the grand iurie of heauen at the latter day . the former kinde of writing hath but small amity and alliance with flesh and bloud ; it is spirituall and proceedes from the inward man. hee that reades a booke of this stile and stampe , shall neuer hunger nor thirst : it heateth the heart , it healeth the passions , it quickneth the spirit , and ( like the sunne ) disperseth the thickest cloudes of sinfull nature . the other kinde of writing communicates with flesh and bloud , causeth men ( as malefactors ) to shun the light , to liue in the darkesome valley of death and damnation ; and being like brute beastes , bereaued of reason and diuine knowledge , it makes them aliue to be enrowled in the calender of the dead . out of both these kindes there flowes a mixt or morall manner of writing , inconstantly partaking of the indifferent knowledge of good and euill . for man hauing lost his originall happinesse , was left here on earth to soiourne in a middle state betwixt heauen and hell . with this mixt moralitie , plato , plutarch , pliny , seneca , and other pagan philosophers were endowed , to the end that gods mercy might be the more glorified , and that the gentils should be inexcusable in their conuersions , when they were confuted by their owne rules . for euen as his omnipotent maiesty vouchsased out of his magnificence to bestow a speciall priuiledge and prerogatiue vpon the israelites , to annoint them with oyle of gladnesse aboue their fellowes , to direct them by extraordinary meanes , to feed them with manna , with the purest bread : so at length by reason of their hardnesse of hearts , out of his meere mercy sithence towards the gentiles , hee sent the sunne-shine of his grace , to enlighten their horizon by such ordinary and mixt morall meanes included in their owne bookes to introduce them to the knowledge of goodnesse , to the reading of the scripture , which ( as i said before ) is the reflecting image and inferiour light ; so that the gentiles enioy the same at the second hand , as crummes reiected and relicted by the luxurious israelites . lineament x. certaine detractions of our common stage players are taxed . how god distributes his gifts diuersly to euery particular man. the authours briefe apologie concerning his owne imprinted workes . bvt how comes it to passe in this flourishing time of the gospell , that our nasones nasuti , are permitted to publish in print their dreams , and shallow conceits , which tend to the dishonour of gods name , and to the disgrace of their neighbours fame ? verily , the iudgement is iust : that they should be ledde into temptation , and become attentiue to lies and libels , because they glorified not his hallowed name , nor listened to the words of truth , whereby they might be saued . herein our common stage-players and comicke-writers haue as many witnesses as the world hath eyes , that all kind of persons , without respect of sexe or degree are nickt and nipped , rayled and reuiled by these snarling curre-dogs . for let a man endeuour to walke vprightly in the sight of god , separating himselfe as neere as he can from tatling tospots and tobacconists , loth to sit in the seat of the scornefull and vnrighteous , lest he become like will to like , and especially loth to communicate in the eucharist with such notorious and prophane persons ; presently these ganders gagle , that such a one is an hypocrite , or a pecuish puritane . let a man be silent , putting the barre of discretion before his lips , lest his tongue trippe , and procure hurt : according to that : — null● tacuisse nocet , nocet esse locutum . no hurt by silence comes : but speech brings hurt : these muttering momes paint out , that he is a meacocke , a melancholicke mummer , or a simple sot . let an ingenuous scholler salted with experience , seasoned with christian doctrine , hauing his heart feared and sealed with zeale and charity , let him but broach forth the barrell of his wit , which god hath giuen him ; they crie out that his braine is but an empty barrell , his wit but barren , his matter borrowed out of other mens bookes . at which last imputation , though i confesse this auncient saying makes for them : nihil dictum , quod non est dictum prius : that nothing can be spoken , but what is spoken of before ; yet notwichstanding i must needs tell them , that there bee other circumstances also fit to be considered , as the importunity of the times , the multiplicity of nouell inuentions , the extraordinary gifts of the spirit , the nature of the readers composed and disposed by measure , number , and waight , for the glory of the giuer , cuen as the holy ghost hath giuen them vtterance and capacity . thus rageth sathan , raysing vp his instruments , and causing them to scatter abroad such scandalous rumours vnder hand against good mens credites for feare lest his customes quaile , and lest his mill , which hitherto neuer wanted moulture , should suddenly stand still without cmolument , or gaine of soules . all men write not the same matter , nor after the same manner , after the same method , after the same mould . for if all men manured the spatious fielde of rh●toricke , what should become of the succinct and materiall substance of logicke ? if all men were auditours , who should teach or preach ? if the body of man were all eye , what place were left for the rest of the senses ? if the faculties of the soule were all memorie , where were the other intellectuall attributes ? for these reasons it hath pleased god to distribute diuersly his diuine vertues , as nuptiall dowries to euery particular man. some he inspires with one kind of knowledge , some with another , and all for his honour . some persons according to their knowledge of good and euill , are fitter to write prose , rather then verse , some to interprete , some artificially to inuent out of their owne braines , some other to collect cursorily or analytically out of other mens hiues . and that i may instant in my selfe , as i deriued a booke of mine called naturall and artificiall directions for health from philosophers , as well moderne as auncient : which also i manifested in these verses , now of late omitted by the printer in the third and last edition of the said booke : furtiuis olim varijsque superbijt oscen plumis ; ex multis fit liber iste libris . redde cuique suum : vilescit protinus oscen , hic sine naturâ foetet & arteliber . ex herbis sit mel , hominis ce● simia t●x●n aemula naturae est , maeonidisque maro . sit licet exmultis opus hoc , tamen vtile quouis teste , volummibus candidiusque tuis . as for my other workes , which i set out in prose and verse , i confesse they were composed by me as pueriles pupae as the froathy fruites of mine adolescency , and as one writes of ramus his logicke , they were inuented ardore i●uenili , vpon a youthfull spleene or sting . as there is nothing comprehended in them worthy of immortality , or of homers buski● , as they say : so i am sure there is no great harme in them , wherby apothecaries or fishmongers should challenge them for waste leaues to wrap about their drugges and macarelles , pipero & scombris digna . let them then be taken as st. iohns hearbe , which ( as our cookes report ) being put into the pot , will neyther doe good nor hurt to the pottage . but for this present booke of mine , wherein the spirit of detraction is coniured and conuicted , i dare inuite the whole crew of archilochian cynickes with their satyres , iambickes , and libels , with their so and so , with their vies and revies , with their phi●fie vpon it ▪ sie vpon it , to dash and blurre it ouer , to taunt , to teare it , to fling their caps at it , to make tennis-balles , and to bandy it away if they can . for i cannot do withall , if fooles will be fooles still , and so liue and die in their foolish phantasies . lineament xi . what kind of persons the spirit of detraction doth soonest possesse : with a description of the common people . that wise men and of resolution must not feare the detractions of the common people . that it is necessary for enuy to be the companion of vertue , and for the spirit of detraction to follow magistrates , as the shadow the body for the corroborating of their vertues . the spirit of detraction very seldome approacheth nigh to learned men , i meane , to them whose liues differ not from the rules of learning . for hardly will they be infected with erroneous vices , whom learning hath purged . commonly he watcheth about the ignorant and common sort of people , to inueigle their vnderstanding , to so we vanity and malice in their hearts , that afterwards they may continually varie , and as rotten vapors disperse them for nouelties into the open eares of their neighbors . these be they , whose first salutation in al meetings , is to aske , what newes ? these be they , which liue by newes as the salamander by the fire . these iolly fellowes , as if our gouernement in great britaine were a confused anarchy , or a petulant democracie do descant and deliberate on wise mens deedes ; yea , and now and then on their liues . whatsoeuer a wise man doth considerately or moderately , they argue it a kinde of slothfull cowardise . what is circumspectly forewarned , that they hold to be curiosity , but what soeuer is rash , hasty , and precipitate , that is thought by them to be couragiously determined . these monstrous hydraes of many heads , belluae multorum capitum , do ground their opinions vpon sandy foundations : they are stout when dangers are a farre off , and very irresolute when they are imminent and at hand . vnhappy is he , which reposeth any confidence in their assertions . admit a man is by them iustly extolled , what thing more augmenteth it to the conscience of a wise man , that measureth not his good by common rumours and reports , but by the infallible truth of the conscience ? he that is praised vnworthily , ought to bee ashamed of his praise . on the contrary , suppose that the vndiscreet multitude rageth against thee with booke , bell , and candle for thy vigilance , seruice , and paines taken in the behalfe of the weale publique , what harme i pray thee , may redound thereof ? let the security of thy conscience mitigate thy griefe . if thou were badde and like vnto thy detractors , thy company would be much more pretious vnto them . euery like loues his like : as a certaine athenian answeswered one that asked him , why hee subscribed to the banishing of aristides the iust ? for none other reason ( quoth he ) then because he is iust . but thou that carest more for the precepts of the lord then for the prescriptions of man , esteeme none otherwise of the spirit of detraction , then of an idle braine , or a talkatiue tongue . tollat sua munera cerdo , let the popular sort keepe their applauses and corruptions with themselues . while thou walkest vprightly in the sight of god , it is not their confused detractions which can impaire thy credite . iustice shines on thy side with vndefiled honours : she will patronize thy fame , and shelter thy good name vnder her vertuous wings . but for all this , thou murmurest , that the spirit of detraction , prouoke ; many priuy aduersaries against thine innocence , whose chiefe study is to register thy daily speeches in folio with a mishapen tayle , and to calender thy proceedings , as if they were solemne actes and monuments , with an intent sometime or otherto rippe vp a whole volume or legend of transgressions against thee before the higher powers . o simple animal , o liuer-hearted man. an heathenish embasladour could answere great alexander , that his countrey-men feared no earthly thing at all but onely one , namely , lest the skie would fall . and yet thou a christian , which knowest the vncertainty of this world , fearest ( like a crauen ) euery craking companion . whereas contrariwise thou oughtest to fore-arme thy spirit with an vndaunted resolution , after the example of an elderly iudge in this our common-wealth , who being admonished by his friends not to goe abroad so carelessely without company for feare of many enemies , whom he had stirred vp through his seuerity , thus constantly answered : alas , what can they doe , vnlesse they will shorten some few dayes of my life , whereof i expect daily to be ridde by the hands of god ? let them ban , let them curse , let them yell , let them fume ; for mine owne part , were the case mine , i would retort and returne backe vpon them none other counter-note , none other reuenge , then mine humble prayers to god for their amendement . an honest man ought to reioyce that enuy awaites vpon him , that the spirit of detraction attends vpon him : for how shall it be knowne that hee is honest if hee be without temptation ? iobs patience had not beone so illustrious , if sathan had not repined at his godly liuing . susannaes chastity had not shined so conspicuous , if the two elders had not vrged her to villany . neyther had the power of the great iehouah extended with such maiesticall terrour among his creatures , if he had not left some to be hardned and ledde astray . the light is most apparant in the darkest chaos . euen so doth the protestants faith appeare most bright in respect of blinde papists . a faire womans beauty shewes neuer more gallant , then when she stands among deformed dowdes , nor can a generous spirit be discerned more cleerely then in temptations . in temptation , in aduersity , a wise man shall quickly see of what mettall or stuffe the tempted is composed . surely it is requisite for the strengthning of our faith , and for the glory of god , that the elect ( like gold that is seuen times purified in the fire ) be purged from the froathy dregges of flesh and bloud , eyther by sensible stings in their owne persons , or else by exemplary animadue●sions of other mens errours . euen as that woman , whom her husband apprehends in adulterie stands in greatest awe and subiection , and commonly from that time forwards esteemes her husbands commandement most pretious , as it were the legall rule of her life ; so the sinfull soule that acknowledgeth her owne guiltinesse , stands in greatest feare of gods iudgements , and euer after her conuersion watcheth , as it were with linceus eyes , lest sathans messengers , namely , the spirit of detraction , the spirit of mallice , or such like fiends doe finde a hole in her coate , or a breach in her fort . st. paul writes , that he had beene exalted aboue measure with the abundance of reuelations , if the messenger of sathan had not buffeted him , and giuen him a pricke in the flesh , which i take to be aduersity or persecution . and so likewise should we waxe too proud with prosperity , if we neuer tasted of the cup of aduersity . this moued the samian tyrant , to cast into the sea an inestimable iewel , because he might seeme to change his rich fortunes . which superstitious custome the venetians tooke vp , their duke throwing into the sea a golde ring : though now-a-dayes they alledge that ceremony onely at their dukes installing , to be a foolish marriage betwixt their state and the sea. without doubt it is expedient that the spirit of detraction attend on magistrates as their shadow , lest their pompuous authority puffe vp their minds aloft to the highest altitude of the zodiacke , or lest , as the lyricke vaunteth : sublimi feriant fidera vertice , with lofty heads they strike the starry skie ; and so with ambitious phaeton they forget god and themselues . these things considered , magistrates must looke somewhat neerer vnto their wayes , if not for the loue of vertue , yet formidine poenae , for feare of punishment , for feare of detraction . neuerthelesse , i exhort wise men to make more account of them that be detracted and enuied , and to countenance them in their authorities against such furious tempests ; for they know that neyther themselues , not yet their prince are exempt from sathans srownes and stings ; and also they know that the multitude ( who , as lipsius interpretes , is verè vulgus faex & limus ) haue euer opposed themselues to the true passage of vertue . which caused a great lord of france thus to comfort monsieur du chesne , that complained vnto him , how he was detracted and enuied by some in his countrey : you complaine ( quoth this nobleman ) of a matter , whereof you haue cause rather to triumph , and to erect vnto your selfe a trophee : for in that you are enuied , it is a very certaine token and argument , that there is some vertuous thing in you , which deserues to be praised : vous vous plaignez d'vne chose , dont vous deuriez faire trophee : car estant en●ié , c'●est vn signe & argument trescertain , qu' il●y à quelque chose en vous de veriueux , qui merite d'estre loüe . lineament . xii . why mensoiourne with the spirit of detraction , and will not be dislodged from him . that no worldly causes ought to dispose a man vnto detractions . that which is once inueterate in the bone will hardly out of the flesh : euery creature loues his natural home , be it neuer so homely , and will not depart therehence voluntarily , no more then our northen nations will be drawne to virginia , norimbega , or some other countrey in the west indies , where abound farre richer commodities , richer grounds , and ampler scope for the fruition thereof then they haue in europe . so that i may boldly say vnto them , as once i said vnto a worthy friend of mine , which preferred his mountanous lands before our fertile fields : o infoelix auis , qui nasceris in obscoeno loco . o wretched bird , which wert bred in a wretched place . such is our folly , that we cannot exchange our barren solaecismes for refined syllogismes , our barbarous mumpsimus , for a reformed sumpsimus . we cannot leaue off our cancred customes for a regenerous vertue . our constitutions are queasie ; and so inured to malicious detractions , as a certaine woman of india to strong poisons , that we cannot without a perilous distemperature reclaime our selues from that poysoned vsage . yet notwithstanding all thy customes , o heedlesse man , thou art weighed in the ballance , and found too light . better it is to dwell in mesech , in the tentes of cedar , nay in the strangest countrey among the cannibals , then to soiourne among such cursed copi-holders or villanous vassals vnder the spirit of detraction . wherefore weane thy minde from detractions , while thou hast store of time . giue euery man his due , or hold thy peace , and let gods prouidence alone . if the world like thee not , detract not from the vilest wretch , but rather reioyce that others yet delight in charity , in distributing almes . or doth thy neighbour disquiet thee , because he is not as bountifull as thy selfe ? looke thou onely to thine owne talent . it may be , that of himselfe without thy carping , he will become a liberal conuert , like that terenan demea : though thou be strong , he may be more actiue : though thou be strong and actiue , he may be wiser or more pregnant in wit : though thou be nobly borne , he may haue a better face : though thou hast an amiable face , he may be better bodied : yea and perhaps , though thou and he be as charitable as tobias , as bountifull as maecaenas , as strong as hercules , as nimble as asahel , as wise as solomon , as well descended as aiax , as beautifull as absolon ; there may come a gouty crassus , and a greedy craesus onely with earthy excrements to bereaue you both of your hearts contentment , your amourous saints . for this cause embrace patience and taciturnity , and neuer detract from tobias his charity ; from maecaenas his bounty ; from hercules his strength ; from asahel his actiuity ; from solomon his wisedome ; from a●ax his birthright ; from absolon his beauty ; nor from misers their golden trash : though the want of them or of worldly pleasures discontent thy wordly thoughts . if one sparrow cannot light vpon the ground , if one haire cannot fall from our heades without the appointment of god ; why dost thou , o simple man , sometimes swell with anger , sometimes scoffe and scolde , some other times pine away with enuy , and at all times raise vp a tumultuous hurly-burly , and a confused combustion within thine owne body , against thine owne soule , because this world sorts not altogether according to thy will and wish ? remember the fable of the foolish frogge , that malitiously repined at the oxe , because he dranke more then himselfe , and so striuing to match him , burst his owne belly . after the same sort , dum mendicantes plures videt , ore dicaci persequitur mendicus , acri marcetque dolore . one beggar frets with rayling and with woe because he sees neere him more beggars goe . lineament . xiii . the conclusion showing that all persons from the prince his scepter to the coblers naulc , are subiect to detracting tongues . what prince euer flourished without calumniation ? what state euer stood without enuies sting ? what trade without interruptions of malicious sycophants ? figulus figulo . one mechanicall person repines at the other . one neighbour speakes ill of the other . moyses had his corah , dauid his semei , achilles his thersites , homer his zoilus , philip his demades , alexander his clytus , mardocheus his haman , socrates his anitus , cicero his salust . neyther liued our sauiour christ without thousands of slanders . did he cast out diuels out of vncleane bodies ? no , saith the iew , he could not cast out diuels , but by inuocation on baalzebub prince of diuels . did he cure the blinde ? let vs examine his parents and trie the truth . did father abraham beleeue in christ ? that could not hee , when christ was not yet borne . did christ protest himselfe to be the messias , the king of the iewes ? as false as the rest ; elias must first come ; and he that names himselfe king , sinnes against caesar. such was the malice of this monstrous ▪ fiend ▪ that he caused his ministers to raile at christ , to rend his diuinity in his last distresse . some yelled , if thou be the sonne of god come downe from the crosse. others mocked , he saued others , himselfe he cannot saue . others , thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three dayes , saue thy selfe , thus was the sonne of god reuiled as long as hee liued ; yet opened hee not his mouth , but sate still like a lambe before the shearer . after his glorious resurrection , these ingratefull iewes affirmed , that his disciples stole away his body , for al that their centurion watched about his tombe . in like manner the corinthians back-bited s. paul for his charitable care on the behalfe of the poore saints at ierusalem : though himselfe was not chargeable vnto them : neuerthelesse , being crafty he caught them with guile . and againe , his letters were sore and strong , but his bodily presence weake , and his speech nothing worth . thus rageth sathan by his detracting deputy ouer persons of all conditions , ouer nobles , and ignobles , ouer the clergy and the laity , from the prince his scepter to the coblers naule , from the crowne to the foote , yea euen from the kings crowne to the poore mans spade . the fovrth circle of the spirit of detraction , conivred and convicted . lineament i. the felicity and infelicity of our countrey of great britaine . the authours supplication to the high and mighty court of parliament for suppressing of common swearing , blasphemies , slannders , periuries , and other detractions offensiue to god and their countreyes weale . that they crucifie christ anew , which sweare eyther wantonly or wilfully by his bloud , &c. the authors motion for more additions to the statute of periurie . the necessitie if these additions , and of likely circumstances to lead our common iurours . o noble iland , our natiue land , how happy art thou , that art so famous among thy neighbours , among the nations , for thy faith vnto thy spirituall spouse , for the good and pleasant sauour of thy most pretious balmes ! o noble iland of great and gracious britain , whose name is a sweete smelling oyntment , when it is shed forth ! how happy art thou that excellest all the iles of the ocean , indian , and mediterranean seas as farre as the light of life exceedeth dulnesse , death , and darkenesse ! and how vnhappy art thou , which notwithstanding this thy happinesse , this exceeding excellency , and famous faith , that enlightens thy soule aboue the noone-tide sun ? how vnhappy , i say , art thou , which being humane as well as diuine , partaker of good and euill knowledge , hast thy night as well as day , thy winter as well as summer , thy darkesome eclipses as well as the deities glorious glimpses ? how vnhappy art thou , that holdest the dragons detracting stinges , and the eagles horrible wings , as well as the doues simplicity and the lambes integrity ! how vnhappy art thou , that hidest within thee nests of nasty and noisome foule , cages of euery vncleane and hatefull birds , and that harborest within thy bosome hypocrites , blasphemers , periurers , and antichristians , as vile venemous vermine , as foxes in lambes skinnes , foxes that hurt thy vines , vines which beare blossomes . thy wolues are long sithence worne and weeded out by the policy of a prouident & prudent prince . and why may not likewise thy dragons , thy foule birds and filthy foxes be rooted out of this vnited realme , seeing that our present prince surmounts all his progenitors in policie , prouidence , and prudence ? it is high time , my soueraigne liege , that you bestirre your powerfull scepter , proclayming out strong thundring threats from s. michacls mount , to the furthest bounds of calydone , against all licentious and lying libellers , against detractors of their neighbours names ; or at least wise against such prophane persons , which presume to wound the maiestie of their great creatour by their malicious or wanton wordes . to this end like vnto that clowne of danubius , who spared not to speake the truth from his very heart before the emperour aurelius , and the whole senate of rome , an obedient and obsequious seruant of yours , borne vnder cambriaes climate , doth here enforme your patient highnesse , that the sunne can no longer shine in your christian kingdome vpon truth and blasphemy , without a most terrible eclipse of discontentment . arise therefore , o king , and cause these noysome foxes to be both slaine and slaine . let their habitation be desolate , and no man dwelling therein . for they that be traytors to their heauenly king can neuer be true to their earthly king. they that wittingly and wilfully teare in pieces the titles of the great iehouah , will also proue rayling semeies , and reuiling sathans against your royall highnesse . their tongues like sharpe pointed arrowes , will passe and pierce through your hard steely armour , your armour of proofe , my lords both spirituall and temporall . their throats like open sepulchres , doe threaten to bury your wounded bodies , o yee knights , burgesses , and commons . yea , these knights of the post , these common swearers and detractors will conspire some time or other to blow vs all vp one after another with the gun-powder of their blasphemies . o then let not such atheisticall agags be spared , but let them perish by the hands of samuell ; let them perish in the pit of perdition , as persons faire worse then murtherers : for these kill but the body , whereas the periured kill themselues totally , both body and soule . and as an auncient father writes , they that blaspheme christ now reigning in heauen , do sinne no lesse then they , that crucified him here on earth . when they forsweare themselues , ( whether it be by compulsion , or of custome , or of some worldly respect , all is one ) eyther by gods body , by his bloud , or by his woundes , they spiritually pierce his sides with their bloudy weapons ( for a wicked tongue is worse then any weapon ) and like pitilesse pilate , they scourge his sanctified body againe . when they sweare by his head , as our swaggering swil-bowles will sweare by any part , they plaite another crowne of thornes vppon his hallowed head . when they sweare by his foote , they naile his innocent feete to the crosse anew . when they sweare by gods death , by gods heart , they put him to death , and being worse then iudas iscariot , they plot to supplant the heart of life . when they sweare by senseles blocks & stocks , by the masse , by gog or magog , they detract from gods honour , in attributing his due to dumbe and deafe idols . but when they wilfully sweare betwixt party and partie in iudiciall proceedings , by gods sacraments , or forsweare themselues vpon his louely legates , the testament eyther olde or new , they blasphemously detract from the father , the word , and the holy ghost , by reason that gods word comprehended in those holy oracles is the right record on earth , resembling the word incarnate now in heauen , who redeemed the penitent from sathans thrall ; euen as the other two mysticall records of water & the spirit , or of baptisme and the lords supper , represent the father & the holy ghost , the one signifying our election by baptisme and repentance from the father before all worlds , and the other witnessing and sealing the same into our consciences , and also breathing faith , loue , charity , and other diuine gifts into our barren wils , as is most euidently testified in those testaments : so that wilfull periury and blasphemous detraction , either to the derogation of gods honour , or to the detriment of his creatures ( if without commission i may discerne of spirits ) may be termed a sinne against the holy ghost , or against the whole maiestie of the sacred trinity . no lesse also sinne the suborners of periurie , then periurers themselues : nay , they encurre a farre greater punishment , because they occasion the losse of other mens soules , namely , of the suborned persons , besides the losse of their owne soules . and to detaine them more surely and safely in hell , the iniured parties , against whom such periury was committed , will continually craue and crie for vengeance . in respect of which abhominable abuses , and for that the diuell is now-a-dayes most spiritually busie at the shutting vp of this last tragicall seene of the world , may it please your soueraignties to ioyne together , as mystical members of one vndiuided and vnblemished corporation , for the extirping out of such prophane sinnes , which being begunne in youth , continued in manhood , and confirmed in olde age , doe continually raigne among vs ( as it were by destiny ) : so that likewise other blasphemies in manner of branches beginne to ouer-spread their leaues of lies and libels , aboue the plants ▪ of truth , onely by the slight and too too light stocking vp of that sinfull and saplesse tree of periury . or if your wisedomes iudge it not expedient to promulge and put out any new acte against this manifolded spirit of malignant detraction : yet notwithstanding , for the preuenting of periurie , and for the protection of innocencie , that naboth may not sustaine damage by iezabels false witnesses , and that all other sincere subiects may walke dreadlesse in their vocations , it were a worke of charity , and very likely to hinder the future budding vp of innumerable inconueniences , if you would but adde one materiall clause more to the statue of periury , viz. that none be admitted to beare witnes against honest men , but honest men , men of some sufficiency and substance , vntouched , vncorrupted , and vnsuspected ; i meane not , that they should be voyde of sinne , for then we must goe out of this world , to fetch in the angels of heauen , but i meane , sober men , vnattainted of notorious crimes , those whom the common law termes probos & legales ; so that common drunkards , haunters of alehouses , hunters of whores , barretours , beggars , rogues , and light persons , whom the londoners call knights of the post , may be excluded from deposing against substantiall subiects . for to what end requires the law to haue witnesses produced ? is it not to trie the truth ? and what truth can there be found in such notorious lewd liuers , whose thoughts are altogether dulled with sensuall pleasures ? what true proofe can there be expected from them , who differ but very little from bruit beastes ? therefore it were sit that iudges and iurours regard circumstances as well as witnesses . doth a common drunkard or a common whore-hunter depose ? such must haue meanes to maintaine their vices . doth a beggar or a prisoner sweare ? beleeue him not , for pinching penu●ie will perswade persons to testifie that the crow is white . neede will make the olde wise trot . — quid non mortalia pectora cogis , auri sacra fames ? — is a common barretour produced to testifie his knowledge ? a barretour is euer malicious , litigious , and full of mischiefe . is a a rogue brought in to giue euidence ? his wit runnes a wool-gathering , and with the aboue named persons , he ought rather to be sent into bridewell , then to staine the iudiciall proceedings of an honourable court. but how is it possible for auoyding of confusion and delayes in suites , to sound out the certainty and abilitie of the proofes and persons ? euery man cannot equally discerne of spirits ; euery man is not a solomon , a nathan , a peter , a paul ? therefore our iurie men had neede of further instruction , that they accept not witnesses of all sorts , tag and rag , without exception . it were good for the common-wealth that commissions were awarded to examine their carriage and behauiours . in the ecclesiasticall court men may in some sort except against false and infamous witnesses : and so out of the courts of starre-chamber , chancery , and councell of the marches , vpon vrgent motions there are graunted extraordinarie commissions , with crosse and wittie articles , like daniels interrogatories to intrappe suborned witnesses . but this course is costly , painefull , and very seldome followed or allowed . whether this latter motion doe not deserue your furtherance , i appeale to euery subiect in particular , euen from the bench of iustice to the poore shepheards cottage . the papists vaunt , that the reason of this falshood of witnesses , proceedes through the contempt of their romish religion . for ( say they ) this speciall benefite fell out by their policie of auricular confession , that by means of it mens consciences were humbled and held in such seuere subiection , that they durst not forsweare themselues vpon premeditation . but whosoeuer doth more deeply weigh their licentious dispensations , and our licentious education , shall finde both religions sicke of the same disease . for indeede we had neede in this declining and drooping age of the world , to obserue circumstances as well as proofes , and to imitate the discreete phisician , who giuing no credite to the rules of raw and rude empirickes for the sicke mans health , betakes himselfe to a higher contemplation , to iudiciary astrologie , obseruing the signes , constellations , and other remarkeable accidents . lineament . ii. that licentiousnes is the cause of detractions , defamations , periuries , and blasphemies . that tauernes are the causes of licentiousnes ; wherby the authour t●keth an occasion to admon●sh magistrates of their duety in this importent case . when i sit silently musing with my selfe , what might be the reason that detractions , defamations , periuries , and idle speeches become now-a-dayes more rife then in former times , i protest vnto thee , o ingenuous reader , that my soule is sore disquieted within me . the zeale of gods glory , which these titans , encelades , and their monstrous factions goe about to batter by their beastly behauiours , doth sollicite this soule of mine to soldiourize in this exigent vnder the archangels banner , coniuring and conuicting the detractours of our time , the deprauers of pretious time ; whose tongues and voyces declining from their soules reasonable faculties , from the spirituall similitude of the deitie , and peruerted by the iudgement of the iust iehouah into bruitish sounds , they are metamorphozed with gryllus and the rest of vlisses his companions into grinning dogs , grunting hogges , grumbling foxes , into squeaking apish squaules , and into bellowing bulles of basan . because that when they knew their god , they gaue him not that honour , that thankefull honour , that obedience , that dutifull obedience , with trembling reuerence , as was conuenient for so great a maiesty , so great a sauiour , so great a law-giuer : and because that when they were enlightned with the fire of his spirit , according to the quality of their bodies , that could not receiue a greater quantitie of his grace , by reason of their gluttonous affections and earthly affectations ; because , i say , they did not watch , fast , and pray in meekenesse and mildenesse of minde , for their crying and cruell sinnes : therefore hath that righteous one deliuered them ouer to their owne naturall dispose , to sathan , to sinne , to beastiall behauiours , to diuersities of detractions , and to al the contraries or aduersaries of the knowledge of goodnesse . in regard of all these detractions , contempts , inconueniences and abuses , i wil not spare to display out in colours the prime cause of such abhominations , which in very deed is none other then licentiousnesse . this is that vnbridled vice , which beginning in youth , growes vp to an habite in olde age ; which being once rooted in , cannot with all hercules his labours bee remoued out . a captaine may sooner conquer the strongest fort in hungaria then conquer this wanton affection . what then , experience , the graund and graue mother of worldly wisedome , art thou put to thy nonplus with all thy trauels , with all thy trials ? hast thou no stratageme in store , no witty engine to expell this giddy headed gallant ? alas , the worldes oracle is sodainly dumbe . but though heauen and earth doe passe away , truth is great , and must preuaile , truth is great , and will not quaile . me thinkes , i heere a voyce descending downe from the heauenly places : ( nec vox hominem sonat , ô dea certè , ( nor is this voice humane , a goddesse sure thou art . ) take away ( cries the truth ) the cause , and take away the effect ; get thee ( quoth she ) an exquisite map of all this iland , and view whether there be not ten tauernes for one church , ten diuels for one saint , ten tospots for one temperate . these pa●try cottages be they , which minister matter and fewell to the fire of licentiousnesse . here , breede conspiracies , combinations , common coniurations , detractions , defamations . heere , a man shall meete at all times , day or night , yea , in the dawning , twilight , and midnight with drunken dissolutes , who for maintenance of their trade will be content to sell oathes at a prodigall rate . if you want meanes to vent and blaze out false newes , blasphemous newes , runnagate reports , slaunderous reports , tending to their gods dishonour , or to their neighbours disgrace : heere , you shall find many mercenaries ready to be prest at your commaund . thus doe these alehouse knights , knights of the post , or posting knaues attend on the spirit of detraction , intending to set their tongues and soules to sale , to sweare and forsweare whatsoeuer the diuell or his adherentes will enioyne them , not onely against their neighbours name and fame , against their rights and liuelyhoode , but also against their deerest liues , which , as tenants at will , they hold of god himselfe . thus like drunken men doe these blasphemous wretches reele too and fro , as the psalmist speakes , thus doe they stagger , and are at their wits end , not knowing the waies of the lord , but inclining themselues that way where the staffe falles , where haplesse hazard leads them : so vncertaine are our detractours in their thoughts , words , and workes , euen in their decrepite age , being then through their dissolutenesse become crazed , without eyther head or foote , without hope of remorce , without hope of mercie . heretosore ( as we reade in chronicles ) a king of this land was same to stoppe and stint his danes , that they might not exceed a prescribed measure in their drinking . the like laudable custome did our present king impose by consent of his parliament vpon our lourdanes , or disguised trauellers , which resorted to tauernes , namely , that they should not drinke aboue a quart at a meale , nor stay aboue an houre in these infamous houses . but , as those lawes , which concerne many , are commonly neglected of many : so notwithstanding his maiesties wholesome lawes , people now adaies through licentiousnesse hauing almost gotten a habite of disobedience , few or none aduenture to execute the same . or if perhaps any one more forward then the rest fearing the shipwracke of his conscience , for waxing slouthfull in his charge against these centaurs , or for winking at such enormities of these his countries cyclops , should chance to extend the rod of his authoritie in suppressing them ; presently sathan suggesteth some of his darlings , detracting barretours , to countenance these lewde liuers ; and rather then faile , he subornes them to molest those zealous magistrates by hooke or by crooke to the starre chamber , or to some other principall court two or three hundred miles off , for trifling matters not worth the speaking : and all to the entent , to terrifie and tire them with tedious trauelling too and fro ; so that few officers dare put in execution what the law requireth them , being loth to hazard their goods and persons in so wearisome a iourney , in so cumbersome a suite . these , these bulbeggars ( i say ) be the onely obstacles , that iustice is not executed against the malefactors of our countrey . herehence it comes to passe that iustices of milde and moderate spirits do swallow downe many a bit of bitter iniuries , rather then they will aduenture their fortunes in law vpon such vile vermine . yet notwithstanding these crosses , which ouerthwart your honest purposes , it behoues you ( my masters ) whom his maiestic or his chauncellor hath commissioned by iethroes counsell as rulers ouer hundreds , ouer fifties , to lay aside your panicke feares , to looke vnto your places , and not to preferre your priuate weale before the publike , in intending so neerely the temporall goods of blind fortune , whereof the eye of iustice in reuenge of your remissenesse and periuries will sodainly bereaue you with a heauier scourge . for this cause i could wish , that this golden saying were firmely ingrauen in your thoughts : qui non impedit facinus , cum possit , facinori consentit . he that hinders not a sinne , when he may hinder it , consents vnto the sinne . for no doubt , but this saying is alreadie verified in many of vs , whom god forgiue ; specially , when we spare gods enemies , of what nature soeuer they be , eyther for indulgence , importunate friendship , or for feare of the diuell , or of his detracting followers . therefore be ye stout as lyons , fighting the lords battailes . the cause is the lords , the iudgement is the lords : and the lord will be with you in the cause and iudgement . now shew your selues whose champions ye are ; and with your vnpartiall hands subscribe to pull and put downe these licentious brothelries , downe with these tauernes , downe with these seminaries of corruption , downe with the cause , and downe with the effects , if ye haue any sparke of gods spirit shining in you . the prodigious effects hatched and fostered in these drunken cottages ( as i said before ) is licentiousnesse , the diabolicall dame of detractions , periuries , blasphemies , and of a number of other base brats . lineament iii. that the spirit of detraction is sooner conuicted through the bright light , and testimonie of the scripture then through mens reall sorce or worldly deuices . even as aarons rod in pharaoh his presence consumed all the magicians rods , that were put before it : so words grounded vpon the touchstone of truth , do at the last consume to nothing all the bubling dregs of babling detraction . for by how much that michael the archangel is more mightie then the detracting dragon , by so much doth the speech of truth beare a greater sway ouer the mishapen monsters of falshood ; which like foolish apes by their vaine and vncharitable chattering would faine obtaine the christian sirname of truth . but the word of life , the light of vnderstanding will not abide such derogations and detractions . and therefore he hath of his speciall and superabundant grace sent forth the spirit of his mouth , the brightnesse of his comming to consute these hidious heresies and peremptory paradoxes , which with the antichrist were conceiued and begotten among vs. out of this light or lightsome word , out of the right resembling image of the fathers eternall vertues , as his pledge to the catholike church , issued his written image , the sacred scripture , whose efficacy is so excellent , that the testimonies thereof suffice to coniure downe all the spirits of hell into their owne bottomlesse home . being an armie of armed men against the spirit of detraction , and he will intreate them wo●se then that possessed person did the seuen sonnes of scaeua the iew , against whom he ranne and preuailed , that they were forced to flie out of the house naked and wounded . besprinkle him with whole buckets full of holy water , chant millions of masses vnto him ; his spirituall substance cares not for wetting ; and for your masses , surdo canis , he will not heare them for your good ; but gladly heares them for your hurt and hindrance . onely a few materiall sentences extracted out of the heauenly booke , and giuen in euidence by an humble-minded christian with prayer and contrition , doe certainly coniure , conuince , and confound all his dartes , stings , and forces . to this end i will repeate some prouerbiall lessons selected by me out of that booke of life , with hope that their energy and viuacitie will conuert my countrymen , that are any thing towardly enclined to follow truth and integritie , to become vertuously forward , and not viciously froward . and first i will briefly rebuke and refute the vse of idle speeches , before i descend to the reprehension of deeper detractions . wherein i will follow the example of expert physicians , who are wont at first to prescribe gentle preparatiues to attenuate and mollifie the stubborne and inueterate humours of their patients bodie , before they attempt to purge the same substantially . lineament . iiii. the spirit of detraction coniured and conuicted by the prophet dauids testimony . they talke of vanity euery one with his neighbour : they doe but flatter with their lippes , and dissemble with their heart . but the lord shall roote out all deceitfull lips , & the tongue that speaketh proude things , which haue said , with our tongue we will preuaile : we are they that ought to speake , who is lord ouer vs ? their throate is an open scpulchre , with their tongues haue they deceiued ; the poyson of aspes is vnder their lips . their mouth is full of cursing and bitternesse . lord , who shall dwell in thy tabernacle ? or who shall rest vpon thy holy hill ? euen he , that leadeth an incorrupt life ; and doth the thing that is right , and speaketh the truth from his heart . he that hath vsed no deceit in his tongue , nor done euill to his neighbour , and hath not sl●undered his neighbours . they are inclosed in their owne fat : and their mouth speaketh proud things . like as a lion that is greedy of his prey ; and as it were a lions whelpe lurking in secret places : vp lord , disappoint them , and cast them downe : deliuer my soule from the vngodly , which is a sword of thine . let the lying lips be put to silence , which cruelly , disdainefully , and despitefully speake against the righteous . the mouth of the righteous is exercised in wisdome , and his tongue will be talking of iudgement . thy tongue imagineth wickednesse , and with lyes thou cuttest like a rasor : thou hast loued vnrighteousnesse more then goodnesse , and to talke of lies more then righteousnesie : thou hast loued to speake al words , that may doe hurt , o thou false tongue . therefore shall god destroy thee for euer : he shall take thee and plucke thee out of thy dwelling , and roote thee out of the land of the liuing . destroy their tongues , o lord , and diuide them , for i haue espied vnrighteousnesse and strife in the citie . god shall send forth his mercie and truth : my soule is among lions : and i lie among the children of men , that are set on fire , whose teeth are spears and arrowes , and their tongue a sharpe sword . they goe too and fro in the euening , they grinne like a dog , and runne about through the citie . behold , they speak with their mouthes , and swords are in their lips : for who doth heare ? but thou , o lord , shalt haue them in derision , and thou shalt laugh all the heathen to scorne . for the sinne of their mouth , and for the words of their lips they shall be taken in their pride . and why ? their preaching is of cursing and lies . hide me from the gathering together of the froward , and from the insurrection of wicked doers , which haue whet their tongues like a sword , and shot out their arrowes , euen bitter words ; that they may priuily shoot at him which is perfect . suddenly doe they hit and feare not . they corrupt others , and speake of wicked blasphemie ; their talking is against the most high : for they stretch forth their mouth vnto the heauens , and their tongue goeth through the world . remember this , o lord , how the enemy hath rebuked , and how the foolish people haue blasphemed thy name . as for the blasphemie wherewith our neighbours haue blasphemed thee ; reward thou them , o lord , seuen folde into their bosome . who so priuily slaundereth his neighbour , him will i destroy . hold not thy tongue , o god of my praise : for the mouth of the vngodly , yea and the mouth of the deceitfull is opened vpon me . they haue spoken against me with false tongues : they compassed me about also with words of hatred , and fought against me without a cause . deliuer my soule , o lord , from lying lips , and from a deceit full tongue . what reward shall be giuen or done vnto thee , thou false tongue ? euen might and sharpe arrowes , with hote burning coales . they haue sharpened their tongues like a serpent : adders poyson is vnder their lips . let the mischiefe of their owne lips fall vpon the head of them , that compasse me about . let hot burning coales fall vpon them : let them be cast into the fire and into the pit , that they neuer rise againe . a man full of words shall not prosper vpon the earth . set a watch , o lord , before my mouth , and keepe the doore of my lips . lineament . v. the spirit of detraction coniured and conuicted by king solomons testimony . as for the scornefull , doth not the lord laugh them to scorne ? cap. . put away from thee a froward mouth ; and let the lips of slaunder be farre from thee . prou. . these sixe things doth the lord hate , and theseuenth he vtterly abhorreth : a proude looke , a lying tongue , hands that shed innocent bloud , an heart that goeth about wicked imaginations , feete that be swift in running to mischiefe , a false witnesse that bringeth vp lies , and him that soweth discord among brethren . cap. . ibid. he that winketh with his eye will cause sorrow , but he that hath a foolish mouth shall be beaten : the mouth of a righteous man is a well of life , but the mouth of the vngodly keepeth mischiefe in his heart . cap. . he that hideth hatred with lying lippes , and that speaketh slaunder is a foole . ibid. where much babling is must needes be offence : but he that refraineth his lips is wise . ibid. the mouth of the righteous will be talking of wisedome ; but the mouth of the vngodly speaketh froward things . ibid. a foole slaundereth his neighbour , but a wise man holdeth his peace . a dissembling fellow will discouer priuy things ; but he that is of a faithfull heart , keepeth counsell . cap. . a foole vttereth his wrath in all hast , but a discreete man couereth his owne shame . cap. . a slaunderous person pricketh like a sword , but a wise mans tongue is wholsom . the lips of truth shall be stable for euer , but a dissembling tongue is soone changed . ibid. the lord abhorreth lying lips : but they that deale truely please him . ibid. a discreet man doth hide knowledge : but the heart of fooles bableth out foolishnesse . ibid. he that keepeth his mouth , keepeth his life ; but who rashly openeth his lips , destroyeth himselfe . cap. in the mouth of the foolish is the rod of pride , but the lips of the wise will preserue them . cap. . a faithfull witnesse will not dissemble , but a false record will inuent lies . ibid. a faithfull witnesse deliuereth soules , but a deceitfull witnesse bringeth forth lies . ibid. a soft answere appeaseth wrath , but rough wordes stirre vp anger . cap. . a wholsome tongue is the tree of life , but the frowardnesse thereof doth make sad the spirit . ibid. the heart of the righteous sludieth his answere before , but the wicked mans mouth spieth out mischiefe . ibid. a wise heart ordereth his mouth wisely , and ministreth learning vnto his lips . cap. . an vngodly person stirreth vp euill , and in his lips is an hote burning fire . ibid. a froward body causeth strife , and he that is blabbe of his tongue maketh diuision among princes . ibid. speech of authority becommeth not a foole ; much lesse then doth a lying mouth beseeme a prince . cap. . a wise man vseth few words , and a man of vnderstanding is of a patient spirit ; yea a very foole when he holdeth his peace is accounted wise , and he that stoppeth his lips is esteemed prudent . ibid. the words of a wise mans mouth are like deepe waters . cap. . a sooles lips come with brawling , and his mouth prouoketh vnto stripes . a fooles mouth is his owne destruction , and his lips are the snare of his owne soule ib. the words of a slaunderer are very wounds , and goe through the innermost parts of the body . ibid. death and life are in the power of the tongue , and they that loue it shall eate the fruite thereof . ibid. a false witnesse shall not be vnpunished , and he that speaketh lies shall perish . cap. . a wicked witnesse mocketh at iudgement , and the mouth of the vngodly deuoureth wickednesse . ibid. cast out the scornfull man , and so shall strife goe out with him ; yea variance and slaunder shall cease . ca. . be not a false witnesse against thy neighbour , and speake no falshood with thy lips . cap. . the north winde drtueth away the raine , euen so doth an angry countenance a backbiters tongue . cap. giue not the foole an answere after his foolishnesse , lest thou become like vnto him . cap. . as he that counterfeits himselfe mad , casteth firebrands , deadly arrowes , and dartes ; so doth the dissembler with his neighbour , and saith , am not i in sport ? where no wood is , there the fire goeth out ; euen so where the tale-bearer is taken away , there the strife ceaseth . as coales kindle heat , and wood the fire ; euen so doth a brawling fellow stirre vp variance . a tale-bearers words are like men that strike with hammers , and they pierce the inward parts of the bodie . burning lips and a wicked heart are like a pot shard couered with siluer drosse . a lying tongue hateth the afflicted , and a flattering mouth worketh mischiefe . ibid. in cap. . a brawling woman and the roofe of a house dropping in a rainy day , may well be compared together , for he that stilleth her stilleth the winde , and stoppeth the smell of oinments in his hand . cap. . if a prince delight in lies , all his seruants are vngodly cap. . seest thou a man that is hasty to speake vnaduisedly ? there is more hope in a soole then in him . ibid. be not hasty with thy mouth , and let not thine heart speake any thing rashly before god , for god is in heauen , and thou vpon earth ; therefore let thy wordes be few . eccles. cap. . suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sinne . ibid. the spirit of wisdome is louing , and will not absolue him that blasphemeth with his lips ; for god is witnes of his reynes , a true beholder of his heart , and an hearer of his tongue : for the spirit of the lord that filleth the round compasse of the world , and the same that vpholdeth all things , hath knowledge also of the voyce . therfore he that speaketh vnrighteous things cannot be hid , neyther shall the iudgement of reproofe let him escape . and why ? in quisition shall be made for the thoughts of the vngodly , and the sound of his wordes shall come vnto god ; so that his wickednesse shall be punished . the eare of iealousie heareth all things , and the noise of g●udging shall not be hid : therefore beware of murmuring , which is nothing worth ; and refraine your tongue from slaunder , for there is no word so secret that it shall goe for nought , and the mouth that speaketh lies slayeth the soule . wisd. cap. . lineament vi. the spirit of detraction coniured and conuicted by iesus the sonne of siraches testimonie . in the tongue is wisedome knowne , so is vnderstanding , knowledge , and learning in the talking of the wise , and stedfastnesse in the workes of righteousnesse . in no wise speake against the words of truth , but be ashamed of the lies of thine owne ignorance . be not hasty in thy tongue , neyther slacke and negligent in thy workes . cap . be s●ift to heare , but slow and patient in giuing answere . if thou hast vnderstanding , shape thy neighbour an answer ; if no , lay thy hand vpon thy mouth , lest thou be trapped in an vndiscreete word , and so confounded . honour and shame is in the talke , but the tongue of the vndiscreet is his owne destruction . be not a priuy accuser as long as thou liuest , and vse no slaunder with thy tongue ; for shame and sorrow goeth ouer the thiefe , and an euill name ouer him that is double tongued : but he that is a priuie accuser of other men shall be hated , enuied , and confounded . cap. . a man full of words is perillous in his city ; and he that is rash in his talking shall be abhorred . cap. . reherse not a wicked and churlish word twise , and thou shalt not be hindered . if thou hast heard a word against thy neighbour , let it be dead within thee ; and be sure thou shalt haue no harme thereby . a foole trauelleth with a word , like as a woman that is pained with bearing of a childe . like as an arrow shot in a thigh of flesh , so is a word in a fooles heart . reproue thy neighbour , that he keepe his tongue ; and if he haue spoken , that he say it no more . a man falleth with his tongue sometime , but not with his will : for what is hee that hath not offended with his tongue ? cap. . a wise man will hold his tongue till he see opportunity , but a wanton and vndiscreet body shall regard no time . he that vseth many words shall hurt his owne soule , and he that taketh authority vpon him vnrighteously shall be hated . in the mouth of him that is vntaught are many vnconuenient and vnmeete words . a lie is a wicked shame in a man , yet shall it be neuer in the mouth of the wise . a thiefe is better then a man that is accustomed to lie . the conditions of liers are vnhonest , & their shame is euer with them . cap. . a foole lifteth vp his voyce with laughter , but a wise man shall scarse laugh secretly . the lips of the wise will be talking foolish things , but the words of such as haue vnderstanding , shall be waighed in the ballance . the heart of fooles is in their mouth , but the mouth of the wise is in his heart . a priuy accuser of other men shall defile his owne soule , and be hated of euery man ; but he that keepeth his tongue and is discreet , shall come to honor . cap. . if thou be among the discreet , keepe thy words to a conuenient time , but among such as be wise speake on hardly . the talking of fooles is abomination , and their sport is voluptuousnesse and mis-nurture . the proude doe blaspheme and are scornefull , but vengeance lurketh for them as a lion. cap. . an hasty browling kindleth fire , and an hasty strife sheddeth bloud : a tongue also that beareth false witnesse bringeth death . if thou blow the sparke it shall burne , if thou spit vpon it , it shall go forth , and both these come out of the mouth . the slaunderer and double tongued is cursed , for many one that be friends setteth he at variance . the stroke of the rodde maketh prints in the skin , but the stroke of the tongue smiteth the bones in sunder . there be many that haue perished with the sword , but many moe through the tongue . well is hee that is kept from an euill tongue , and commeth not in the anger thereof , which draweth not the yoake of such , and is not bound in the bonds of it . for the yoake thereof is of iron , and the band of it of steele . the death of it is a very euill death , hell were better for one then such a tongue . but the fire of it may not oppresse them that feare god , and the flame thereof may not burne them . thou hedgest thy goods with thornes , why dost thou not rather make doores and barres for thy mouth ? thou waighest thy siluer ; why dost thou not waigh thy words also vpon the ballance , and make a doore and abarre , and a sure bridle for thy mouth ? beware that thou slide not in thy tongue , and so fall before thine enemies that lay waite for thee , and thy fall be incurable , euen vnto death . cap. . thou young man speake that becommeth thee , and that is profitable ; and yet scarse when thou art twise asked . comprehend much with few words , in many things be as one that is ignorant : giue care , and holde thy tongue withall . if thou be among men of high authority , desire not to compare thy selfe vnto them ; and when an elder speaketh , make not thou many wordes therein . cap. . like as a wilde horse that neigheth vnder euery one that sitteth vpon him , so is it with a scornfull friend . cap. . lineament . vii . the spirit of detraction and periury coniured and conuicted by other testimonies of the scripture . thou shalt not take the name of the lord thy god in vaine : for the lord will not hold him guiltlesse that takes his name in vaine . thou shalt not haue to doe with any false report , neyther shalt thou put thine hand with the wicked to be an vnrighteous witnesse . thou shalt not sweare by my name falsely , neither shalt thou defile the name of thy god : i am the lord. remember this , o lord , how the enemy hath rebuked , and how the foolish people haue blasphemed thy name . thy name is wonderfull , o lord , and onely to had in reuerence . i see a flying booke of twenty cubites long , and tenne cubites broad , which containeth the curse that goeth ouer the whole earth : for all theeues shall be iudged after this booke , and all periured persons shall be iudged according to the same . and i will bring it forth , saith the lord of hostes , so that it shall enter into the house of a theefe , and into the house of him that falsly sweareth by my name , and shall remaine in the midst of his house , and consume it with the tymber and stones thereof . let none of you imagine euill in his heart against his neighbour , or loue false oathes , for these are the things which i hate , saith the lord. let not thy mouth be accustomed to swearing , for n it there are many fals : let not the naming of god be icontinually in thy mouth , and meddle not with the names of saints , for thou shalt not be excused of them . for like a seruant which is oft punished , can not be without some sore : euen so , what soeuer he be that sweareth , and nameth god , shall not be cleane purged from sinne . a man that vseth much swearing , shall be filled with wickednesse , and the plague shall neuer goe from his house , if he beguile his brother , his fault shall be vppon him , if he aknowledge not his sinne hee maketh a double offence , and if he sweare in vaine , he shall not be found righteous , for his house shall be full of plagues . the words of the swearer bring death , god graunt that it be not found in the house of iacob ; but they that feare god , eschue all such , and lie not waltering in sinne . vse not thy mouth to vnhonest and filthy talking , for in it is the word of sinne . ye haue heard that it hath beene said to them of olde time , thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe , but shall performe vnto the lord thine oathes . but i say vnto you , sweare not at all , neyther by heauen , for it is gods seate , nor by the earth , for it is his foote stoole , neyther by hierusalem , for it is the citie of the great king. neither shalt thou sweare by thy head , because thou canst not make one haire white or blacke . but let your communication be yea , yea ; nay , nay : for whatsoeuer is more then these commeth of euill . woe be vnto you ye blinde guides , for ye say , whosoeuer shall sweare by the temple it is nothing , but whosoeuer shall sweare by the golde of the temple he is a debter . ye fooles and blinde , for whether is greater , the gold or the temple that sanctifieth the gold ? and whosoeuer sweareth by the altar , it is nothing ; but whosoeuer sweareth by the gift that is vpon the altar , he is a debter . ye fooles and blinde , for whether is greater the gift or the altar that sanctifieth the gift ? who so therefore shall sweare by the altar , sweareth by it , and by all things thereon . and who so shall sweare by the temple , sweareth by it , and him that dwelleth therein . and he that shall sweare by heauen , sweareth by the seate of god , and him that sitteth thereon . aboue all things , my brethren , sweare not , neither by heauen , neither by earth , nor by any other oath ; let your yea be yea , and your nay , nay ; lest you fall into condemnation . these being deceiued by dreames defile the flesh , despise rulers , and speake euill of them which are in authority . yet michael the archangell , when he stroue against the diuell , and disputed about the body of moses , durst not giue rayling sentence , but said , the lord rebuke thee . but these speake euill of those things which they know not . if a man sinne not in word , the same is a perfect man , and able also to bridle all the body : behold we put bittes in the horses mouthes , that they may obey vs , and we turne about their whole bodie . behold also the shippes , which though they be so great , and are driuen of fierce windes , yet are they turned about with a very small helme , whither soeuer the lust of the gouernour will : euen so the tongue is a little member also , and b●asteth great things . behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth . and the tongue is fire , ●u●n a world of wickednesse ; so is the tongue set among our members , that it defileth the whole body , and setteth on fire the course of nature , and it is set on fire of hell . all the nature of beastes , and of birds , and of serpents , and things of the sea is meeked and tamed by the nature of man ; but the tongue can no man tame . it is an vnruely euill , full of deadly porson ; therewith blesse we our god and father , and therewith curse wee men which are made after the similitude of god : out of one mouth proceede blessing and cursing . my brethren , these things ought not so to be : doth a fountaine send forth at one hole , sweete water and bitter also ? can the figge tree , my brethren , beare oliue berries ? or a vine beare figges ? so can no fountaine giue both salt water and also fresh . lineament . viii . the authors aduise to iury-men , wishing them to proceede vprightly according to their oathes , and also to meditate on the future discourse . the elder that the world growes , the more grow the corruptions thereof , by reason that sathan now towards the dissolution of the worlds chronicle , spitteth his spirituall spite and venemous vengeance in most abundant measure . and also because our stiffe steely hearts will not relent nor receiue remorce though the brightnesse of gods word , of his sacred word , which by his preachers and teachers hath beene diffused supereminently amongest vs. for this cause , and because we doe not watch and pray , our enemie doth watch to prey , to poll and pill , to spoyle and spill the goodiiest haruest of our soules . no sooner can we conuert our tongues to truth , but sathan diuerts our thoughts from truth ; so that now and then we speake the words of angels , but within we conceale the foxes subtilties , & are as sounding brasse or tinckling cymbals . our common iurors doe both protest and contest vpon the booke of life , the booke of eternall life , which brings bloud and vengeance downe from heauen on the blasphemers thereof , to present with effect , and without affection , the desects of their country . and yet with a mentall reseruation they goe about to cloake them , so that it is to be doubted that this royall monarchie will in processe of time receiue a cicatrix or an vgly scaire , by their petulance and democraticad loosenesse ; not much vnlike to those wanton athenians , of whom it was said that their wise men propounded cases , & ignorant people resolued thē . generous brittains , remember your selues , remember your oathes , which are no complements of court , but sacramentall words binding your consciences , engaging your soules , yea and obliging both your soules and bodies with such a strong and indissoluble chaine , as can neuer be vndone in this world , nor in the world to come . say therefore with the faithfull spouse ; i haue washed my feete , how shall i againe defile them ? deare countrymen , ye are the temple of the holy ghost , which you must not deface , yee are hallowed vnto god , and are not your owne , ye are the children of light , and must not become eclipsed through the interposition of darksome periurie : ye cannot spare your dearest friends , your kinsmen , nor yet your selues , if there be testimony to accuse your selues : ye cannot respect the quality of mens persons , nor regard him that weareth gay clothing ( as the apostle warned ) nor say vnto him sit thou heere in a good place : and on the other side ye cannot say to the poore stand thou there , lest , as the apostle witnessed , yee proue partiall in your selues , and be made indges of euill thoughts . the eye of inquisition is so seuerely straight , that it must endict the very heart of man , and all his secret purposes , if mens mortall eyes or spirituall eyes could extend so farre . but i would to god , that our iury men would consent ( as i hope they will ) to finde out those things , which are palpable , and to be felt with hands , as the prouerbe is , and not to sit as chancery iudges , debating and deliberating on matters out of their element , which properly belong to iudges , and not to iurors . if two substantiall witnesses , or if one sufficient witnesse with inward-leading circumstances appeare before your vnderstanding sight , ye must conioyne , as with one mouth or oracle , to subscribe him guilty . and this ye must performe as well for feare of gods law as of your countries lawes , which haue censured periuries , and detractours in such a high degree , as i haue already shewed , and as againe i will shew in this subsequent discourse for the further satisfaction of your empanelled ranke . lineament . ix . the spirit of detraction coniured and conuicted by the ciuill lawes constitutions . the ancient romanes had a law , that he which was conuicted of periurie should bee flung downe headlong from the tarpeian rocke . in the ciuill law bookes there is extant a constitution of iustinian the emperour , to the citizens of constantinople vnto this effect : forasmuch ( saith hee ) as many among you doe misuse with detestable othes and speeches the holy name of god , through which his grieuous indignation is kindled : we counsell you that ye refraine from railing and reuiling , and from swearing eyther by your beard , by your haire , or by any such like oathes . for if wronges and contumelies , perpetrated against man be not vnreuenged and vnpunished : much more deserueth he great punishment that dishonoureth the name of god. in reuenge of such sinnes doe famine , earthquakes , and plagues fall vpon vs. wherefore we mildly aduise you that ye abstain● from such heynous faults . but if any man will not be admonished by this our exhortation , as first he shall be sure to encurre gods wrath , so certainly shall not he escape without punishment by vs : for we haue authorized the right honorable ruler of this our royall citie , that he shall cause such as offend against this law to be forthwith apprehended , and to suffer death ; for feare lest god himselfe shauld plague both this citie , and the whole empire for letting such heinous crimes vnpunished . a king of france commonly called s. lewes , by chance hearing a baron of his realme at dice to blaspheme the reuerent name of god in lashing out many fearefull oathes , caused him presently to be taken , and his lips to be feared with a hot burning yron . lineament , x. the spirit of blasphemous detraction conuicted by gods iudgements executed on some of our owne countries inhabitants . elfred a duke of this realme suspected of treason against his soueraigne king athelstan was vrged to cleere himselfe vpon his oath . and therefore he went to rome , where forswearing himselfe in s. peters church , he suddenly fell downe dead in the place , immediatly assoone as he had periured himselfe . earle goodwin sitting at dinner with his prince king edward at windsore , and seeing a sonne of his that was the kings cupbearer , in bringing a cup of wine towards the king , to trippe on the one foote , and yet to recouer by the helpe of the other foote , so that the wine was vn-shed , laughed and said : how wel hath the one brother assisted the other ? euen so said the king should my brother alphred haue holpē me , had not earle goodwin bene . at which words goodwin to excuse himself falsly forsware the fact , and taking a morsell of bread in his hand , wished that that peece of bread might choake him , if hee were guiltie of that deed : but so soone as hee had receiued the bread : forthwith he was choaked and fell downe dead : whereat , the king said , haue away this periured traytor . but because that these examples haue hapned so many yeares ago , that mens hardened hearts will except against them , i will rehearse some examples of periurie that chanced of late yeares , euen such as will be iustified by many yet liuing . one richard long at caleis in france willing to vexe one smith and brooke , tooke his oath vpon a booke that they did eat flesh together in lent time at the said brooks house , whereas the said smith was not at the said brookes house during the said lent at all . after this periury committed he drowned himselfe at the iutty end of the hauen in caleis . grimwood of hitcham in the countie of suffolke , against iohn cooper of watsam in the said countie , at an assise holden at burie , wilfully forsware himselfe : at haruest after , feeling no paine , complaining of no disease , iudging himselfe strong and able to labour , as he was stacking vp a goffe of corne , sodainly his bowels fell out of his bodie , and immediatly he died most miserably . in the time and reigne of king edward the sixt , there was in cornwall , a lusty young gentleman , who did ride together with other moe gentlement , and their seruants in number about twentie horsemen , amongst whom this lusty yonker entring into talke began to sweare most horribly : vnto whom one of the company not able to abide such blasphemous abhomination in gentle words said to him , that he should giue account for euery idle word . the gentleman taking snuffe thereat , why , quoth hee , takest thou thought for mee ? take thought for thy winding sheete . well , quoth the other , amend for death giueth no warning : as soone commeth a lambs skin to the market as an old sheepe . gods bloud ( said hee ) care not for mee : raging still after this swearing manner worse and worse in words , till at length , passing on their iourney , they came riding ouer a great bridge , which standeth ouer a peece of an arme of the sea , vpon which bridge this gentleman swearer spurred his horse in such sort , as he sprang cleane ouer the bridge with the man on his backe : who as he was goingcried aloud , horse , man and all to the diuell . a woman commonly named the widow barnes , to defeate an orphane of some inheritance , forsware her selfe , and being therefore rebuked by some well disposed persons vtterly refused their good admonitions . but within foure daies after she threw her selfe out at a window in cornehill , and brake her necke . this was done at london in the yeare . in the yeare . one anne aueries widow , which at that time dwelt in ducklane in london without aldersgate ranne to the shop of one williamson in woodstreete , and there hauing bought sixe pound of course towe forsware her selfe that she had paid for it , whereas she had paid none . and being very gently reprehended , for her said vngodly deed she stil continued terribly swering , and auouching the payment : but behold a miraculous thing that mouth of hers , with which she blasphemed the hallowed name of her glorious maker , was put to a most vile office , she was forced presently to void at her mouth the selfe same filthinesse which nature should haue expelled downewards , and so most miserably died . one father lea a man aged about foure score yeares , was hired for a small summe of money to forsweare himselfe ; but such was the priuie paine and grieuous griping of his groaning conscience , that like a festred wound it did so disquiet him , that he must needs discouer it , and so at foster lane in london this lea meeting the partie against whom he forsware himselfe , very earnestly and humbly craued forgiuenesse of this said offence : but tenne weekes after his said confession , so greatly did the power of the diuell preuaile ouer him , that with an olde rustie knife he ripped his owne belly , and embracing his guts with his owne hands , he let them fall from him into an earthen vessell . but by the interruption of company that came in vpon him , he was preuented from killing himselfe vtterly at that time , yet the next day after his said desperate fact , shewing some token of repentance he ended his life . to these periuries i adde one more , a countryman of mine ( & i would to god i could name none else of that impious consort ) who hauing cōmitted periury in a cause depending in suite at the counsell of the marches , was presently and sodainly grieued in his great toe , so that the said griefe becomming festred and worse and worse , he euer after halted and limped as long as he liued . i could likewise produce others , who notwithstanding that they were gentlemen of sort & substance in their countrey , did commonly suborne false witnesses . but such was the iust iudgement of god , who from his heauenly seate knoweth the secrets of all hearts , and whatsoeuer is done in the darkest place , such i say , was his iust reuenge , that themselues during their liues were neuer free from some casuall crosse or other . they alwaies liued pestred and perplexed with some vnexpected accidents , and their posterity after thē are brought to that misery that they stand at mens deuotion , for all that their said impious fathers had left them some store of possessions : according to which agrees that ancient verse ; de male quaesitis non gaudet tertius haeres . ill gotten goods their heires do seldome ioy . lineament . xi . the spirit of detraction and periurie conuicted by sentence of our owne lawes executed on corrupted jurours . diuers of the county of middlesex tooke money to be fauorable vnto lodowicke greuell then prisoner in the tower vpon suspicion of being accessary to murther , if it fortuned that they should be returned in the iury against him , and for this vpon sufficient proofes they were conuicted , and fined in the starre chamber . likewise three of them did weare papers from the fleete vnto westminster hall , and there also backe againe to the fleete . . eliza. crompton . another tooke fiue markes to be of the iury for the deliuery of a theefe that was indited of felony , and was fined to the king. vide sines pur contempt . fitzherbert . . . lib. assis. . a iury of london who acquitted sir nicholas throgmorton knight about the first yeare of queene marie for high treason were called into the starre chamber . anno. . because that the matter was held to be sufficiently proued against him , whereof eight of them were fined to fiue hundred pounds a peece , and also awarded backe againe to prison there to continue , vntill further order would be taken for their punishment . hollinshed . fol. . eleuen of the iury which acquited on hodis of felony before sir roger manwood chiefe baron in his circuite of the countie of somerset against apparant euidence , were fined in the starre chamber , and did weare papers in westminster hall . circa . . eliz. report crompton . one g. wrote his letter to a iurer to appeare betwixt lane and one g. d. and to doe his conscience according to his euidence , and was fined in the sarre chamber to twentie pound , because he had nothing to doe with the matter . circa . . eliz. note this , that none ought to meddle in any matter depending in suit , wherewith he hath nothing to doe . one g. of the countie of lancaster for the false and malicious procuring of one to be endited for the death of another , was fined in the starre chamber to a great summe . circa . . eliz. if periury be committed by a iury in a court baron , he shall be punished in the starre chamber vpon a bill there exhibited , for no attaint lieth in the base court. but if any error be committed in that court , the party shall haue a writ of false iudgement . and it seemes that he may sue in the starre chamber for a false verdict . a man takes money to giue his verdict , he shall be punished , though he keepes not the said promise . dier . . fitzherb . na . bre . . . h. . . iurors tooke money after they had giuen their verdict without any couenant before hand , whereof they were conuicted , and euery one of them fined . and this case is out of the statute of decies tantum . . l. assis. . it seemes that embrasers shall be punished for taking money , and for labouring a iury to passe one way or other , although they doe not giue their verdict as they should . lineament xii . the spirit of detraction conuicted by the statute de scandalis magnatum , and also by the soueraigne authority of the court of starre chamber . heere i doubt me , some nice stomackes ouerlarded with sacietie and surfeite , ( whose mildest censure after an italian nodde is but so and so ) will condemne me for enterlacing these moderne models among sacred relickes . but these criticks i will crosse with their own lessons : that variety delights : change of pastures makes fat cattell . and there is a time to pricke flies with domitian . the duke of buckingham brought an action vpon the statute de scandalis magnatum against lucas , for that hee said , that the duke had no more conscience then a dogge , and so that he might haue goods , hee cared not how he came by them : and recouered tenne pounds . michael . . h. . rot. . hee might well haue sued him in the starre chamber vpon the same words . crompton reports that he saw the copie of the record . the lord of abergue-venny brought an action vpon the said statute against cartwright , for that the defendant vttered , & nouellement counterfeit falsa noua del plaintiffe , to weete , that the plaintiffe would wind the defendants guts about his necke . the defendant pleaded non culp . and in euidence the plantiffes shewed a matter written to one b. wherein the defendant said , that he vnderstood by report , that the lord spoke the aboue named words . which was held for good euidence , and so it was found for the plaintiffe . whereby we may note , that to speake and to write is all one , for it is publike . vide libr. intra . . that the fixing of a slanderous libell in an open place giues an action . crompton report . if a man speakes slaunderous words of the prince , and is not punished within the time limited by the statute . eliz. cap. . he shall be punished by the statute of west . . viz. he shall be imprisoned vntill he findes the first author that spake them : according to w. . cap. . not according to the aduise of the councell , for that is , when the slaunder toucheth noblemen , and great officers expressed in the statutes made . . r. . cap. . . r. . cap. . and not the king , for he is a person exempt , and not implied within those words : great men or nobles . one who had reported in the countrey , that certainly warres were towards , so that wooll might not be transported ouer sea that yeare , by which rumour the price of wooll fell , and was sold at a lesse rate , was summoned to appeare before the kings councell , and was fined and ransomed to the king. . libr. ass. . if any makes a suggestion to the king himselfe , which is false , and some are thereby indemnified or hindred , they that make such false suggestions , shall be sent with the suggestion before the lord chancellor , the lord tresurer , and his chiefe councell , and shall finde surety to prosecute the said suggestion . and if he cannot proue this intent against the defendant by proces of law , he shall be imprisoned , and there remaine , vntill he satisfie the partie grieued his damages , and for the slaunder which he hath incurred through such occasion , and then he shall be fined to the king. report ex . edwardi . cap. . one o. who had spoken slaunderous and horrible wordes of queene mary , was of them indicted , mentioning in the indictment , that he had spoken them contra formam diuersorum statutorum , without touching any in specie , and without saying , vnde scandalum in regno inter reg. & magnates vel populum suum oriri poterit , and was conuicted of them vpon his arraignement , and had iudgement of imprisonment , and to bee fined at the queenes will , vntill he had found his authour , according to west . . cap. . one smith of the county of somerset esquire , was fined in the star-chamber for slaunderous wordes , which he had spoken of one sir iohn young knight , which touched his life , and which the said smith could not proue , he was committed to the fleete , and payed great damages vnto the knight : and yet notwithstanding hee might haue had an action vpon the case at the common law . report crompton . one l. of kent gentleman was punished in this court , for falsly and malitiously going about to proue one that was his cousin to be a traytor ; wherfore he was ordred to ride about westminster hall , with his face at the horse taile . circa . . elizab. a knight of the countie of north. was fined at a great summe in the starre-chamber , because he permitted a seditious booke , called martin marreprelate to be imprinted in his house . . eliz. if one speake scandalous wordes of an arch-bishop or bishop , he may sue him in this court to haue him punished ; or else he may haue an action vpon the statute de scandalis magnatum , as happened in sandes his case , arch-bishop of yorke , betwixt him and one sir robert stapleton knight , in the star-chamber . one parleyed of dyer , lord chiefe iustice of the kings bench , that he was a corrupt iudge ; for which he was conuicted in this court of star-chamber , and adiudged to stand vpon the pillory . one had cast abroad slaunderous libels of the bishop of c. circa . eliz. and was punished in the star-chamber . the said crompt on makes a quaere , whether a man hauing spoken slaunderous wordes of a noblewoman may be sued vpon the statute de scandalis magnatum , but doubts not of his punishment in the star-chamber . and i haue heard it of credible persons , that in the last queens time of famous memory , a master of arte , sometimes fellow of martin colledge in oxford , lost both his eares by order of the said court of star-chamber sor his percmptory speeches , that he had vsed his mistres , a great lady carnally , and was secretly contracted vnto her . for proofe whereof , hee offered to disclose certaine priuie markes on her body . it was resolued by the whole court of the kings bench , that for any matter contained in any bill , which was examinable in the star-chamber , no action lay , although the matter was meerely false , because it was done in the course of iustice . but if one exhibites a bill in the said court , for matters not determinable there , as for murther , or pyracie , which cannot be by english bill , but by way of indictment in latine , then he may be sued for the detraction , and pay damages . report . cooke . . eliz. inter sir richard buckley pl. & owen wood def . en banke le roy. lineament . xiii . of the iurisdiction of the ecclesiasticall court , touching wordes of detraction and defamation . where the kings writ of prohibition lies against such actions commenced in that court. that mixt actions belong to the common law . now let me draw neere to a more resplendant light , to your rich magazin of laws , right learned cooke , englands admired bartole , in whose profound intelligence concur the spirits of many famous wights , not after the pythagorean transmigration , but after the transmutation of elisha , which receiued the spirit of elias . for who knowes not , that the obscurest and doubtfull reports of dier , brooke , plowden , and of many other sage writers , are most plainely reconciled in your reports , with mellifluous iudgements of your owne conceits ? i will therefore aduenture ( like noahs doue ) to crop some of your choysest o liues . touching defamations determinable in the ecclesiasticall court , it was resolued in the kings bench , betwixt palmer and thorpe , according to the right learned collections of sir edward cooke knight , lord chiefe iustice of the common pleas , en le quart part de ses reports , that such defamations ought to haue three things incident . first , that they concerne matters meerely spirituall and determinable in the ecclesiasticall court , as to call a man hereticke , schismaticke , aduowtrer , fornicator , &c. secondly , they must concerne matters meerely , and onely spirituall ; for if such defamations touch any or some thing determinable at the common law , the ecclesiastical iudge shall not take knowledge thereof . thirdly , although that such defamations be meerly and onely spirituall , yet notwithstanding he that is defamed cannot sue him there for amends and damages , but the suit ought to be onely for the punishment of sinne , pro salute animae , for the soules health . and for the first and second , which is incident , the case en . edward . . . was recited to this effect . the abbot of s. albons sent his seruant for a woman couert to come and speake with him . the seruant performed his masters commaundement . and thereupon the woman came with him to the abbot . and when the abbot and the woman were together ( the seruant which knew his masters will ) retyred from them , and left them together in the chamber alone . then the abbot said vnto the woman , that her apparel was grosse and course ; to which the woman answered , that her apparell was according to her ability , and according to her husbands ability . the abbot knowing in what things women repose their delight , replied vnto her , if she would be ruled by him , that she should haue as good apparell as any woman in that parish , and sollicited her chastity . when the woman would not consent vnto him , the abbot assaulted her , and would haue made her a lewd woman against her will ; the which the woman would not suffer . whereupon the abbot detained her in his chamber against her will , to the entent , &c. the husband hauing notice of this abuse done to his wife , spoke of all this matter , and said , that he would haue an action of false imprisonment against the abbot , for that he had imprisoned his wife ; vpon which the abbot adding one sinne to another , sued the innocent & poore husband for defamation in court christian , because the husband had published that my lord abbot had sollicited her chastity , and would haue made her a naughty woman . but vpon all this matter disclosed to the kings court , the husband had a prohibition , by reason that the husband might haue had an action at the common law , for this affault and imprisonment of his wife ; although then at the first he had not any action , nor peraduenture at any time would haue had . yet because the scandall determinable in the ecclesiasticall court , was vpon all the matter being disclosed , mixt with a matter determinable at the common law ; for this cause vpon motion made by the abbots councell to haue a consultation , in this case that was denied him by the court. for the third point , which is incident , viz. that the defamed cannot sue for amendes and damage in court christian , though it be meerely and onely spirituall . it was enacted articul . cleri . cap. . . & . that the kings prohibition should hold place , if a prelate enioyned a penance pecuniary to any man for his offence , and it were demaunded . notwithstanding if prelates enioyne a penance corporall , and the party will redeeme such penance by money , if the money be demaunded before a iudge spirituall , prohibition shall hold no place . but leauing the statutes at large to be considered by the reader , that desires to know them , i will returne to the reports of that rare treasurer of the common law sir edward cooke , for words of detraction actionable , and forth explanation of the ecclesiasticall power in such cases . anno . eliz. anne dauies plaintiffe declared , that she was a virgin of good fame , &c. whereas one anthony elcocke , citizen and mercer of london , of the substance and value of three thousand pounds , desired her for his wife ; and for that cause had communication with iohn dauies father of the said anne , and was ready to conclude it : iohn gardiner defendant ( premissorum non ignarus ) to defame the said anne , and to distaste the said anthony from proceeding forward , vttered and published of the said anne these wordes : i know dauies daughter well , mentioning the said anne , she dwelt in cheapside , and there was a grocer that did get her with childe . and being admonished by some that were present and heard him , that he should be aduised what he spoke of the said anne , he said further of her , i know very well what i say , i know her father , mother , and sister ; and she is the youngest sister , and had the childe by the grocer . by reason of which wordes the plaintife was greatly defamed , so that the said anthony vtterly refused to take her to his wife . to this the defendant pleaded not guilty , and by a nisiprius in the county of buckingham the iurors found for the plaintiffe , and assessed damages to two hundred markes ; then it was moued in arrest of iudgment by the counsel of the defendant , that the said defamation of incontinencie concerned the spirituall and not the temporall iurisdiction . and therefore as the offence should be punished in court christian ; so the remedy for such defamation ought also to be there . for cognitio causae non spectat ad forum regium . euen so , if a man be called a bastard , an heretique , a miscreant or an aduowterer ( because they appertaine to the ecclesiastical iurisdiction ) no action lies at the common law . but it was answered by the plaintiffes counsell , and resolued by the whole court , that the action was main teynable for two causes : first because that she was punishable by the statute , de . eliz . cap. . if she had a bastard . and although that fornication or aduowtry be not examinable by the common law , for that they are done in secret , and peraduenture are vncomely to be openly examined ; yet neuerthelesse the hauing of a bastard is a thing apparant , examinable and punishable by the said acte . secondly it was resolued , that the action was maintainable if the defendant had charged the plaintiffe but with bare incontinencie . for in this case the ground of the action is temporall ; that is , shee was to be aduanced in marriage , and that she was defeated of it , and the meanes whereby she was defeated , was the said slaunder , which meanes tending to such an end , should be tried by the countrey . so if a diuine be to be presented to a benefice , & one to defeat him of it , saith to the patron , that he is an heretique or a bastard , or that he is vnder excommunication ; whereby the patron refuseth to present ( as he might very well , if the imputation were true ) and , hee loseth his preserment , he shall haue an action vpon the case for the scandals tending to such an end . likewise if a woman be bound , that shee shall liue continent and chaste ; or if a lease bee made vnto her , quamdiu casta vixerit , as long as she remaines chaste , in these cases incontinency shall bee tried by the common law . p●pham chiefe iustice said , that if one speakes of a woman , which is an inne-holder , that she hath a great and infectious disease , by which shee loseth her guestes , she shall haue an action vpon the case . in the kings bench betwixt banister and banister , it was resolued , where the defendant speakes of the plaintiffe ( being sonne and heire to his father ) that he is a bastard , an action lies vpon the case ; for that tendes to the disinhe●iting of the land , which descends vnto him from his father : but it was resolued ▪ if the defendant pretends , that the plaintiffe is a bastard , and that himselfe is next heire , there no action lies ; and that the defendant may shew by way of barre , if the plaintiffe omits it in his bill . lineament . xvi . obseruations concerning words of detraction and defamation fit to be perused of sheriff●s and stewards , or of other iudges of inferiour courts , extracted out of the reports of sir edward cooke knight , lord chiefe iustice of the common pleas. sensus verborum est duplex , mitis & asper ; & verba accipienda sunt in meliore sensu . the meaning of words is twofold , mild and rough , or vncharitable : and words are alwaies to be accepted in the milder sence . as for example , edward danney vicar of northelingham sued vpon the statute de scandalis magnatum by henry lord cromwell plaintiffe , for his cholericke answering him being a baron of the realme , in these words : it is no maruell that you like not of me ; for you like of those , that maintaine sedition against the queenes proceeding . the defendant construed this word sedition , seditiosam doctrinam or factious preachers , which by the said lords countenance ( as he supposed ) inueighed against the booke of common prayer established anno primo eliz. though the strict sence of this word seditio is as much to say , as seorsim itio magni populi , quando itur ad manus : sedition properly is publike and violent . but god forbid that the words of one being like vnto wind should be taken by parcels against the intention of the partie by such a strict & grammaticall construction , quia quae ad vnum sinē loqu●t a sunt non debent ad alium detorqueri , what are spoken to one end , ought not to be wrested to another end . therefore a iudge must enter into the consideration of all the pr●cedent parlance and words , which import the true cause and occasion , and which manifest their true sence , according to that saying : sensus verborum ex causa dicendi accipiendus est , & sermones semper accipiendi sunt secundum subiectam materiam . the meaning of words is to be taken out of the occasion of speech , and speeches are alwaies to be taken according to the subiect or matter in hand . in actions for scandalous detractions the defendant may iustifie the words , or confesse then , or shew by speciall matter , that the words be not actionable , and then the defendant shall not be vrged at any time to a generall issue . for albeit he doth vary from the plaintiffe in the sense and quality of the words , yet notwithstanding that is no cause to chase him to a generall issue . as for example , the plaintiffe chargeth the defendant with vnlawfull maintenance , the defendant may iustifie by way of lawfull maintenance , and may plead the generall issue . in like manner one chargeth a man with these wordes : thou art a murtherer . the defendant may iustifie the words , and declare how that the plaintiffe told him , that he killed diuerse hares with certaine engines : and thereupon the defendant said vnto him ; thou art a murtherer , meaning the hares , which he killed . out of these obseruations the reporter sir edward cooke , that peerelesse phoenix of the common law , giues vs two excellent points of learning in actions of slaunders . first , to obserue the occasion and cause of their parlance , and how that may be pleaded in the defendants excuse . secondly , although your opinion be , that your clients case is cleere , and his matter in facte plaine , yet hazard not the matter vpon a demurre , wherein perhaps , vpon pleading or otherwise more matters will arise , then you knew before . but first take aduantage of speciall matters in facto , by which the true sence and coherence of the words may be gathered in fauour of the defendant , and reserue matters de iure , which alwaies arise vpon matters in facte vnto the last , and neuer demurre at the first in law . seeing that after the triall of matters in facto the matter de iure shall be safe vnto you . it was adiudged en bank le roy enter cutler et dixon . . eliz. that if one exhibits articles to iustices of peace against a certain person containing great abuses and misdemeanures , not onely touching the petitioner himselfe , but many others , and all to the entent , that he might be bound to his good behauiour : in this case the partie accused shall not haue any action vpon the case for any matter comprehended in those articles ; for in that case they pursued but the ordinary course of iustice . and if actions were permitted in such cases , they who had good cuase of complaint durst not complaine for feare of infinite vexations . master stanhope being a iustice of peace , and surueyour of the dutchie of lancaster was detracted with these words : master stanhope hath but one manour , and that he hath gotten by swearing and forswearing . it was adiudged , that these words were not actionable . first , because that they were too general ; and those words , which shall charge any man with an action , on which damages shall be recouered , must haue a conuenient certainty . secondly , the defendant charged not the plaintiffe with swearing or forswearing , for he might obtaine a manour by swearing and forswearing , and yet he did not procure nor assent vnto it . also , words which maintaine an action must be directly applied to the plaintiffe in regard of the damage , which he sustained by the scandall . if one impeach another , that he hath forsworne or periured himselfe ; that beares no action for two causes . first he might be forsworne in vsuall communication , quia benig nior sententia in rebus generalibus seu dubijs praeferenda est . a milde interpretation is to be preferred in generall or doubtfull matters . secondly it is an vsuall word in our passion & choller for one to say to another , thou art ▪ a vilaine , a rogue , or a varlet , &c. these or the like words will not maintaine an action . for boni iudicis est lites dirimere . it is the part of a good iudge to take away strife , and causes of strife . but if one speakes to another , that he is forsworne or periured in such a case ; for such words the action is good , because that it appeares by these words , that hee hath forsworne himselfe in iudiciall proceedings . sir christopher wray lord chiefe iustice said , that although slaunders and false imputations are to be repressed , for that many times à verbis ad verbera peruētum est , from words men come to blowes ; yet he said , that the iudges haue resolued , that actions for scandals must not be maintained by any strained construction or argument , nor must they extend any fauour for their support . seeing they abound in these daies more then in times past ; and the intemperance together with mens malice encreaseth . et malicijs hominum est obuiandum . they must meete and preuent mens malice . besides in our law bookes , actions for scandalles are very rare ; and those which are reported are for words of eminent slander , and of great importance . this moued the court of the kings bench to denie a procedendo to haue an action of slaunder for calling one a whore , tried in london . for the defendant had remoued it thence by an habeas corpus into that court. and it was affirmed by the whole court of the kings bench , that a custome to maintaine actions for such brabling speeches is against law . licet consuetudo sit magnae authoritatis , nunquam tamen praeiudicat manifestae veritati . although that custome be of great authoritie , notwithstanding it doth neuer preiudice manifest truth . to say , that a man is detected for periury in any court is not actionable : for an honest man may be detected , but not conuicted . and euery man which hath a bill of periury against him exhibited , is detected . . eliz. inter weauer plaintiffe , & cariden defendant . to report , that a man hath killed his wife , and she aliue , the defendant may therefore demurre and no action lies . but it is otherwise if she be dead . . eliz. in commune banco inter snag . arm . plantiffe , & gee atturney de mesme le court , defend . so one allen hauing spokē these words of eaton plaintiffe : he is a brabler and a quarreller , for he gaue his champion counsell to make a deed of gift of his goods to kill me , and then to sly out of the countrey : but god preserued me . vpon great deliberation and aduise , it was adiudged , that in this case the words were not actionable , for the purpose and intent of a man without an act is not punishable by law . ubi non est lex ibi non est transgressio quo ad mundum . where there is no law , there is no transgression in the sight of the world . and although that for such a conspiracy a man may be punished in the court of starre chamber , that comes to passe by the absolute power of that court , and not by the ordinary course of law . in euery action vpon the case for slaunderous words , two things are requisite : first , that the person which is scandalized be certaine . secondly , that the scandall be apparant by the words themselues . and therefore if any one saith without any precedent communication , that one of the seruants of i. s. ( he hauing diuerse ) is a notorious felon or traitour ; there , for the vncertainty of the person , no action lies : and an innuendo an iteration or repetition of words cannot make him , certaine . as he is sick of the pockes the french pockes , this innuendo and iterating of the same wordes makes not the proper office which it ought ; for it contends to extend the generall words being the pockes to the french pockes by an imagination of an intent , which is not apparant by any precedent words , whereto the iteration might be referred . and the words themselues must be construed in mitiore sensu , in the milder sense . to conclude , . eliz. en bank le roy entre iohn iames , pl. & alexander rutlech def. it was so resolued that the office of an innuendo a reiterating is to containe and designe the person himselfe , or the very word which was certainly named before , and in effect was in place of a ( praedict ) the aforesaid thing , or the aboue named person . but a reiterating or repeating cannot make a person certaine , which was vncertaine before , for it would be an inconuenience , if actions were maintained by an imagination of an intent , which appeareth not by the words , vpon which the action is founded , but all is vncertaine , and subiect to deceiueable coniecture . the iudge must note the very words of detraction , whether they be adictiues or substantiues , for sometimes adiectiues will maintaine actions , and somtimes not . they are actionable , first , when the adiectiue presumeth an act committed . secondly , when they scandalize any in his office , function or trade , whereby he gets his liuing . as if one saith , that such a man is a per●ured knaue , there , it behooues an act to haue bene committed , otherwise he could not be termed periured . so if a man saith of an officer or iudge , that he is a corrupt officer or iudge , an action lies for both causes . first , because it implies an act done . secondly , it is slaunderous vnto him in respect of his office. but if one calles another a sedicious fellow , a theeuish knaue , there , no action lies , because the words import not , that he hath commited sedition or felony , but they are adiectiues , which import an inclination thereto . likewise , though the former words of a mans speech were actionable vttered alone , yet if there follow after , a subsequ n● explanation of the said words by the defendant without delay or interlocution , they be not actionable , for the latter words extenuate and qualifie the former , and also expound the speakers meaning , as thou art a theefe , for thou hast stollen my apples or hops out of my orchard , which latter words mitigate the proper sence of this word theefe , which of it selfe ( though generally spoken ) would maintaine a brabling action . and it is the office of iudges vpon consideration of all the words , to collect the true hope and intention of him that speaks them , without partiality or fauour , per popham chiese iustice & totam curiam . eliz. en bank le roy. brittridge case . lineament . xv. obseruations concerning detracting libels giuen in the star-chamber , and collected out of sir edward cookes reports . in the case of l. p. in the star-chamber paschae . . regis iacobi . against whom the kings atturney , proceeded on his owne confession , ore tenus , for the composing and publishing of a certaine libel in meeter , wherein iohn then archbishop of canterbury , who was a prelate of singular piety , grauity , and knowledge , and also richard late archbishop of canterbury , were both of them traduced and scandalized by descriptions and circumlocutions , and not in expresse termes . in the said case these points were resolued . euery libell which is called famosus libellus , or infama●oria scriptura , is made eyther against a priuate man or against a magistrate , or publique person . if it be made against a priuate person , that deserues a seuere punishment . for though the libell be made but against one , yet notwithstanding it incites all them of the same family , kindred , or society to reuenge , and so tends consequently to quarrels , & to the breach of the peace , and may be the cause of effusion of bloud , and of great inconueniences . if it be made against a magistrate , or any other publique person , that is a greater offence ; for that concernes not onely the breach of the peace , but the scandall of the gouernement : for what greater scandall of the gouernement can there be then to haue corrupt or wicked magistrates appointed and constituted by the king to gouerne his subiects vnder him ? and there cannot be a greater imputation to the state , then to permit such corrupt fellowes to sitte in the sacred scate of iustice , or to haue any medling in , or concerning the administration of iustice. albeit that the priuate man or magistrate be dead at the time when the libell was made , yet that is punishable : for in the one case it prouokes others of the same family , bloud , or society to reuenge and to breake the peace . and in the other case the libeller traduceth and slaundereth the state and gouernment , which dieth not at all . a libeller that is called famosus defamator shall be punished eyther by indictment at the common law , or by bill if he denies it , or ore tenus by his confession , in the star-chamber : and according to the quality of his offence he may be punished by fine or imprisonment , and if the case be exorbitant , by pillory and lesse of his cares . it matters not , whether the libell be true , or whether the party against whom it was made be of good report , or of ill report : for in a setled state of gouernement the party grieued ought to complaine for euery iniury done vnto him by ordinary course of law , and not by any meanes to reuenge himselfe , eyther by the 〈◊〉 course of libe●ling , or other wayes . he that killeth a man with his sword in combate , is a great offender : but he is a greater offender , that poysoneth one ; for in the one case h● that is openly ●slaulted can defend himselfe , he knowes his aduersary , and may d ee his endeuour to pr●u●ut him : but poysoning may be done so secretly , that no man can defend him selfe against it . wherefore the effence is more dangerous , by reason that the ●ffender cannot be easily knowne . and of the same nature is libelli●g . it is secrete , and dispoiles a man of his fame , which ought to be more pretious vn to him then his life : and it is very hard to finde out the authour of an infamous writing . difficillimum est inucnire authorem infamatoriae scripturae ; and therefore when the offender is knowne , he ought to be seuerely punished . euery in famous libell is eyther written or vnwritten , aut est in scriptis , aut sine scriptis . a scandalous libell , which is written in scriptis , is when an epigram , rime , or other writing is composed or published , to the note or contumely of another , through which his same or dignity might be preiudiced . and such a libell may be published . . verbis aut cantilenis , by words or songs , as when it is maliciously repeated or sung in the presence of others . . traditione by delinerie , when the libell or any copy of it is deliuered ouer to scandalize the party . famosius libellus sine scriptis , an vnwritten libell may be made first by pictures , as to paint the partie out in any shameful and ignominious manner . secondly by signes , signis , as to fasten a gallowes or other reproachfull signes at the parties doore , or elsewhere . and it was res●lued , michaell . . & elizabeth . in the star-chamber in hally woods case , that if any one findes a libell , and would preserue himselfe from danger , if it be composed against a priuate man , the finder ought eyther to burne it , or sorthwith to deliuer it to a magistrate : but if it concernes a magistrate , or any other publique person , the finder must cut of hand deliuer it to a magistrate , to the ●nt●nt that by examination and industry the authour may be sound and punished . libelling and calumniation is an offence against the law of god. for it is written no● facies calumniam , proximo , thou shalt not reuile thy neighbour . thou shalt not haue to doe with any false report . a in cogitatione ●uane detrabas regi , nee in secreto cubiculi tui diuiti maledices , quia volucres coeli portabunt vocem tuam , & qui habet pennas anunciabit sententiam . b aduersus me loquebantur qui sedebant in porta & in me psallebant qui bibebant vinum . c filij stultorum & ignobilium & in terra penitus non parentes , nunc in eorum canticum versus sum , & factus sum eis in prouerbium . it is obserued , that iob was the mirrour of patience , as appeareth by his intemperate wordes , and became quodammodo , after a sort impatient , when libels were made of him . whereby it appeares , how forcible they were to prouoke impatience and contention . likewise there are certaine notes whereby a libeller may be knowne , quia tria sequuntur defamatorem famosum , because three things doe follow a notorious libeller . . prauitatis incrementum , increase of lewdnesse . . bursae de crementum , euacuation of the purse and beggerie . . conscientiae detrimentum , shipwracke of conscience . lineament . xvi . the conclusion of the fourth circle , contayning the authours pareneticall charge to common iuries . courteous countrey-men , vnderstanding spirits , whose hap it is to be enrankt into impanelles , according to the auncient lawes and liberties of this our flourishing common-wealth , yee haue heard with your externall cares ( and i pray god that the same may be internally enrowled in your consciences with eternall characters ) euen princes , iudges , prophets , apostles , yea , and our sauiour christ himselfe , all of them possessed with the powerfull gifts of the holy ghost , to proclaime , to declaime , and to denounce ( as gods heralds with holy trumpets ) decrees of death and defiance , of damnation with euerflaming vengeance against the diabolicall detractors of the heauenly deity , and of his diuine similitude here on earth . ye haue likewise heard , nay , ye haue beene oculati testes , cleere eye witnesses , that the moderne lawes of our countrey haue condemned periuries and scandals with excommunication , the most grieuous and greatest censure , that the church can giue , with mulcts and fines , with imprisonment , with pillories , with disgraces worse then death it selfe . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the foole becomes wise and warie after miscrie , or as our english prouerbe teacheth , the burnt childe will take heede of the fire . let the precedent examples of other mens falles and follies exhort you to remember your christian dueties , and specially now at this instant , since that yee are called and sworn as precise patriots , as chosen vessels of honour , of an honourable corporation , to edifie , to doe your best endeuour towards the repairing of the lords temple , though it were but by tempering of lime ( whereto the noblest is vnfit ) by transferring of stones , by carrying of clay , sand , haire , wooll , or rather then nothing , in conuaying of oyster-shels : so that ye be industrious in your charge , it sufficeth for your discharge . but how is it possible for you to performe any such seruice without presumption , when as ye sacrilegiously conceale your countreyes cockle , your darnell , your droanes , your drunkards , and your detractours ? how is it possible for you to build vp solymi rudera clara soli , the ruinous wals of the church militant , when as ye offend the arch-builder of the world with disloyall thoughts , words , and workes ? with exercising spiritualem nequitiam in coelestibus , spirituall wickednes in heauenly matters ? with committing spirituall fornication against the maiestie of gods spirit ? how is it possible for you to escape vnpunished , or not to be principall partakers of their faults and fines , of their finnes and penalties , whom ye wantonly spare for worldly respects ? alas , it is pitie ▪ you say , to present poore silly wretches , who transgresse of meere necessity . it is more noble to giue then to take away , to spare then to spill . and sor the great ones , ye pretend that your cobweb is too thin to cub them in . foolish pitie marres the citie , it is a saying not so olde as true . beloued christians , beware of this alchymie , beware of this sophistry : for beleeue it as an article of your creede , that sinne is damnable vnder what colour soeuer it be shrowded . whether it be couered with clouts and ragges , or with a golden robe , let the mo●ster be vnstript , let achan be accused for his theft . let ioab be endicted for his shedding of innocent bloud , yea though hee haue taken sanctuarie , and caught hold on the hornes of the altar . let semei be brought coram nobis , for his ●ayling and reuiling . let barrabas be found , as a notorious felon . enquire whether bigthan and there 's haue committed treason against the lords annointed , and whether the sonne of salomith , the sonne of dibry hath committed the like heynous crimo against the lord himselfe in blaspheming his hallowed name . and of what nature soeuer the billes are , that men preferre vnto you , follow your euidence , and find out the guilty , though they be proportioned as huge as gyants : let not their high nor huge statures dismay and defile your vndefiled consciences . the cause is none of yours . the iudgement is none of yours . but both belong vnto him that made you . ye can doe no lesse then ●ndorce [ billa vera ] vpon euident misdemeanures , albeit with outward teares and inward bleeding griefes . for if saul an annointed king for sparing of agag , a prisoner prince , had his kingdome of israell rent from his posteritie for euer , euen by the lords owne verdict , what shall be the guerdon of your indulgence , of your cunning concealement ? the reward of sinne is death , and the reward of bloudy or blasphemous sinne ( such as periury is ) can be no other then perpetuall death . non est bonum ludere cum sanctis . there is no iesting with oathes , no dalliance with detracting from gods word . it is not equiuocation or mentall reseruation ( iurani imguâ mentem iniura tam gero , i swore an oath by tongue , but i beare a minde vnsworne , as that young man hyppolitus in euripedes protested ) : it is not the popes pardon or his detracting dispensation : it is not indian golde ; it is not a selfe flattering suggestion , nor all this worlds commodity , which can iustifie the cursed blot of blasphemie , or rectifie the cancred blossomes of blasphemous concealements . there is a sinne veniall , which we call trespasse ; and there is a sinne vnto death , a sinne not to be forgiuen . such is the wilfull and presumptuous sin of a mans owne witting conscience , against the open face and illumination of the holy ghost . and what if the sinne of periurie fals out to be this horrible and heauie sinne ? in what a plight are partiall iuries ? therefore my masters , i could wish , that ye deliberate with diuine discretion , before ye determine your verdicts rashly in heat of flesh and bloud . and to speake more plainely to the purpose , i could wish as long as yee enioy this waightie place , in examining the defects and defaults of your countrey , that ye proceed not , as many now-a-dayes do , to censure presently after drinking , or tobacco taking ; but rather that ye beginne , continue , and conclude your proceedings soberly , grauely , and aduisedly without temerity , timerousnesse , or affection . but what man , quoth the spirit of detraction , can be so voyde of passion or affection ? then farewel kindred , farewel loue , nay , farewell life it selfe , if i cannot helpe my friend in necessity , or hurt my foe in oportunitie . the lord rebuke thee , thou foule spirit , that goest about to make christians worse then pagans ; in whose bookes it is written , that iustice hath neither father nor mother . shall we regenerated christians , that know iustice to be one of the chiefest attributes of the godhead , and so highly regarded of his sacred maiestie , that he spared not his holy one , his owne eternall word , but gaue him ouer for a while to cruell death in reuenge of olde adams sinnes : shall we respect flesh and bloud more then gods attribute ? shall we forfeit both our eyes to saue one of theirs ? shall wee lose our owne soules and bodies to ransome other mens corruptible bodies , or temporary fortunes ? better it is to cut off one member , then that the whole body boile in hot scalding leade . he that loues his father and mother aboue me , is not worthy of me , saith our sauiour christ. shall we being put in trust , deceiue the trust that is reposed in vs ? shall we become our owne caruers , and vnder colour of iustice iniury the innocent : vengeance is gods , and he will requite . it is better , o reuengfull spirit , to conceale the guilty , then to condemne the guiltlesse . but , ye beloued of the lord , i hope will so iudiciously behaue your selues in an equall ballance , without enclining to the left hand or to the right hand , that the right shall still take place , that the expectation of your iudges conceiued of your fidelity and integrity , shall not be voyde and frustrate . ye will demeane your selues , i hope , so zealously , so sincerely in your proceedings , that the matter and not the man shall be the obiect of your internall eyes , your eyes of vnderstanding ; which i pray god to enlighten with his knowledge , to inspire with the sparkes of his spirit ; wherby yee may discerne gold from copper , truth from periury , sincerity from vanity , the sonnes of god from the sonnes of b●lial , to the glory of his heauenly ma●●stie , to the comfort of his deputy heere on earth , & to the discharge of your owne consciences , which yee pawne and pledge for the security of your duety and diligence . discite iustitiam moniti : & non temnite diuo● . the fift circle of the spirit of detraction , conivred and convicted . lineament . i. the authors scope in this circle . his inuocation to the godhead , against his ghostly enimies . in the precedent circles i haue affoorded the reader a taste of my present purpose : in it i haue coniured the spirit of detraction ; forearming my selfe with the spirits of goodnes , or to speake poetically , aegide palladia , with mineru●es shield , and so by descent discried the tree of good and euil ; wherin i haue exercised my declining will , with excellent exorcismes of michaels mysteries ; and also i haue therehence deseended , as it were by steps and degrees , to the pedegree of those degenerate spirits , which gape after mans damnation , euer since our deiection from that paradise of free-will , being but the mysticall meanes of olde adams probation ; and particularly i haue canuased the said spirit of detraction , that domineeres it in all places , at ordinaries , at feastes , at tobacchonizing , without curbe or checke ; one while breathing forth blasphemies against his god , that will not holde him guiltlesse ; another while possessing the soules of our reprobates ( like vnto those of ahabs false prophets ) so that they broach out whole pipes of poisonous periuries , paradoxes , slaunders , and ridiculous girdes in the derogation , nay , in despite of the meeke and milde spirit of god , whom they for●e to depart away out of their ( quondam baptized ) consciences , being very sorrowfull to see their hardened hearts , and to see his holy gifts bestowed in vaine . but our fathers determinate will be done , in earth as it is in heauen , that hath sealed vp the certainty and number of the elect , before this world was made by his word and wisedome . and now that the spirit of detraction stands forth to be arraigned at the barre of vnderstanding , let no man blame me , if i lay out truth it selfe in euidence against him , as well to conuince him present , as also to confound his absent adherents , acceslaries , and abertours , which together with the abouesaid diuellish euils , make no conscience in this licentious age with the gyants of olde time , to raise and roule vp mounts against the heauens , with prometh●us to rob god of his ●ight , to father his workes of highest honour vpon the father of lies ( and according to the nature of base spirits ( which cannot eleuate themselues to the spheare of speculation ) to stand in greater feare of the diuels supposed realty , then to become rauished with the louely maiestie of the euerliuing god , who with one blast can tumble downe such detracting clinickes into the abisme of eternall night , where their chymist god inhabites , without hope of redemption . in execution of which important charge , i doubt not but sathan ( whose miracles i annull ) wil coniure vp many sulphure ous wits of both sexs ( nicking momes and nipping niobes ) to scolde and scoffe , to raile and reuile at this worke of charity . cadmus with his serpents teeth grinnes many menaces . medusa with her prodigious art threatens to bang me and to stone me , and all because i write the truth . o that i had perseus his vertue to conquere this terrible gorgon . but why interpose i the fictions of paynime poets among the sentences of holy writ ? o heauenly spirit , be thou my perseus , lend me thy dauids sling , to encounter this ghostly golias , and this grisly giantesse . behold , how my spirituall foe mounted on his iade of detraction , dares me to the fielde : daunt thou him with thy potent word , and his omnipotence will be impotent ; cast forth thy aarons rodde , and his arrowes will be swallowed vp . while thy grace shines on me , i feare no magi●ke spels , no serpents teeth , no witches curse . let them draw my picture by pygmalions skill in the purest virgin waxe , & reuenge their wrath with sharpe pointed needles , my heart shall neuer quaile : let them burne the same for an hereticke ( as those of tholouza burnt their kings ) i wil not feare what man or diuell can do to me ; not although they disgorge vpon mee their bane of basiliskes , nor though they discharge their iambicke volumes , or rather vollees of their basiliscoes ; for the god of heauen is he that reigneth ouer all things , that ruleth all things , in all places , at all times . he , euen he it is , that is all in al , the glorious god that maketh the thunder , the onely worker of powerfull miracles ; to whom all principalities , all dominions , all powers , and all creatures , as well incorporall as corporeall , inuisible as , visible must kneele for mercy with honour , dread , and reuerence . lineament , ii. how the spirit of detraction attributes the glorious workes of god vnto the diu●ll . that mens guiltie consciences driue them to extoll the diuell and his supposed power . if men be guiltie for blaspheming the name of god : if they be precisely forbidden to haue any dealings with false reports : if they must account for euery idle word , all which i haue proued hithereunto , in what a grieuous case are those wretches , which commit not onely all these vanities together , but likewise diminish , derogate , and detract in peremptory , proud , and presumptuous manner from their great creator his glorious appurtenances , his types of maiesty , and his titles of heauenly honour ? in what a forlorne estate are they , which liue in the darksome dungeon of spirituall aegypt , and in the whorish brothelry of spirituall sodome ? how vnhappy are they , which leaue so superstitiously vnto the leauen of our pharisaicall papists , walking a whore-hunting after strange gods both in bodie and soule ? with both these the most part of the world obserue the spirit of detraction ; with the principall members of the body , with their tongues they detract , with their eares they lustfully listen , with their hearts they consent , sucking ( like spungeous , or hydropicke bodies ) all corruptions whatsoeuer : with the principall faculties of the soule , with their reasons , willes , & memories they hatch , foster and reiterate such blasphemous paradoxes ; no crosse nor losse can chance but the diuell sent it . no signe nor sigh can happen , but the diuell sent it . the diuell ( say they ) is the onely emperour of hell , king of the planets , starres , and meteors , and also absolute prince of this earthly world . these are the ordinary speeches diuulged at our ordinaries . no tauerne bur is full of this hellish stuffe . no conference but the diuell by stealth gets in his cursed name . what eares could not glow at these runnagate reports ? what heart would not burne at these vncharitable conceits ? what scholer of worth would not set out his talent to aduantage , his learning in print , in hearing the archangels honour extenuated , and the dragons horne exalted ? truly for my part , ( though inferiour to many phinehees in zeale and deuotion ) i cannot silently suffer these ignominious iniuries against the lord my sauiour . o men of little faith , nay rather of no faith ! your difference and distrust in spirituall matters wrought and brought in all these fables and foolish fopperies . the more wicked ye be , the more ye feare , and the more ye feare , the more phantasies run to your headlesse braines . your guilty consciences seared with the scorching fire of your iniquities become so appalled , that ye quake and shake , like aspen leaues ; ye feare the moone-shine in the water , ye feare your owne shadowes , and tremble with the maiestie of gods iudgements , as malefactors going to execution , or as that gentleman of padua , who ouer night hearing that he should be put to death the next morning after , tooke such an inward conceit ( though this was but a false alarme ) that the next morning his youthfull haire was sodainly committed into a siluer colour . spirituall courage descendes from heauen : spirituall cowardize springs from flesh and bloud corrupted with blacke melancholy , the diuels breath thickned to a pestilent exhalation . wherehence weake men begat that venefique verse : flectere si nequcam superos acheront a mouebe . if heauen heares me not , i 'le downe to hell . lineament . iii. proued out of the booke of wisedome , that mens guiltie consciences caused them at first to feare bugs and spirits . to confirme the premisses , i will lay downe before you the opinion of that wise man , which wrote the booke of wisedome , which likewise proues , that feare was the chiefest inuenter of the diuels miracles and strange sights . vvhile they thought to be hid in the darknesse of their sinnes , they were scattered abroad in the very middest of the darke couering of forgetfulnesse , put to horrible feare and wonderously vexed . for the corner where they lay hid , might not keepe them from feare , because sounds came round about them , and vexed them , yea many terrible and strange visions appeared vnto them . they were sometimes chased with monstrous apparitions , and sometimes they swoooned as their owne soules had betrayed them : for an hastie feare , and that was not looked for , came vpon them . they were all bound with one chaine of darknesse : whether it were a blasing wind , or a sweete song of the birds among the thicke branches of the trees , or the vehemencie of hasty running water , or great noyse of the falling downe of stones , or the running of playing beasts , which they saw not , or the mighty noyse of roring wild beasts , or the sound that answered againe in the hollownesse of the mountaines : which we call eccho , these terrible things made them swooone ( for very feare . ) lineament . ii ii. how mens guiltie consciences made them to mistake the truth , and to become afraid of things meerely naturall . sometimes naturall things ( because they are vnusuall and seldome seene ) doe affright and astonish our weake consciences , as if we had seene a spirit , specially , if they happen in the night time , when we sit darkling , or if we passe by any churchyard , or where any man was lately killed or hanged . sometime the very sudden talking about such strange apparitions in the nights doth produce a sudden alteration in our vnsetled minds , and the rather , if we know our selues guiltie of some deadly sinne , as of adultery , malice , or such like . yea , papists by reason of their superstitious legends , which their confessours and graue fathers haue so firmely euen with their nurses milke imprinted in their thoughts , i say , these credulous people by gods iustice are confounded with ridiculous toyes , & otherwhiles with their owne conceit , according to that , they feared where no feare was . because they stop their eares from hearing the gospell , and shut their eyes from reading the truth , therefore doth god send such light things to terrifie their vnrighteous hearts . when we pray vnto our creator , they pray vnto creatures . when we craue to be holpen by the onely helper and sauiour of the world , iesus christ , they pray vnto them , that sometimes were sinners here on earth , trusting in beads , crucifixes and other stocks or idols , reiecting spirituall light and spirituall comfort . as for example , i remember about eight yeares ago , in passing ouer the pyrences betwixt france and spayne , when i and others then in company hauing lost our way , and also being benighted and fearing to be assaulted by wild beasts began to draw out our weapons for feare of the worst , a certaine seminary scholer newly come from doway , armed himselfe with his beades , putting them about his necke , and saying vnto vs , that he cared not for all the beares of the world , as long as he had those beads about him , which as he alledged , were consecrated by the popes owne handes . whereby a man may note to what superstition and follies this sect is drawne , that from the spirit of god they betake themselues to earthly hopes . no maruell then that they are also blindfolded in attributing such beleefe to goblins and sprights . the simpler sort when they behold but a firedrake , a flaming meteor , the shooting of the starres , or candles about dead mens sepulchers , ( which indeed are no other then sulphureous exhalations . ) presently they giue out that they saw sprights or diuels . and if they had not sodainly crossed themselues , they had beene taken tarde and slaine . others haue beene put to great feare by looking on shining worms , on bones of newland fish , or on a kind of rotten wood , which shine very bright in the night time . some againe haue trembled in their beds at the sudden rumbling and noyse , which cats , rats , or mice haue made in searching for their prey : or at the stirre and coile which disguised sprights haue caused . many pageants haue beene practised with the benefit of the night to the great terrour of them , that were not very wise : some haue wrought wonders , by walking on the water vpon stilts , i meane vpon deepe waters , as others haue walked with large soles of corke . i haue likewise heard of some conicatchers that went currant for coniurers , who to gaine themselues estimation among fooles , haue purposely in the fields placed in a darke night creuises or tortoises aliue with burning candles on their backs , onely to make them beleeue that they were creeping diuels . some haue taken echoes for sprights , as he of whom it is reported , that a goblin had welnigh caused him to be drowned , whereas indeed it was no other then the rebounding or reflecting backe of his owne voyce . for when he asked a farre off : can i passe ouer ? the echo answered ▪ passe ouer . many men haue beene abused by meanes of knaues voyces entonneled in long reeds or canes , which altered the tune of their voyces . if our iudgement , vnderstanding , and sences being sound and whole be thus deceiued and deluded with such a deepe apprehension of feare ; much more must we thinke , that they will enduce vs to blabbe out prodigies and monstrous wonders , if they were depraued and hurt in their organs , specially in their braines . lineament v. a merry story borrowed out of peter de loiers booke of specters , shewing how a traueller war frighted in passing by a gallowes . in the countrey of maine , there was a fellow , a notorious theefe and murtherer , well knowne vnto all his neighbors , who by the sentence of the lieutenant for criminall causes was committed at mauns , and condemned to be hanged and strangled , and was sent from thence backe to his owne uillage wherein he dwelled to be executed , and there to be set on a gibbet , standing vpon the high way from mauns . some few daies after his execution , a certaine man trauelling that way where his bodie hanged , found himselfe very sore wearied , and laid to rest vnder a tree not farre from the gibbet . but he was scarce well setled to his ease , when suddenly behold there commeth by another passenger that was going towards mauns , and as he was right ouer against the gallowes , where the dead bodie hanged , ( whom the partie knew well when he was aliue ) he called him by his name , and demaunded of him , with an high and loud voyce ( as ieasting at him ) if he would goe with him to mauns . the man , that lay vnder the tree to rest himselfe , being to go to mauns likewise , was very glad that he had sound company , and said to the other ; stay for me a little , and i will go with you . the other to whom he spake , thinking it was the dead theefe that spake vnto him , hasted him away as fast as he could possible . the man vnder the tree arising vp , ranne after him as fast , with a desire to ouertake him , and still he cried , stay for me , stay for me . but the other had not the leasure , for his feare had set him in such a heate , thinking still that the dead theefe followed him at the heeles , that he neuer left posting till he was quite out of breath . but for a while i will leaue off such conceited stories , least some seuere censour suspect me for an heretike in vtterly denying the diuels power , which our righteous lord hath left vnto him , as to the execution●r of his iudgements . lineament vi. whether in time of popery the diuell appeared to coniurers or witches . why now adaies the diuels apparitions are ceased among the professours of the gospell . the authors opinion touching his visible illusions . neuerthelesse , if we may beleeue ancient historiographers , the diuell commonly haunted diuers simple wretches in times ●ast , when all the world wondred after the ●e●st of the sea vpon whose seuen heads was the name of blasphemis : i meane , when our fore-parents worshipped the high priest of the seauen hilled citie by the tyrrhene sea. and as our royall phoenix recordeth , after diligent obseruations of seasons , dayes , and hewres by these reprobates , circles were made triangular , quadrangular , round , double , or single according to the forme of apparition which they craued . likewise two principall things in that errand might not be spared : holy water , whereby the diuell deludes the papists , and some present of a liuing thing vnto him . heere likewise ( right vertuous prince , great brittains beauclerke ) like as the moone deriues her light from the resplendant sunne , and as the macedonian souldiours security proceeded from their monarches safety , ex alexandri spiritu omnes suos spiritus ducebant : so presume i to fetch the true lampe of this treatise from your immortall booke . for this cause i craue humble pardon of your imperiall mai●stie for my ambition in borrowing ( like aesops crow ) some of your ingenious plumes to grace my ragged stile . in those daies it sufficed not the diuell to haue indirectly the rule , and to procure the perdition of so many soules , by alluring men to vices , and to the following of their appetites , but also he abused these simple wretches , in making them directly to acknowledge him for their master . euerie man ouer whom he had the rule , he tempted according to his complexion and knowledge ; and so whom he found most simple , he plainliest discouered himselfe vnto them . for he being the enemie of mans saluation , vsed all the meanes he could to entrap them so farre in his snares , that they might not euer after ( suppose they would ) ridde themselues out of the same . but now-a-dayes popery being vnmarked and vncouered to the view of all the world , through the brightnes of the gospell , sathan is either cub'd vp really in hell in the bottomlesse pit for a time , or confined herehence for a while into other habitacles , as lapland , finland , or into the healthfull coast of b●armia vnder the northerne pole , where people liue in greatest barbarisme and simplicity . euen as apolloes oracles in greece , ceased at the passion of christ , by reason of the apostles preaching in those parts : so doubtles in these dayes , the woman clothed with the sunne , the catholike church ( that was fled into the wildernesse , and persecuted with a long lasting warre by the dragon and his angels ) being now victoriously returned into these north-west partes of the world , the diuell in despaire is retired into his darkesome cell , or farre from among vs ; where , notwithstanding that he lies malecontent , and perhaps fettered that he cannot really breake forth , he transports sometimes his poysonous power , and casteth out of his mouth water after the woman , as it were a flood to drowne her : there , in hell he hath his capitall residence , and ouerlookes by his spirits of sinne into the soules of flesh and bloud : like as the antichrist residing in the great citie , spiritually sodome and aegypt , transferres by his iesuiticall spirits , vncleane spirits like frogges out of the dragons mouth , and other messengers of false prophesie , cloudes of wonders , supposed miracles , bulles , indulgences , and detracting lies for the confirmation of his forlorne flocke in aequiuocations , blasphemie , and blindnesse of vnderstanding . for as the reprobate and naturall man cannot apprehend those things which are aboue nature , nor will he beleeue that there are any spirits good or euill : so the simple or superstitious person , partly with feare , partly with popish policy is drawne to such sottish credulity and lightnes of beliefe , that he takes knaues for diuels , and coni-catchers for coniurers . to end this section of the diuels appeareance , i beleeue that some , yea that many things concerning his visible formes are but lies and fictions of men , inuented eyther for some cause that moued them , or at least wise for their sports and pastimes . othersome contrariwise haue beene true , as appeares by many examples and euents , which none can denie ; as that spaniard alleadgeth : algunas y aun muchas yo creo , que deuen de ser mentiras y fictiones de gentes , inuentadas o por alguna cosa ▪ que les mueue o alo menos por su passatiempo . otras ay que son verdaderas , comoparece por muchos exemplos y successos , que no pueden negar se. no good christian can denie , but that the diuell did possesse those men , whose bodily humours by gurmandize or their peruerse wils were depraued and infected , as is to be seen in the scriptures , where likewise he was suffered by our sauiour christ , to enter into the heard of swine . but my question at this time is , whether that power of his be suppressed , now that miracles are ceased ? for then god caused such strange actions to ensue , whereby his gospell might be confirmed . surely in my iudgement , where the gospell flourisheth , there the diuell dares not draw nigh : and if he appeared according to the relation of such as wrote of his miracles , he neuer appeared but vnto them ( who like vnto caine vtterly dispaired of gods grace ) to simple wretches , and to grosse headed folkes . his chiefest plot and practize is to vndermine the reasonable will , and to seduce men from the operation of goodnesse . for this cause he is called the accuser , the prince of the aire , the prince of this world , that is , the great spirituall tempter of mankind , for whose sake this world , and all the creatures therin were made . lineament . vii . how popish shaueling : inuented the vse of common coniurations and fictions , in policy for the greater efficacie of their jdols , holy water , and masse-mo●ging ; wherein the weakenesse of their holy water is sh wed . that they cained lies of purpose to confirme their sect , namely , in luthers life time , of luthers death . a note deliuered by the authour touching the diuels reall power . bvt here our popish miraclemongers wil obiect , that the diuell cannot be coniured without masses , holy water , or charmes of a consecrated person . the diuell ( say they ) will not obey any of our religion . o generation of vipers ! is not the fulnesse of your sacriledge come in before the lord ? are not the bulles of basan so fat , that they cannot hold out any longer ? yea euer since printing rose vp by the mouthes of babes and infants the lord hath confounded your quirks , quillets , and transubstantiate quiddities . your fat lieth in the fire , your masses bring in but small masses of money . your holy water is become dead like a stinking stange . the glorious brightnesse of christs comming , the forerunning word of euerlasting life hath almost abated all your lying wonders , your coniurations , yea , and your chiefe patron of policie ; onely for the triall of the elect , ye are permitted , dispensed , and tollerated to dwell among vs , as the chanaanites and philistines amidst the israelites . ye are permitted , as the ministers of sathan to tempt christs flocke , that the great iudge may commend their constancy . neuerthelesse i am sory ( i speake after flesh and bloud ) that your stinges , according to our acts of parliament , voce populi christiani , being voce dei , are not quite abolished . this sting a graue and a great man of this kingdome felt , when he was seduced to send ouer sea his sonne , that lay possessed with the spirit of frenzie . the spirit of falshood made him beleeue , that holy water and masse-hearing would chase away the diuell , if it were a diuell . at pont y musson in lorraine it was my hap to meete with the said diseased gentleman in an english priests house , where he soiourned , his friends expecting his deliuerance by the spirit of illusion , by vertue of the masse and of the sanctified water . but all the fat fell in the fire , and he poore gentleman left still vncured , hauing formerly bin bound in a cradle , besprinckled with holy water in time of masse , and so continued bound for three dayes together in the church . a most fearefull vsage , able to driue a whole man out of his wits . his friends hearing at length that the matter fell not out correspondent to their expectation , they sent him to padua for the tempering of his braine , by the phisitians of the body , where i met him againe with his curator , who told me the whole businesse and circumstance , and how the spirit would not be dislodged for all their holy water . now their generall opinion was , that eyther it was a stubborne spirit , vnremoueable by exorcismes , or else the patient was sicke with extreme choler or melancholy . likewise to confirme their false doctrine with false miracles by the diuels instinct , they coined many fictions , and such as the eares of the elect would glow to heare . these fopperies , as treacherous spirits out of the woodden horse of troy , our subtle sinons coniure vp for worldly respects , and chiefly , lest their pontificiall purple robes or scarlet habites be altered to another colour of a baser graine . among many miracles in their lying legends , they recorde , that a religious woman hauing put a sanctified hoast into her hiue of bees to make them fruitfull , in steed of increase found a little chappell of hony and waxe built in the hiue , with doores and windowes , with an altar , with a steeple of belles , and also that the bees had laid the hoast vpon the altar , with melodious noise flying round about it . thus the diuell sometimes playeth the part of a mountebanke , venting out his counterfeite wares vnder the faire colour of sanctification , some othertimes he seemes to raise vp himselfe really at sinfull mens commaunds , and all for the establishment of the scarlet coloured beast , the pope and his cardinals , whose kingdome he wots well cannot chuse but decline without such trash , trickes , and trumperies . and for their concealements he beates this ambitious lesson into our canonists heads , that it is sacriledge to reason about the popes deedes , whose murthers ( say they ) are excused like sampsons , whose thefts like the hebrewes , whose adulteries like iacobs . after mens deathes the diuell eyther by himselfe , or by his agents , wicked worldlings , seemes to appeare vnder the person of a samuel , and will not be coniured back without such popish bables ; thereby setling his reprobates in their reprobate natures . but most of all i cannot but wonder what phantasie possesseth men , when they publish miraculous lies , derogatory to their credites , that be liuing , and able in their liues time to retort the whetstone vpon them . surely i can deuise none other excuse on their behalfe , then that such miracles of strange sights were inuented by them of diuellish policy , to make their profession famous among the simple , and on the other side to withdraw the protestant from the true worship of god. as for example ; the diuell forseeing , that by luthers preaching he was like to lose many of his guests , euen in luthers life time , soborned one of his false prophets to set out a booke in print of luthers death . the same very day when luther died ( as this homeromastix reported ) many that were possessed of diuels in a towne of brabant ( which lay distant from the place where hee was supposed to die , aboue three hundred miles ) were suddenly deliuered , and not a long time after repossessed againe . and when it was demanded of the diuels , where they had beene ? they answered , that by the appointment of their prince they were called forth to luthers funcral . which likewise was proued to be true , because a seruant of luthers , that was in his chamber when hee died , opening the casement to take the ayre , saw a great number of vgly spirits hard by the window , leaping and dancing . afterwards when luthers body was laid in his graue , presently there arose a tumultuous noise and terrible sound , that the earth seemed to moue . the next night after they heard a louder noise then before about his tombe . for which cause in the morning they opened his tombe , where in stead of his corps they found but a foule fauour of brimstone . the copie of which pamphlet , when luther read , he subscribed these wordes : i am sory that god is iniuried by this fiction . otherwise i can but smile at the diuels malice , wherewith he and his complices the papists pursue me . it is strange to see with what impudence these iugling priestes dare diuulge such a notorious lie of him , whom his owne neighbors and countreymen know better then they or any other forrainers . this i can testifie , that throughout all germany , where i trauelled , his memory is blessed , his birth-day solemnized , and himselfe reputed for a second elias . but ( as i said before ) our idolatrous euchanters in policy inuented this fable for the glory of their hierarchy , which god peruert like achitophels deuises . hereby we gather , that most of our countrations , lying miracles , and foolish fables were deriued from the papists for the corrupting of the simpler sort , and that of right coni-catchers are termed conturers , and wizards witches . onely they differ in this , that the cont-catcher and wizard receiue their knowledge by an infolded or implicite suggestion in their braines from the diuell ; and that the coniurer and wtich reape with the diuels sickle more openly ; yet both of them ioyne in the effect , to deceiue and to make a prey of our vnderstanding . but here i must tell you one thing worthy the obseruation , that euen as the papists will not see their mystical antichrist , ( though that which with-held his publique reuiling till this time be in a manner taken out of the way , to wit the glory of the romane empire ) no more then the iewes would see their messias , ( though likewise that which withheld his reuealing til his destinated time was taken out of the way , to wit , that the scepter should not depart from iuda , nor a law-giuer from betweene his loines , vntill shiloh came , which was christ ) : so we o● the reformed church besotted with childish credulity will not beleeue the truth , though it be felt with handes , ( as they say ) and shewed vs by demonstrations infallible , that coniurers and wiches can act no miraculous matter of moment at all ( their chiefe master himselfe being but a lier and impostor ) howsoeuer frier bacon with his brazen head ( which he purposed to set vp in salisbury-plaine for the eighth wonder of the world ) and the popish idolaters with their masse-monging and holy water went currant for graund coniurers in olde time : because they receiued not the loue of the truth , that they might be saued ▪ therefore god sends them strong delusion , that they should beleeue lies . wherefore let the faithfull accept this for a caueat , that when the diuell takes vpon him to become terrified with the besprinckling of holy water , with steele , or with the thundring bulles of a masse-priest , he doth it onely of a politicke stratageme to confirme his adherents in such vaine fooleries , after the example of tomyris , who fained her selfe with all her troupes to flie , that thereby she might entangle cirus , and giue him the greater foile . whereto alludes that notable saying of our sage solomon , he walked among the papists by childish and affraying terrours , to mocke and accuse their childish errours . yea , he walked among them the more familiarly vnder the bastard names of larum , lemu●um , deorum penatum , laruarum , dryadum , &c. outwardly seeming to care for their temporall profit , when as in truth his purpose was inwardly to worke them harme in their soules and consciences , that their wils and spirituall natures might be peruerted like vnto his . lineament . viii . that true miracles were but lent by the lord to the primitiue church for confirmation of the gospell which accompanied the said miracles . how in their steed false miracles crept into the church with the antichrist in the time of the great apostasie . the diueli synode for employments of his hell●sh spirits . the authours digression shewing that the diuels shape was not reall but delusi●e to deceiue the eye sight . how men by his spirituall insinuations became his agents here on earth . the diuels craft to continue men in their dettactions . miracles were rife in the apostles time at the first preaching of the gospell , yea and many yeares after , euen as reuelations were also common at the first promulging and publishing of moses law . but afterwards through mens curiosity , arrogancy , and negligence they ceased like as the vrime ceased for a long time after iosuahs age . the chiefe end of miracles was lent by the redeemer of the world to reconcile mens mindes vnto the puritie of the doctrine , which at the same time he sent to beare them company . their end , i say , was that their energy and efficacy might moue mens steely hearts to relent and repent them of their abhominations ; which preuailed in all those whom his prouident father had sealed vp to be saued from the beginning . whereby we may obserue , that the vertue of true miracles sprang from the goodnesse of the doctrine , which then the lords great ambassadour gra●fed towards the posterities of the elect . so that this godly doctrine separated such miracles from the diuels deceits , from natures operations , and from mens inuentions . their mutuall concurrence confirmed the spectators in their resolution , namely , that their preaching and teaching proceeded from the glorious light . sithence which golden age of the gospell it pleased the lord according to his vnsearchable will , and according to saint iohns and saint pauls prophesies to leaue his church soiourning in the solitary wildernesse , persecuted by the detracting dragon , to suffer his two witnesses the true records on earth of the lightsome word that was incarnate for our saluation , to be mangled , martyred , and massacred in the citie of the spirituall whore , and so to permit a generall defection and departure from the faith at the entrie of the antichrist into the world ( which continued well nigh eight hundred yeares ) and thē true doctrine failing , true miracles failed . which when the diuell noted , he laid hold on that vile oportunity of apostasie and generall defection of faith , and in steed of those true miracles he hatched false miracles according to his owne naturall dispose , lying wonders , and brought in canonization of saints , whereof my selfe was an eye witnesse in millaine in the yeare . adoration of sinfull men , masses for the dead , marchandizes of humane soules , gods of golden beads , of holy water , of crucifixes , and also old wiues tales , whereof the popish legends are as full , as euer diomedes his stable was of prodigious dung . many miracles were fathered vpon giddy headed people in their death beds , when good men through extremitie of torments haue spoken , they knew not what . they record , that the virgine mary descended dow from heauen , to giue s. fulbecke her breasts to suck , while he lay sicke . such another idle storie old father darbishire a iesuite sometimes chancelour of london vnder bishop bonner told me in lorraine of one throgmorton , whom he peruerted at paris to the romish religion . false miracles thus growne in request , the diuell foreseeing , that his buzzards might breake out of his snares , except he found some other stratageme to entangle them , presently conuocates a synode or councell of detracting spirits , not much vnlike to the councell of trent or the cardinals consistory , and there enacteth parts for seuerall spirits to act ( yet so that the spirit of detraction attend on thē all ) some he appoints to play the parts of hobgoblins , or robbing goodfellowes ; some he chuseth to countenance the clergy in their perking chaires , some to feast with the foolish pezants , who of the italians were called glifarfarrelli , mazzapengoli , and of the english and romanes fairie folkes , lares , dryades , & hamadryades ; some to mocke monkes as horned satyres . some he subornes with fained shapes to appeare vnto grosse headed folke . whereas in very deed such shapes are no more reall then euridices ghost , whom her husband orpheus thought to apprehend , when in the end : nilnisi cedentes infoelix arripit auras . vnhappy he on nothing meets , but on the ayre , which backe resleet . when a man fortunes to see any such such straunge sights , let him call to mind that they be but decept to visus a colourable mist cast forth by the spiritual dragon to bewitch his vnderstanding , or that his sight is possessed with some suffusion after sleepe figured and symbolized with false visions of small atomes manifoldly colored , or else let him call to memory his owne imbecillitie of nature , which might be mislead eyther with an antipathy , or with excesse of choler or melancholy , as when he is sicke of a saffronlike iaundise , or when some grosse glewy matter is gathered within the fleshy sinew of the eye . doe not we reade in bookes of naturall sience , that the sensible obiect being more exceedingly excellent doth dull the sence which is lesse excellent ? doth not snow sometimes grieue our sights ? doth not a candle of virgine waxe mixt with oyle of snakes alter the outward forme of the lookers faces , and cause the whole roome to appeare in shew of snakes ? haue not we in our time seene artificiall looking glasses formed by cunning optickes representing many miraculous faces to one onely obiect ? doth not a composition of aqua vitae , brimstone and salt make the standers by to seeme pale colored . to this i adde that we seeme to see sometimes fiery dragons , beares , and monstrous meteoures in the clouds : when as in truth the same are but moyst vapours mounted vp from the earth into the ayre , not hauing any such shapes , but only such changeable impressions as the chameleon-like ayre affoordes them . let him also consider how diuerse honest men haue mistaken knowne waies in a mystie day . the reflection of the sunne beames haue sundrie times bedazeled our eye sights : so we see thinges which are neere vnto scarlet to shine red . much more must we conceiue of sathans craft , who hath beene experienced in pollicie euer since the beginning of the world . he cannot chuse but exceede the wisest philosopher in worldly skill , by reason that hee is not clogged at all with a massie bodie of flesh and bloud , as we are ; for this cause i say sathan ouerlookes more easily into the secrets of nature , and practiseth them with greater promptitude and agilitie against vs , when for our vnworthinesse or weaknesse god leaues our inward man naked , not vouchsafing to cloath him with the habillements of grace . howbeit , for all that the diuels knowledge is great , yet we must deeme it but coniectures and gesses , which god oftentimes ouermastereth , checketh , and changeth , because we might know that he alone is powerfull and true . to returne where i haue digressed , sathan ( because that we might see how he hath more strings to his bow then one , and knowes more waies into the wood then one ) employeth some others spiritually to seduce mens shallow imaginations : which agents of his he commissioneth with speciall errands and articles ; some he inspires to tell fortunes , as lying palmisters ; some to obserue the flying of fowle , the entrailes of fowle , which we terme augures ; some as salamanders , to prophesie by fire , which we name pyromancers , some to counterfeit the state of geographers , as vaine geomancers ; and some he en chanteth ( like chameleons ) for spruce parasites , cunning courtiers to sooth euery man in his humour , and then with a sardonicall laughter to cut their neighbours throates . these with many other functions of bastard artes he insinuates into phantasticall persons , and also into them which build vpon their owne wisedomes . but the most detestable of all his faculties ( which i tremble to write of ) is the sacrilegious sinne of detraction against his makers maiestie , wherwith he possesseth the most part of our country men , not onely in causing them to ouerglut and ouerlade their bodies with meate , drinke , and smoke of tobacco , ( two or three consuming in one day as much as would suffice twentie honester men then themselues ) but also in the middest of those their bacchanales to taunt the glory of god , to gibe at his glorious signes , and to impute the causes with the effectes of thunders and lightnings vnto his lying selfe . it is wonderfull to marke how opinionated the most part of the world are in this poysonous paradoxe . they haue bene so long blinded in other superstitions , that they will hardly suffer themselues to be lifted vp out of the gulfe of ignorance . it may be likewise that the diuell , as he is an excellent enginer to gaine himselfe that fulgurant fame and thundring name , hath sometimes appeared in varieties of false vgly formes , euen then , when these naturall creatures of god , followed their naturall course and motion ; and so by that iugling tricke made the world beleeue that it was he , which played reuell rex abroad in that terrible equipage . parturiunt montes , nascctur ridiculus mus . he is with child of mounts and lofty things , but a poore mouse and trifles he forth brings . well may the dragon striue to flie , but his wings are clipt , and he according to gods curse must creepe vpon his belly , and eate the dust of the earth all the daies of his life . well may he arrogate vnto himselfe anothers operation , but , as a curst cow hath short hornes , so must he in the end go naked ( like aesops crow ) when the true owner challengeth his owne plumes of glory . god workes all wonders , tulit alter honores , but the diuell beares the honour for a while . lineament . ix . what is the craft of our common wizards . that souldiours and men of courage haue been daunted with disguised angels . examples of ordinary wichcraft , sorceries , and coniurations . ovr common wichcraft , southsaying , consultation with spirits and coniurations are nothing but cousenages , legierdemaines , impostures , confederacy , or coni-catching craft in making folkes beleeue , that they can prophesie , worke miracles , tell fortunes , reueale stolne goods , heale sicknesses and griefes with charming rimes : yea , these seducing spirits auerre , that they walke euery weeke with the fayries , that they haue secret conference with familiars . but in the end their familiars fall out to be a packe of knaues of their owne families , resembling those vngodly familiars , whose dissembling formes the spanish inquisition vseth as instrumentall tortures , to wrest and wring out the consciences of supposed heretickes . such cousening spirits haue deluded and daunted many of our worldlings , insomuch that their fame and faigned shapes terrified men of resolution and of great renome , farre more vehemently , then if goblins or fayries had in very deede appeared vnto them ; though in truth they agree mutually together , both meeting in one meaning , both harping on one string of deceit . i knew a valorous young gentleman , and one that sometimes behaued himselfe very resolutely in sold●ourizing both by sea and land , and also would not feare to meete any man in a monomachy or single combate , so terrified with a disguised spright in the night time , that he wanted but little of losing his vnderstanding . brutus that conspired against iulius caesar , otherwise encouraged himselfe , when his bad angell appeared vnto him the night before he was slaine , to dishearten and discourage him from the battell , as i suppose . such another familiare angell wrote on the duke of norfolkes tent the night before he was killed with king richard the third at bosworths field , iacke of norsolke be not ●oo bolde , for dickin thy master is bought and sold. many stratagems we finde in histories to discourage and daunt men , like vnto hannibals bulles , which with fiery fagots tyed to their hornes hee droue out at midnight among his enemies , to scatter them and scare them . but to returne vnto these cunning men , who cousen our simple neighbours , i will exemplifie their miracles . at london i heard one constantly affirme , that hee would cure any infirmity whatsoeuer with a drie napkin and with imposition of hands . coppinger and arthington worse then the foolish galathians bewiched , tooke one hacket for christ , as many in london yet liuing can testifie . at verona in italy , one of this bewiching rout , a deceitfull mountebanke extolled so highly a counterfeite oyntment of his , singular ( as he said ) against all outward griefes , that i could not disswade a friend of mine then present with me , from buying some of it , when as after in the experiment the said balme became of no more force then scoggins pouder of an olde rotten poste . to these sorcerers i may adde another reputed one , a poore deuon-shire woman , dwelling in my neighbourhood , in walsh called swynwraig , in english a charming woman , who about three yeares suhence was brought before me , and accused for bewitching an honest mans daughter , in such sort that she languished , like to die . euident proofes were not wanting , that she vndertooke in the behalfe of a young man enamoured of the mayde , eyther that she should be his wife , or else neuer be her owne woman while she liued . after due examination , the poore woman confessed , that in regard of gaine ( quod dolosi spes refulserit nummi ) she gulled the youth , and promised largely to bring his desire to passe . being further demaunded , how she cured with incantations her neighbours cattell ( another surmise by her accusers ) she aunswered , that she healed them not by any indirect meanes , but by drenches and medicinable hearbes . likewife to get her a name and money to supply her necessity , she confessed , that shee ledde some ignorant persons into fooles paradises by taking vpon her matters of wonder . about may last ( as i heard by credible report ) a certaine gentleman of our countrey , hauing missed by ●●urse of iustice to finde out the theefe that had stolne some goods of his , repayred to one of these wizards , earnestly requesting him to extend his cunning for the discrying of the said theefe and goods . but all the comsort which he could obtaine for his fee , was , that he had lent his booke of knowledge vnto a friend of his ; so that he could not at that instant accomplish his desire , though in time , after restitution of his book he doubted not , but he would coniure out the theefe . whereby we may note the scarcity of true witches , that in very deed indent with the di●ell really . and sathan is so heedfull , that we can hardly finde out his assured adopted children . another of this forlorne crew , a runnagate empiricke within thefe few dayes arriued in this countrey , vndertooke the cure of a diseased gentleman ; which he could as well performe as reueale stolne goods , which likewise he faigned to the simple gentlewomen of the house : yet notwithstanding he led many , specially the weaker sort , into the paradise of fooles , and to esteeme him for a rare prophet , whereas in truth he was no other then a conicatcher ; for he disclosed no stolne goods at all , sauing those , which himselfe hidde of set purpose to get him a name . heretofore in time of popery , masters of families inuented , that the fayries haunted butteries and cellers , onely to make young people affraid of sitting vp late in the night . againe seruants themselues sometimes would counterfeit , that those fayries vsed to suppe in their masters houses ; vnder which colour they couered their own wanton thefts . herehence rose that prouerbe in france , ou sont filettes & bon vin , cest la où hante le lut in . where faire maydes are , and store of wine , the goblins there to haunt combine . let a man conferre with olde women ( for this sexe is much addicted to nouelties and lightnesse of beleefe ) and he shall heare many straunge fables of such fayrie folkes . a comicke poet introduceth such another knauish prancke , practised by a seruant towards his master : this seruant the better to conceale and couer the loose and lauish life of the sonne from his fathers knowledge , and to colour the sale of a certaine house ; which they had made in his absence , inuented and told the olde man at his returne from his farme in the countrey , that both his sonne and he were forced to sell the said house , by reason that sprights in the nights vsed there to haunt and to molest them . let this suffice for the discouery of our common witchcraft , and sorceries : now i must shew the validity of our ordinary coniurations , exercised onely by learned men , which iump with the vnlearned in the main , namely , in deceit . two substantiall yeomen about twenty yeares since hauing lost plate & other moueables , and desirous to be acquainted with the theese , resorted to a colledg in oxford , where meeting at the gate with a needy scholer , they enquired of him for such a mans chamber , whom foolish fame had canonized in their credulous eares , for a notable coniurer . the scholer in outward appearance somewhat graue , after a few questions , circumstances , and verball complements , tolde them that he was the man. but for satisfaction of their requests , he tooke them priuily aside , declared vnto them the danger of the law , if it were knowne , and coyishly , like a cunning queane to her youthfull nouice , seemed to repell their suits . they loth or perhaps not daring to returne homewards to their wiues , without some notice touching the stolne goods , vrged him more instantly to cast a figure , and rather then faile to coniure vp a spirit , that they might learne who was the theefe . at last with some adoe , the scholler in respect of his pouertie , resolued to make a purchase of these vnlooked for guests , and to that end first requiring their oath of secrecy , like a true chymist , willed them to resort within three houres of night , to a chamber remote from company . the honest men with pure protestations thanked his grauity , and went home to their inne with gladsome hearts , iudging each houre a day , til the prefixed time drew nigh . in the meane space the adulterate coniurer calles vnto him more good fellowes , boone companions , confederates with them , that about such a time they should likewise repaire to the designed chamber , with a whole cutlers shop of weapons , as proctors and officers , to apprehend both the coniurer and his mates . well , the appointed time approached , the good yeomen missed not to come thither , where also the coniurer met them , lockt fast the chamber doore , and hauing prepared afore hand a great caldron full of hote scalding water on a good fire , caused them to cast their money therein , for feare lest the spirit might annoy them , by reason of such prophane trash . his commaundement stood for a law . assoone as he had fashioned his circle , crossed it , and inuocated on these terrible spirits : barbara , celarent , darij , ferio , baralipton , celantes , dabitis , fapesmo , fricesonorum , cesar● , camestres , festino , baroco , darapti , felapton , disamis , datisi , bocardo , ferizon . in stead of spirits , the false proctors bounced and knocked at the doore , menacing to breake it open , if out of hand they opened it not . the poore men not aduenturing to budge one inch from the center of the circle , without their money , and now without hope of commiseration among strange officers , stood amazed in a quanda●y , with great horrour and dread , till the proctors were let in by the coniurer . ah villaine , haue we taken thee in the manner , said these new proctors : there is no way saue one for thee , nor for these assistants of thine . and with that in a faigned vehement rage , charged them vpon their allegeance to follow them towards the prison . the liuer-hearted yeomen very dutifully obeyed , went along with them , all the way begging for grace and fauour , with large promises of golden mountaines , and with faithfull assurances of millions of prayers for their prosperity . the pitifull proctors ouercome at last with their important suits , and knowing their money to be lest behinde safe in the hote caldron , let fall the raines of their rage . their iustice became mitigated , their authority relented , vpon condition , that these honest men would assume on their credite to come againe vnto them the next morning , which they faithfully promised . but being arriued at their lodging , they tooke counsell together to giue the proctors the slip , and leaue the coniurer , to goe to the gallowes alone , without their fellowship . and so at midnight by the benefite of that darke time ( as they thought ) they left both proctors and coniurer in the lurch , posting away with great ioy for their fortunate escape . lineament . x an example translated out of monsieur du ches●e his pourtrait de la sante , declaring how one monsieur poena , a phisition of paris , co●iured two spirits out of a possessed mans body . monsieur uignier a phisitian of champaine , and the kings chonicler , had a cousin of his that was a person well descended , and also learned , afflicted of such a spirituall sickenesse , that he imagined and firmely beleeued , that a certaine fellow of his acquaintance newly come from italy , had giuen him , and put within his body two spirits , which spake vnto him and taught him many things , which also threatned him eyther to cause his death , or else to vexe him with some great mischiefe . after that he had discouered his malady to the said vignier , he presently knew that it was a sickenesse of the spirit , and for that he loued very well this kinseman of his , he deuised and aduised with himselfe how to helpe him . for this purpose both of them resolued to goe together to paris : and there they addressed themselues vnto monsieur poena , who immediatly vnderstood what sickenesse it was , to wit , that the patients imaginatiue faculty was hurt and depraued , and also counselled them that they should looke for spirituall remedy for that spirituall sickenesse ; which likewise the said poena promised that he would endeuour to get for his recouery . hereof the diseased partie was very glad , and pressed on him very hard , that he should hasten him , telling him withall , that his said spirits continually menaced to kill him , or to torment him with some grieuous sickenesse . here the phisitian was faine to vse stratagems and subtilties to take away these wicked impressions out of the sicke-mans phantasie , in regard that the party being learned , and very speculatiue ( as all melancholike men are ) would comprehend by reason the manner of his cure , which after many circumstances in briefe was thus : the phisitian tooke vpon him to fashion in a little booke certaine characters and names of spirits , and to make as though he must coniure vp a stronger spirit then those which were in his body ; by whose forcible means the lesser spirits should be chased therehence . the remedie was plausible to the sicke man. in the meane that all things were accommodating and making readie for the said exploit , the phisitian ministred vnto him purgations to tame and moderate the humour of melancholie . atlength the time approached that this feat should be put in practise . there was a great hall chosen out for the nonce , wherein this saigned coniuration should be made : for the effecting whereof , an honest chirurgion was appointed to act the person of the pretended spirit . all things thus prepared together with the circle and other ceremonies , which negromancers vse in such a case , they came to the place , where the possessed party was seated in the midst of the circle : and to blindfolde him the more , he was encouraged not to be astonished at what accident soeuer that should befall . after some counterfeit whispering , crossing , and inuocations , the spirit of the south was called vp , who appeared not . then the spirit of the east was called , who likewise came not . in the end at the third call the chirurgeon that lay hid in a certaine place there for the nonce began to appeare in this hall , that was somewhat darke . and then the patient was againe comforted and counselled more then before , not to be affraid , who answered , that he was resolued not to feare at all . so earnestly did he attend and repose confidence and hope in this illusion . at last the matter passed so finely and luckily , that the poore patient beleeued that this spirit , which he tooke to be no fained one , had power to ouercome and chase out of his body the other two spirits , which he imagined to be there inclosed . so that this plot serued to strengthen his imagination , and to weaken his former false perswasion . this was the principall remedy of his malady . neuerthelesse the said monsieur poena desisted not for all that during the space of a moneth after , to minister vnto him certaine medicinable things to purge and asswage melancholy ; insomuch that at the moneths end being throughly purged and cured of his sickenesse , the party acknowledged himselfe abused , and was very much ashamed of this false imagination , which for a long time had possessed and troubled his spirit . lineament . xi . an excellent example of coniuration , translated out of erasmus his exorcismes , fit to be obserued of our superstitious detractors . erasmus in his dialogue called exorcismus reports a notable story , acted in king henry the eights dayes ; which because it is too prolixe and tedious to be translated into english word by word , i will relate it as compendiously and briefly as the substance of the matter requires . betwixt london and richmond there dwelt one poole a merry conceited gentleman . he at many ordinaries diuulged , that neere to his house by the high way side a spright haunted commonly euery night . and to make it the more famous , riding on a time towards richmond with diuers caualeers in his company , the skie being cleere without any cloudes , poole on a sudden crossed himselfe , and as one much astonished , spake to himselfe in this sort : o immortall god , what doe i see ! his companions asking him what he saw , crossing himselfe yet more he said ; i pray god , that this sight which i see may turne to good . when they lay hard vpon him , desirous to know the matter , with his eyes fixt towards the skie , and pointing with his finger to a place in the element , doe not you see there ( quoth he ) yonder cruell dragon , armed with fiery hornes and a wreathed taile ? at first they denied that they saw any thing . but at length because poole , belike a man of some reckoning , very earnestly pointed at it with his finger : and because he should not thinke but they were of as perfect sight as himselfe , they constantly affirmed , and said , that they also sawe that wonderfull strange sight . what needes many wordes ? within three or foure dayes the rumour had passed almost ouer all england , that such a prodigious monster frequented theere , neere pooles house . yea , it is wonderfull , how the common people added more nouelties vnto the fable . neither wanted there some , that tooke vpon them to presage the euent . in the meane while a canon one hind , who also was a priest of a neighbour parish , happily arriued at pooles house . this man had an ouer-weening conceit of himselfe , and aboue all he thought himselfe well seene in diuinity . at supper they discoursed of the spright . when poole perceiued , that the priest had not onely heard of it , but likewise beleeued it to be true , he began to perswade him , that he being a learned man , and very well disposed would coniure the spirit therhence , and succour the poore soule in durance . and if you doubt any thing ( quoth he ) we will trie . walke you about ten of the clocke anon by the bridge , and you shall heare a pitifull groaning . take vnto you what company you please , so you shall heare the safer and more certaine . after supper poole made as though he went on hunting . about the time mentioned , the priest walking to the place , heard wofull lamentations , which poole very cunningly fained , being there hidden in a bush , complayning out of an earthen potte , broken for the nonce for that purpose . the priest within a litle while after returned homwards , longing to tell what he had seene and heard . there he tolde poole ( who came home somewhat before him a neerer way ) what was done , and likewise some thing more of his owne deuising , because the matter might be the more wonderfull . at the last ( poole egging him on ) he vndertakes to coniure the spirit therehence . all that night he slept not , with musing which way he might sasely bring the matter about , for hee feared and doubted very sore of himselfe . therefore hee gathers together most preualent exorcismes , ioyning others vnto them of his owne inuention , as , by the bowelles of the blessed virgin mary . by the bones of saint winifride . the next day he chuseth a place in the plaine , neere to the bush ; from whence hee heard the voyce . there , he frames a very large circle , with innumerable crosses and letters . by his side hee sets a vessell full of holy water . about his necke hee wore a holy robe , at which hung the new testament , besides an agnus dei , which was wont to be consecrated by the pope once a yeare . with these hee armes himselfe , for feare lest it might be a wicked spirit that would assault him . neyther durst hee commit himselfe alone to the circle , but determined to ioyne another priest with him . then poole fearing lest the mysterie might chance to bee bewrayed , if he got vnto him one craftier then himselfe , discloseth out of hand the whole story to a neighbour-priest a friend of his , and ioynes him assistant to the simple canon in the acting of his conceited comedie . all things thus prepared , the coniurer with the other priest about ten of the clocke enters into the circle . poole that went before him , cried lamentably out of the bush . the canon talles to his exorcismes . but poole to haue the more sport shifted him therehence , and by and by returnes with afriend of his , but on two blacke steeds , throwing fire at the canon to haue him out of the circle . the next morning the canon bragged how he preuailed against the spirits , who appeared on two blacke horses , how they were very like to draw him out of the circle , and how he sent them away with a vengeance by means of his forcible charmes . the next night the coniurer better encouraged returnes into the circle , and poole with his cópanion on their blacke horses shewed themselues with a terrible noyse , as though they would breake into the circle , and with a long rope , which they brought with them , drawen along the ground , they ouerthrew both priests with their vessell of holy water to the ground , and at last seeming to quaile at the charms , they departed away for that night . this done , the canon comes homes , tels poole what great danger he escaped , and how valiantly he ouercame both the wicked spirits ; now he certainly perswades himselfe that no diuell is so cruell nor so impudent as to breake into his circle . thus farre proceeded the fable , when by chance pooles sonne in law a young man delighted with such kinde of mirth came thither . him poole makes priuie of their stage play , and appoints him the soules or spirits part to act . the young man apparrels himselfe with a sheete like a coarse , and carries with him quicke coales in a pot , which through the sheete seemed as it were lightening . at night they goe to the stage play , where the soule pitifully bemones himselfe . the canon dispatcheth all his forcible coniurations , like volees of canon shot , vntill at length the soule by the bush shewes it selfe , sometimes gliding with fire ; sometimes miserably groaning . assoone as the canon required the spirit to declare who he was , poole suddenly in a diuellish shape , and with a counterfeit roaring leapt out of the bush , saying to the canon , thou hast no right in this soule , it is mine , and with that runnes to the very bounds of the circle , as if he were about to assault the coniurer , who on the other side fought lustily with his exorcismes , and liberally besprinkled him with holy water . but heere fell out a pretty iest . as the coniurer busied himselfe in this manner , the diuell exclaimed , that he cared not a rush for all his charmes , for thou hast dealt with a wench ( quoth he ) thou art mine : which words though poole spake but in merriment , yet it seemed that he hit the naile on the head , by reason that the coniurer toucht with that saying hastened out of hand into the center of the circle , and whispered , i know not what confession into the other priests eares . but poole ouerheard the priest enjoyning him penance , namely , to repeate ouer three pater nosters . which accomplished , the canon more fiercely and furiously returnes towards the meeres of the circle , and voluntarily dares and defies the diuell , who now faining himselfe fearefull fled backe , saying , thou hast beguiled me , if i had bene wise , i had not forewarned thee . then after the departure of the diuell , began a conference betwixt the canon & the soule . the canon coniures him vpon paine of damnation ) to tell him what he is , who readily answeres him , that he is a christian mans soule . after these and the like speeches the soule seeing him very in quisitiue , and least he should smell out the deceit , craued pardon for that night , with promise that he would returne the next night after vnto him . thus the canon and the soule for a few nights communed together , the summe grew to this passe . the coniurer asking , whether there were any meanes for his deliuerance frō torments , the soule answered , that he might be deliuered from torments , if the ill gottē money , which he left behinde him , were restored backe . what ( said the canon ) if this money were dispursed by good men , and conuerted by them to godly vses ? yea , that would auaile me , quoth the soule . here , the coniurer exhilarated with ioy , demanded , how much the summe amounted vnto . the soule answered that the summe was great , and verie profitable for him , that it was so . he named the place , but farre distant thence , where the treasure lay hid vnder ground , withall he prescribed to what vses the said money should be employed , first , that there honest men vndertake a pilgrimage , one to s. peters church in rome , the other to s. iames of compostella in galicia , the third to tr●uires to kisse our sauiours combe there . then his will was , that a great number of psalmes , masses and dirges be celebrated in certaine monasteries pro salute animae for his soules health . the ouerplus which remained , the coniurer should defray , as he thought good . now all the canons mind was occupied about the treasure , and the dispose thereof . all his thoughts ranne vpon this vnexpected prey , he talked of no other subiect in discouse . in all companies , at ordinaries he promised magnificent rewards to monasteries , and spake of no base matters at all . he went into the place , found the signes , yet durst he not digge for the treasure , because the soule had giuen him a knot in a rush to vndo , that it might redound to his great perill , if he touched the treasure , before so many masses were accomplished . already many of the wiser sort smelt out the iest : insomuch that sundry of the canons friends admonished him in secrete to take heede , lest the world might conceiue sinisterly of his worth , which had beene generally reputed before for a very wise man. neuerthelesse the canon continued resolute in his beliefe , hoped as true as his creed to see the matter sort out well to his liking . which imagination so throughly possessed the mans mind , that beside sights and spirits he dreamed of nothing , he spake of nothing . the habit of his mind appeared in his face , which became so pale , so extenuated , so directed , that a man would take him for a ghost , and not a man. he wanted but little of being out of his wits . poole and his sonne in law in their compassion towards the poore foole inuented this slight to put him from his conceits . they counterfeited an epistle with rare letters drawne , and that not in common paper , but in a goldsmithes leafe with golden characters . the contents whereof were these : faunus dudum captiuus nunc liber , fauno liberatori suo optimo salutem . non est , amice cur te diutius in hoc negotio maceres . respexit deus piam animi tui voluntatem , & illus merito me liberauit à supplicijs . ego nunc foeliciter ago inter angelos . te manet locus apud d. augustinum , qui proximus est apostolorum choro . vbiveneris ad nos , agam tibi gratias coram . interim cura vt valeas suauiter : dat. è coelo empiraeo sub sigillo annul● mei . which to english is this : faunus of late a prisoner , now free , to faunus his best redeemer greeting . there is no cause , my friend , why thou shouldest pine away thy selfe any longer . god hath respected the good will of thy minde , and by the merits thereof hath ridde me from torments . i liue now in happinesse among the angels . thy place is here readie at s. augustines , which is next to the apostles quire . when thou shalt come vnto vs , i will thanke thee present . in the meane time haue a care to liue pleasantly . dated out of the emperiall heauen vnder the seale of my ring . this letter was priuily laid vpon the altar , as the canon was celebrating the masse . now he caries with him abroad this letter , and boasts of it as a sacred thing , & beleeues more certainly , that it was transported vnto him from heauen by an angell . lin●ament . xii . that the diuels common drist is , spiritually to vndermine the will of man. that his scope and force is cousenage and deceit . it is a foule shame for vs reformed christians , that we stop not our eares with vlysses from these cousening sirenes , whose chiefe drift , shift , and scope is to make a prey of our vnderstanding , and to draw vs a whorehunting after strange gods , which haue eares and heare not , eyes and see not , mouthes and speake not , and which are to be found in no other place , but where the sophistical chymistes dig the philosophers stone , the el●xir of life . certainly the heathen will rise vp against vs at the day of iudgement , and implead to be saued before vs , for all our baptisme & holy rites , vnlesse we seale vp our lips betimes from vttering any idle positions contrary to gods glory in the behalfe of these enchanting hypocrites . for we derogate much from gods glory , and omnipotency when we say , he doth but giue satan leaue to do it , which is to deride and mocke gods iustice , as that worthy man master caluine wrote . the diuell is not at his owne liberty , nor can he ( in the extremest censure ) otherwise then a hangman act any thing without the restrictiue commandement of the highest iudge , i say , his permission must be authentickly ioyned with commission from god. he is not in such fauour or grace with our almighty lord. onely his maiestie permits his spirituall insinuating and ghostly temptations for his glory and our edification in christ. he permits him as the spirituall instrument of iustice for our hardnesse of heartes to entrap the chiefe part of man , the reasonable will , and by reason of our negligence in his seruice to accuse and relate our sinnes before him : not that god is ignorant of our closest sinnes , but perhaps because his maiestie is pleased to vse ordinary meanes , iudiciall formes , and legall proceeding to condemne the guiltie . such as the informer or promoter is in our worldly courts , such is the diuell in the heauenly parliament . and such a one will he be at the great iudgement day , when our messias both god and man shall iudge mankind . in the meane time let vs perswade our selues that the diuels meaning is to deceiue vs , whether he seemes to appeare in borrowed shapes , eyther of himselfe or by the commaund of wicked men . besides this deluding force i know certainly he hath none other . with this weapon he was licensed by god in the beginning to sting vs in our heeles , that is , to tempt vs with legions of sinnes , which by degrees brings death and perpetuall darknesse . euen as a man being stung in his heele or legge by reason of that infectious venime , which with deadly tumors or swellings creepes vp by little and little into the heart , must needs did , except his legge that was so stung , had beene chopt of in time , or cured by an extraordinarie balsame ; so the variable will of man being seduced by sathan , or by his substitute sinne , which by degrees encreaseth to legions , and as it were vncurable and vnrevokeable , must needs be condemned to hell , together with the soule her deere consort , except she were absolued of her sinnes vpon her repentance , bathed in christs bloud , and so healed by the balme of grace . with this weapon he as●aulted eue , with this weapon he wounded ahabs false prophets . and in this sort shall he goe out to deceiue the people , which are in the foure quarters of the world . this is he , the dragon , that old serpent , which is the diuell and sathan ; i say , this is he , the great red dragon , which deceiueth all the world , which fought with michael and his angels , which makes spirituall warre with the woman cloathed with the sunne , the church of christ. this is he , which gaue the beast with the seauen heads , that is , the church of rome , the seauen hilled citie by the tyrrhene sea , his power , his throne , and great authoritie . so that great babilon is now become an habitation of d●uels , the hold of all fowle spirits , and a cage of euery vncleane and hatefull bird : and as stigelius writes : imperij quondam sedes , nunc turpe lupanar , vix vmbram prisci roma nitoris habet . rome that was once an empires seat , is now a wolfe-stie , scarce of that brightnesse shadow . lineament . xiii . aphrismes collected out of the first fathers of the primitiue church concerning the diuels power . iustine the martyr in his apologie for the christians to the romane senate , who among other seruples obiected , that god would not suffer them to bee persecuted if their doctrine were true ; answered , that the christians were persecuted for the confirmation of their faith by gods permission , and also by the instinct and incitement of wicked spirits , who at all times haue persecuted the louers of vertue , as socrates , heraclitus , and musonius , but chiefly they moued persecutions against the christians . the same martyr speaking of the vertue of the name of iesus , which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , writes : at the powerfull name of iesus christ crucified vnder pontius pilate , the diuels being adiured , euen at this day with horrour and trembling doe obey vs christians . the diuell is most busie against the light of the gospell : he moueth the infidels to detract christ with magicke : he prouoketh hereticke to falsifie the truth , according to their owne phantasies . tatianus disputing with the grecians , because they derided and despised the christian religion , said , that the motiues of their derision were the spirituall suggestions of the diuell , which deceiued them by vndertaking cures of diseases , and by deluding them with witch craft , and diuinations ; thereby to withdraw men from the true worship of god. irenaeus the disciple of polycarpus , who likewise was the disciple of s. iohn the euangel●st , proued that god was to be worshipped , and not the diuell : first , because the diuell could not keepe and obserue any promises which he made ; for himselfe possessed nothing : secondly , because that the diuell hath alwaies beene a lyar , and is not to determine of any earthly kingdom●s . origen auerreth , that charmes and sorceries are d●risions of diuels , the dregs of idolatry , and the besotting of soules . likewise he affirmeth , that our conflictand contention with euill spirits is spirituall . these be the opinions of the greeke fathers , which flourished within three hundred yeares after christ. tertullian the first latine father testifieth , that the diuell is the authour of sinne , euen as god is the authour of the punishment of sinne . that which is counterfeit is the businesse of the diuell , euen as that which is naturall is the worke of god. persecution immediately is sent from god , and not from the diuell . wicked spirits are the authours of all wickednesse , which is committed by man. they fill all things with deceits , craft , and errours . they infinuate themselues into mens bodies : but they cannot hurt any man , 〈◊〉 him , whom they haue in their full power . they were t●● inuentors of astrologie , southsaying , oracles , n●gromancy , and magicke . their chiefe endeuour is to auert men from the worshippe and knowledge of the diuine maiesty . god suffereth the diuell thus to delude mankinde , to the entent that the euiil might fight with the good ; that vices might be opposed to vertue ; that god might haue some to punish , and some to honour him . augustine vtterly denieth the diuels reall power ouer any of gods workmanship in these words : we must not thinke that this materiall substance of visible things doe obey the angels which transgressed , but that they obey god alone . another reuerend elder of the church , reasoning about the cause of the desection of the diuels illusion : writeth after this manner : heretofore diuels in vaine formes did ensuare men with deceits , hiding themselues in riuers , rockes , groues , and woods : but now-a-dayes since that gods word hath beene made manifest , those deceitfull sights , spirits , and illusions of images are quite ceased . note this for the diuels departure and defection from among the protestants in these dayes . the diuels slatteries hath done more hurt to the church then his threats and menaces . the diuels practize hath beene to conueigh the poyson of his drift within a cloude of ambiguity . the diuell diuers wayes infesteth mortall men : while they eate he enticeth them to gurmandize ; while they drinke , to drunkennesse ; while they a wake , he tempteth them to idle thoughts ; while they sleepe , to vncleane and filthy dreames ; while they be merry , he incites them to wantonnesse ; while they be sad , to melancholy . lineament . xiiii . the authors debortation from such vaine detracting studies . the knowledge of astrologie stinted and censured . now that i haue proued diabolicall dealings to be but dennes of deceit , and that his apparitions are extinguished by the brightnesse and miraculous resurrection of the lords two witnesses , being the olde testament and the new , which for many yeares lay dead , vnburied , and ill sauouring through the barbarisme of our popish sodomites , and well nigh moth-eaten amidst their darke libraries : let vs fixe the eyes of our vnderstanding vpon this bright meridian , let vs acknowledge mens traditions for apocrypha or indifferent . in this decrepit age of the world , since all prophesies are winded to the bottome , we must expect no other signe then the signe of ionas the prophet , that is , our blessed messias , who sits at the right hand of the power of god , and will shortly come in the cloudes of heauen , to seuer truth from falshood . all other miracles for the most part , specially those , which are supposed to be done among the vnbeleeued , let vs account for olde wiues fables● , and write them vp in the wood-cockes roule , namely , all such lying wonders , which the children of belial haue stamped concerning the diuels reall greatnesse , and the palpable validity of his prophane creatures . time is pretious , and passeth away like a streame of water : spend not therefore your golden times in such vnprofitable studies , but redeeme the same before the latter day steale vpon you . know this , that the diuell is the father of lies , and will be sure to leaue you in the bogge of perdition at your greatest neede . if once he setle himselfe in the seat of your soules , all your artilleries of exorcismes will neuer coniure him therehence . for is it likely that he , which shewed himselfe so peremptory against the archangell in heauen will become ●ame vnto a mortall man on earth ? can you trust him , whom god could not trust ? take heed ( brethren ) of this sophistry , beware of this alchymistry . it renders nothing but lies , vanity , mistes , smoake , or false spectacles to dazzle and deceiue your sight . esteeme our coniurer no otherwise then bul-beggers , as diuels incarnate , coni-catching mountebankes , crafty iuglers , cousening priuadoes , insinuating serpents aegiptian picke-purses . who can be clensed of the vncleane ? or what truth can be spoken of a lyer ? southsaying , witchcraft , sorcery , and dreaming is but vaine ; like as when a woman trauelleth with childe , and hath many phantasies in her heart . therfore beware of spirituall lies . againe and againe i aduise thee ( christian reader ) to looke vnto thy soule , that it bee not surprised by the subtle tempter , the archsorcerer of the world , the grand worker of false miracles . banish away from thee with caligula star-gazers , and astronomers . with cato contemne phantasticall dreames , with horace laugh thou at dreames , at magicke feares , at hob-goblins , night-bugges , and beares . laugh also at false witches sights , and at the shapes of thessales sprights . somnia , terrores magicos , miracula sagas , nocturnos lemures , portentaque thessala ride . i write not against honest astrologers , while they containe themselues in compasse of natures reach , and within the circle of their auncient rules . but i exhort them so to esteeme nature , that they neglect not their christian vocation , and distrust the authour of nature , by attributing his workes of glory to naturall creatures . i am the lord ( saith god ) this is my name , and my glory will i not giue to another . our sauiour christ himselfe disputed , that there is some reasonable coniecture to be gathered of the meteores course : when he said to the people : when ye see a cloud rise out of the west , straight way ye say , a showre comes , and so it is : and when ye see the southwinde blow , ye say , it will be hote , and it comes to passe : like as the prouerbe in french and english presageth vnto vs : le rouge soir , & brun matin , sont le desir du pellerin . an euening red , a morning gray , as pilgrims say , foretell faire day . in like manner i approue the profound doctrine of the spheares , with the constellations of starres and signes ( a breuiary whereof my selfe haue published in latin verse in my stripling yeares ) i approue the obseruation of the moist empresse the moone , which therehence out of her orbe , transports the operatiue vertue of the twelue constellations of starres and signes to all elementary creatures , working innouations and alterations of humours and seasons ; as we see by mans body , by the weather , by the ebbing and flowing of the sea. all which now of late god hath diuerted for our repentance . the sea breakes ouer the ordinary bounds , and hath ouerflowed many parishes . our bodies begin to change their temper . the weather beyond natures knowledge varies with inconstant windes and stormes . the lords prophesie by amos is fulfilled in our dayes : i caused it to raine vpon one citie , and i haue not caused it to raine vpon another city , yet haue you not turned vnto me , saith the lord : pestilence haue i sent among you , yet haue you not turned vnto me . i haue ouerthrowne you , as sodome and gomorre , and you were as a firebrand pluckt out of the burning , yet haue ye not turned vnto me . lineament . xv. that the authours meaning is not to denie the diuels reall subsistence . his charitable application of the statute against witchcraft , made anno primo iacobi . that he onely denieth his reall power , and his palpable force ouer any of gods creatures . the vanity and fondnesse of wizards . that the hand of god plagued iob and other creatures of his . that good men neuer detract from gods glory . it is no part of my meaning heretically with the sadduces to denie the eslentiall subsistence of diuels ; for in all my writings i affirme their being , i auerre their fall from angels s●ates , i auouch their captiuity in hell . as on the other side , i thinke that sinne is meant by the diuell in most part of the scripture : yet so , that i know the originall to proceede from that serpent , the great seducing spirit , in whom god found folly , as iob said . by the diuell then , which commonly peruerts mankinde in these dayes , i vnderstand a sinfull will arising from melancholy and corruption of flesh and bloud , which the spiritual tempter , the sneaking snake , like a virulent infectious smoake breatheth vpon vs , when we be destitute of grace . i graunt that in times past , in times of blinde papistry moe ghosts and spirits were seene , then tongue can tell , whereas now contrariwise a man shall scarcely all his life time heare once of such things . and if it were lawfull for me to comment vpon our act of parliament in that case prouided , anno primo iacobi , where it is felony without benefit of clergy in them , which exercise any coniuration of a wicked spirit for any mans corporall hurt , i would affirme , that this most soueraigne court enacted the said statute , partly in imitation of the law of god , where coniuration is termed sometimes the vsing of poyson to mens corporall hurts , somtimes an vncharitable or inueterate malice of one neighbour to the other , which the apostle names man slaughter ; and sometimes a whoring after strange gods ( which is called spirituall fornication ) such as the adoration of dagon was among the philistines , ieroboams golden calfe ( which he in machiauellian policy made to keepe the israelites from going to worship in ierusalem ) and such as bel was in babylon , all as senselesse blockes and stones ; partly the said act against coniurers was set out , to the end , that the inward man might be reformed , that malicious deuices being the causes of treasons , murthers , and poysonings might be suppressed , and also that idolatry , superstition , deceits , and cousenages , the impediments of loue , vnity , charity , and concord might be quite banished out of our vnited realme . for is that man worthy to liue in a ciuill society , which vniustly demeanes himselfe towards god and his neighbours ? deserues he the title of a true subiect , which inuocates on a forraigne prince , which serues his princes enemy ? the lawes of christianity condemnes him . let god haue what belongs to god ; and caesar what belongs to caesar. better kill one rotten sheepe rather then the whole flocke miscary . better it is to chop off the hand , then the whole body perish . one leades astray this man , this man another , and at the last ( as more sa●kes to the mill ) whole multitudes become preyes to the diuell . for further explanation of the said statute it is inserted , that supposed coniurers shall be punished , if they vndertake by charmes to finde hidden treasure , to prouoke vnlawfull loue , &c. although the same be not effected and done . and well worthy , seeing by such indirect dealings and diabolicall deceits they become apostataes , loosing the priuiledge of baptisme , and consequently of christianity , where they were bound by their pledges to renounce the diuell and all his workes . they become guilty before god , though the diuell appeares not at all really vnto them , after that they once determine in their minds to raise him vp . neuerthelesse for all this , that i conceiue so charitably of my countrey-mens freckled integrity , like vnto that law-giuer of greece , which decreed no act against parricides , because he thought that kinde of sinne would neuer happen : i wish my readers not to make a strict syntaxis or sophisticall construction on my simple meaning , by their peecemeale collecting , that i goe about to seclude the authour of sinne by my construction of sinne . for i acknowledge his false miracles , his illusions , his ambiguous riddles , and his apparitions of shadows both immediate and mediate , ouert and couert , explicite and implicite , ordinary and extraordinary , tending altogether to one maine point , namely , to tempt with deceit olde adams carelesse progeny ; as contrariwise i impugne his ommpotent greatnesse , supposed to be as well reall as royall . i impugne his sacrilegious power of lightning and thundring maiesty . i impugne his reall sword of authority , his paspable force of correction , and his sensible dart of death ouer any of christs members . god forbid that his diuine maiesty should tollerate this cruell tyrant ( whose soueraigne felicity is malicious enuie ) in that imperious manner : for then the life of man were in a most desperate plight . then were we assured to be suddenly dispatched , euen in our extremity of sinne . when wee were occupied about some wicked acte ( as the very best do sometimes fall ) his remorcelesse spirit would not lose that great aduantage , he would surely ( like a rauening lyon ) vtterly deuoure vs. nay more , if god did winke at his tyrannie , our whole estate by the mediation of the papists , who take vpon them to be the arch-coniurers of the world , had beene long sithence blowne vp with the gun-powder of his treacherous soule ; but , god be thanked , we haue a gracious lord , which hath limited this leuiathan ( as salomon limited semei ) to his narrow home ? and as the poet spake of aeolus his kingdome , stricta dominatur in aulà , hee lordeth it in his straight hall . and if it chance that he enter into a man , we may well doubt whether his entrance be in the soule or body , or rather whether his spirituall nature possesseth mans spirituall nature , that is , the soule or soules faculties . howsoeuer the bodie or soule become possessed by the permission of god , i certainly beleeue that he may be quickly dislodged by praier and fasting , and holy exercise ; for surely the holy ghost , and gods ministring spirits loathe to guard our soules , as long as we liue lewdly and licentiously . these things considered , i dare stand vpon my christian guard , and defie the diuell with all his trumperies , and reputed realty . let him do his worst , let him cause his cogging coniurers to vndertake false miracles , works of wonders , and tragicall tempests . our eares are stopt with vlysses , that we can neuer be surprised , charme these mearemaids neuer so melodiously . let them feed their hopes with golden dreames , let them burie sage till it be quite rotten , let them fling flint stones ouer their left shoulders towards the west , and when all comes to all they build vpon the sand , and themselues are esteemed but for wizards , dizards , and dotards ; howsoeuer that the spirit of detraction proclaime them for foolosophers , or foolish flies , which sitting on a waine wheele , thought that themselues occasioned the great dust in the high way , which the mouing of the wheele raised . wherefore i exhort thee , that hast beene guiltie of such detractions , to addict thy cogitations to the power of god , which indeed is onely royall and reall , infinite , and immensiue ; and also to imitate holy iob , who imputed his calamities to the lord , and not to the diuell ; the lord gaue , the lord taketh away : blessed be the name of the lord. and againe , when his friends hit him in the teeth with his punishment deseruedly for his sinnes , he protested in this manner : know now that god hath ouerthrowne me , and compassed me with his net , and a little after : haue pitie on me , o my friends , for the hand of god hath touched me . by which words of iob it appeares that the hand of god plagued him , and that the diuell exercised but the part of a relator or accuser ( such as he is termed in the reuelation of s. iohn . whē the accuser of the brethren was cast downe from heauen . ) to this sence agreeth that motion of the diuel : lay thine hand vpon him , and he shall curse thee to thy face . whereto though god answered : lo he is in thine hand , yet we must not take that saying literally , but parable-wise , or according to the hebrew maner of speech . he is in thine hand , that is , he is in the case as thou wouldest haue him , my hand shall plague him according to thy demaund . likewise we must vnderstand , that the holy ghost here , as in other places of the scripture inserteth such familiar conserence , as is fitting for mans capacity , and for the vsage of that language . when his maiestie is disposed really to plague offendors , cōmonly he employeth his owne angels , which s. iohn in the reuelation plainly manifesteth in these words : i saw another signe in heauen great and maruellous , seuen angels hauing the last seuen plagues , for by them is fulfilled the wrath of god. and againe , i heard a great voyce going out of the temple saying to the seuen angels : go your waies , & powre out the seuen golden vials of the wrath of god vpon the earth . his owne angell god sent to destroy sodome and gomorra , to plague the israclites when dauid caused the people to be numbred , and to ouerthrow senacheribs army . his owne angell he sent to smite ambitious herode , so that he was eaten vp of wormes . to conclude , this is a golden rule , and worthy to be engrauen in cedar , that good men neuer detract from the lord , or from their neighbours . to the lord they ascribe al glory , all causes , all effects . to caesar they ascribe what is caesars , and honour to whom honour belongeth . notwithstanding any naturall notions , or idle imaginations imprinted in their braines by the spirit of detraction , good men will quickly breake through such brittle cobwebs , and will pierce quite through such imaginations with their intellectuall iudgements , ( as the beames of the sunne pierce and passe through the thickest clouds ) inwardly building on this fort of faith , that the diuels force , himselfe being spirituall , and oftentimes a prisoner , is not really reuelling , but spiritually roguing or restrained euen according to the pleasure of the great iehouah , in whose power alone it consisteth to bruise his head , and to bring vs safely out of his tempting snares . lineament . xvi . the spirit of detraction punished by the immediate power of god , proued by examples out of the scripture . even as the spirit of detraction with all other sinful spirits , as the spirit of pride , the spirit of gluttony , the spirit of hatred and such others by the contagious craft of the diuellish serpent , like an infectious leprosie possessed all soules since the first transgression of our foreparents ( our sauiour only excepted ) for in adam we all liued : so likewise did this serpent first detract and depraue the lords glory in heauen , when he arrogated to himselfe his immensiue power . and afterwards when he seduced eue to disobey her creator touching the forbidden fruit , saying vnto her , ye shall not die the death . and also when he made her beleeue that she should be as wise as god. at the building of babell they desperately detracted , in distrusting gods prouidence , in fearing another deluge , and in saying , let vs build vs a tower , whose top may reach vnto heauen , least pe●aduenture we be scatterd abroad vpon the face of the earht . corah , dathan , and abiram were swallowed vp of the earth , because they murmured against god , and spake against his seruant moses . miriam the sister of moses was stricken by the lord with leprosie , because she spake against her brother , and against his authority which he had from god. the men , which moses sent to search the land of canaan , and which when they came againe made all the people to murmur against him , and brought vp a slander vpon the land , euen those men , that did bring that slaunder vpon it , as though it had bene euill , died in a great plague before the lord none of the israelites , which came out of aegypt , except caleb , liued to enioy the land of promise , because they murmured against their redeemer , who brought them out of seruitude , and tempted his patient spirit , therefore they perished in the wildernesse . saul despayring of gods mercy , and for that the lord vouchsafed not to answere him , by dreams , nor vrim , nor yet by prophets , sought to the cousening witch of endor , who against her will ( like to baalam and caiphas ) prophesied the truth by a supposed samuel , that the spirit of god had quite abandoned him , & that the next day after he should be slaine by the philistines . the israelites discomfited the s●rians , and killed one hundred thousand of them in one day , according to the speech of the prophet , that was sent to the king of israel with this message : thus saith the lord , because the sirians haue said : the lord is god of the mountains , and not god of the valleyes : therefore will i deliuer this great multitude into thy hands , and you shall know that i am the lord. ahaziah king of iuda being sicke , sent messengers to baalzebub the god of ekron concerning his discase , and his recouery . but elias out of the angels mouth resolued him , saying , is it because there is no god in israel , that you goe to enquire of baalzebub the god of ekron ? wherefore thus saith the lord : thou shalt not come downe from the bed , on which thou art gone vp , but thou shalt die the death . amaziah priest of bethel bad the prophet amos prophesie no more at bethel , because it was the kings chappel , and the kings court. wherefore , and for that he controlled the lords messenger , thus said the lord : thy wife shall be an harlot in the citie , and thy sonnes and daughters shall fall by the sword , and thy land shall be diuided by line , and thou shalt die in a polluted land . beares came out of the forrest , and tare in peeces two and fortie children , which mocked elisha the prophet , and reuiled him , with his bald head . senacherib king of assyria warring with hezekias king of iuda , sent a blasphemous embassage vnto him , signifying , that the lord could no more saue ierusalem from his victorious hand , then the counterfeit gods or idols of other nations , which he destroyed . but the word of the lord came to esay the prophet against senacherib in this manner : whom hast thou railed on , and blasphemed ? against whom hast thou exalted thy voice , and lifted vp thine eyes on high ? euen against the holy one of israel . because thou ragest against me , and thy tumult is come vp into mine eares : therefore will i put my hooke into thy nosthrils , and my bridle in thy lips , and will bring thee backe againe the same way thou camest . so the angell of the lord went out and smote in the campe one hundred , threescore , and fiue thousand men in one night . and senacherib himselfe at his returne home was slaine by two of his sonnes . one hananiab in the time of zedekiah king of iuda prophesied falsely among the iewes at ierusalem , eyther of vaine glory , for lucre sake , or of set purpose to please the kings humour . and the word of the lord came to ieremy the prophet , who thus said vnto him : heare now , hananiah , the lord hath not sent thee : but thou makest this people to trust in a lie . therefore thus saith the lord ; behold i will cast thee from off the earth : this yeare thou shalt die , because thou hast spoken rebelliously against the lord. so hananiah died the same yeare in the seuenth moneth . holophernes offended with achior , because he said , that the lord of heauen had no more power , then his king nabuchodonozor , blasphemously detracted his eternall maiesty . who is god ( quoth he ) but nabuchodonozor ? he will send his power , and will destroy them from the face of the earth , and their god shall not deliuer them . within a while after he was slaine by a woman , and his army discomfited . elymas the sorcerer withstood barnabas and paul , and sought to turne away the deputy from the christian faith . then paul being full of the holy ghost set his eyes on him and said ; o man full of all subtiltie and all mischiefe , the child of the diuell , and enemie to all righteousnesse , wilt thou not cease to peruert the straight waies of the lord ? now therfore behold the hand of the lord is vpon thee , and thou shalt be blind , and not see the sunne for a season . our sauiour christ through the spirit of god , through profound arguments confounded the pharisees that detracted his glorious miracles , alledging , that he did cast out spirits no otherwise then through baalzebub prince of diuels . his arguments were these : euerie kingdome ( saith he ) diuided against it selfe shall be brought to nought : and euery citie or house diuided against it selfe shall not stand . so if sathan cast out sathan , he is diuided against himselfe . how then shall his kingdome endure ? whereby we may gather , that the chiefest fight against the spirit of detraction is the irrefragable word of god , seeing that our master christ himselfe vsed this kinde of armour . herod made an eloquent oration to them of tyre and sidon , so that the people shouted , saying , it is the voyce of god and not of man. but because he arrogated the same to his owne worth , and gaue not glory vnto god , the angell of the lord smote him , that he was caten of wormes . saint paul the apostle imputes mens mentall punishments & infectious sicknesses with these pestilent sinnes , to our ingratitude and negligence in glorifying and seruing god. when they knew god ( saith he ) they glorified him not as god , neithet were thankfull , but became vaine in their imaginations , and their foolish heart was full of darknesse . when they professed themselues to be wise , they became fooles , for they turned the glory of the incorruptible god , to the similitude of the image of a corruptible man , of birds , of foure footed beasts , and of creeping things . wherefore god gaue them vp to their hearts lustes , vnto vncleannesse . they turned the truth into a lie , they serued & worshipped the creature , forsaking the creator : for which cause god gaue them vp vnto vile affections . the same apostle in shewing the cause of the ruine of the iewes , and the calling of the gentiles ascribes the same vnto their detractions : for they going about to establish their owne righteousnesse submitted not themselues to the righteousnesse of god. the sixt circle of the spirit of detraction , conivred and convicted . lineament . i. the spirit of detractions pleas and allegations on the behalfe of his humouring and soothing men in their vanities . the said spirit sharpely rebuked for his equiuocation and dissimulation . the authours purpose in this subsequent circle . hee is no politician ( quoth peter please-man ) that will not pledge the world in the cup of detraction , chiefly in these vntoward times , when men shall sit by themselues , as forsaken and forlorne , vnlesse they iumpe one with another in the selfe same veine of discourse : whether it be in derogating from gods omnipotence , or in diminishing of their neighbours fame . how shall men otherwise consume away their times . reading occasioneth bloudshot eyes , and moyst migrims ; silence ingendreth melancholy , and sleepe obstupefieth the lodge of imagination . but speeches , be they merry or malicious , iesting or gibing , doe extend the windpipes , enlarge the heartstrings , exhilarate the soules faculties , and enduce all companies to admire a mans fluent tongue , and to extoll his filed voice . wilt thou be enrolled in gentlemens bookes for one of their principall fauorites ? straine thy selfe to humour them , scoffe when they scoffe , bite when they bite , and ( like hippocrates twinnes ) laugh and weepe together . if thou hearest them blaspheme , or blazing outnouelties , indeuor thou to verifie the same , or to requite their familiar conference with some additions of thine owne inuention . by this meanes thou shalt make thy company precious vnto them , & also prie ( like an insinuating intelligencer ) into the inward state of all thy countrey . by this means thou shalt learne their seuerall and secret inclinations , who be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 corrupt magistrates , who be carousers , fornicators , or who haue encurred the danger of any penall statute . an romule coe●es ? art thou a brittaine a christian , and dost thou faune and wag thy taile , like a spaniell ? dost thou preach the doctrine of diuels ? doest thou teach men to equiuocate , to dissemble , to detract , and to lash out lies ? o sonne of belial , thou art in the gall of hell , and hast no portion with vs in our christian busines . how canst thou loue god whom thou neuer sawest , seeing thou canst not loue thy brother in christ whom thouse●st daily ? and how canst thou loue thy sauiour christ , when thou shamefully sharest his seamclefie coate with sathans soldiours , or when thou tearest his members name & fame with thy taunting tongue ? words wound a man worse then swords . no deadly drugs of arsenicke or aconite are comparable to lying lips , no spirit more dangerous , then the spirit of detraction . let a man obserue silence , and he shal neuer obtaine harme ; let him when he speaks , speake soberly , and all men will loue him : or if that ismaels seede doe taunt him , isaacs seede will tender him . if the vngodly contemne him , the godly will comfort him . and will not the comfortable loue of one godly man counterpoise the contempt of many vngodly ? let him seldome speake , or not before a question be asked him , and he shall neuer be indemnified . let him follow the french mans counsell : parler beaucoup on ne peut sans mensonge , ou pour le moins sans quelque vanite . le parler briefe convient à verite ; et l' autre est propre àla fable et au songe . to prattle much one cannot without lies , or at the least without some vanitie , it well agrees with dreames and fooleries ; but pithie words belong to veritie . for this purpose that the talkatiue may be ashamed of their tatling tongues , for the publike good , and for my modest memoriall towards her , that rests with the lord of rest , haue i composed and complotted this circle , whereby the world may conceiue charitably of those runnagate rumors which lately by satans long reeds ( not vnlike to those of midas his barber ) haue passed & pierced into their asses eares , which being remote from the meridian of the climate , wherein i liue , doe beleeue nothing more certainly , then that the diuell in his reall person hath reuelled among vs. these newes exposed abroad with a smokie gloze haue bene so vented by the inuentor of false newes , that our aleknights , alchymists , tobacconists , and such like taunting spirits with generall applause doe magnifie the diuels maiesty in their daily detractions , and want but little of canonizing and consecrating him for their god , & his adherents for their saints . which blasting blasphemie because i haue almost extinguished in the former circle with diuine deaw , i will proceede in this present circle to the conuiction of other partiall paralogismes , wherein his earthly agents , our doating doltes with both hands do extoll dumbe creatures to the very skies , not much vnlike to those idolatrous indians , who adore the orient sunne , the moone , and other visible starres . so when our ignorant countreimen heare but the clap of a thunder , or see but a flash of lightning , they arme thēselues forthwith with outward showes , with crossing their profane bodies . others againe more wise in their owne conceits beleeue , that god predestinates no man to perish by such heauenly meanes , sauing wicked wretches : wherein they limit his prouidence , wisedome and glory , which otherwiles he manifesteth by such glorious accidents for our trials , or for some other notable effect . some wade yet further , in attributing a powerfull prerogatiue to such meteorie signes , namely , that they can harme a man of themselues without gods extraordinarie ordinance . for ( say they ) he made an end of all his workes in sixe daies , and left order that euerie starre should moue in his place , and bring forth sutable qualities according to mens complexions and constellations . all which prodigies of opinions , together with other contagious conceits of mens busie braines i will confound with the sunne-shine of truth , interfusing discipline mutually with doctrine , and both of them with gods miracles , so that the right hand reciprocally supporting the left hand , they may contune and continue together as it were in a diapazon , and afterwards serue for bridling presidents to loose and lauish tongues . as for the substance of the subiect , i dare submit the same to the learnedst lydian touch ; whose criticke carping i countermine with that epigramme . cum tua non aedas , carpis mea opuscula mome : carpere vel noli nostra , vel aede tua . thou put'st not out thy workes , yet carp'st at mine : leaue off to carpe at mine , or put out thine . lineament . ii. how the spirit of detraction goeth about to ouerthrow predestination in attributing our misfortunes immediately to the planets , th●nders , lightnings , or other naturall creatures ; where the author excuseth himselfe for writing of such deepe mysteries . how god made the second causes and all other things in this world for mans sake . ovr taunting troianes finding no waighty shifts to restore and repaire vp the diuels ruinated reputation & reall strength , doe in their steede entertaine other hydraes of opinions : that the planets , thunders , lightnings , or some other naturall creatures , immediatly occasioned our ill fortunes , our sodaine losses , or deaths violence . whereby these detracting busibodies go about to ouerthrow predestination , to abolish from nature the light of nature , and to subiect the first cause vnto his second causes , the creator to his creature , after the example of vnnaturall iupiter , which droue out his owne father saturne from his kingdome of creet . oh vnhappy men , that ascribe such prerogatiues to weake and wounded nature . is there not in the lords hand a cup , and the wine red ? are not our haires numbred ? but to confute this absurditie , i will briefely runne ouer the springs of predostination . and first i will search with submissiue thoughts , vnder the accustomed patience of my most patient lord the onely creator of the world , what were the patternes of his workes , before the creation , and how he conferred his power vpon the second meanes . which ouer curious search i do willingly vndertake for the better satisfaction of busie brains . in this labyrinth i humbly desire his heauenly highnesse to dispence with my haughty purpose , for certainly ( if it were possible ) men should not question of such profound matters , but rather they should be drawne backe to the humility of not thinking once thereon , lest that chance vnto them which chanced to the presumptuous angels , or lest the answere of that ancient father iumpe iust vpon their phantasticall pates , who being asked by a curious-headed fellow what god did before this worlds creation , gaue him this choaking answer , he made ( quoth he ) hell for such curious persons as you are . an humble ignorance ( i confesse ) in such waighty mysteries is no way preiudiciall ; but the peremptory deniall of any one of them is blame worthy . this world is a miraculous map or a table booke , wherein the mysteries of gods nature are deciphered , so that it is impossible for any man to know the particularities thereof . therefore we must content our selues with admiration , which is a thing most acceptable to the spirit . to verifie this , looke o mortall man , vpon the azured skie , and tell me what thou seest ? admiration . descend into the earth , and take thy iourney from the east vnto the west , from the north vnto the south , and after all thy trauels , after all thy trials tell me what thou sayest , nay what thou sawest . admiration . well , seeing that the vastnesse of this worlds circuite doth so confound thy weake and wearied senses , that the more thou musest , the more thou maruellest : then enter into thy little world into thy self , and comprehend thy thoughts within a certaine circle . o quàm durus est hic sermo . this is a heauier taske . at the least and last , looke downe vpon the little ants , and learne what moues them to toyle and take more care to liue by their own labours then many a man. surely , thou canst not but admire . and why ? because this world and all the workes therein are the idea , the modell , the mappe , the booke , wherein the nature of the incomprehensible godhead is written with capitall letters of admiration . in euery thing both great and little , how little and light soeuer it be , his diuine maiesty hath imprinted his wisedome , goodnesse , and power . and euen as in his substance he is all , so in his workes he doth all . and now to declare what god did before the creation of the world , it is certaine , that his purpose was to haue a society of men as well as of angels , and those good and euill angels , that the one might serue as monuments of his mercy , the other as monuments of his iustice , and that both together might serue as instruments of his glory ; for his power is no lesse glorified in the one then in the other . after the determination of his purpose , for mens sake , that they might haue a place correspondent to their natures , he drew the platforme of this world . wherein these principall things concurred , first his purpose , next his wisedome , thirdly his goodnesse , fourthly his power , fiftly his generall prouidence , sixtly , his particular predestination . to returne backe towards the first , which is his purpose or intent : there is the map of all the world , and of euery thing to be done there throughly contriued in his minde before the beginning of his worke . then his wisedome , goodnesse , and power animated him to go forwards , and to prouide for the building of his new place of plantation or world , for as then there wanted a mediate or second instrument to worke vpon . wherefore he was driuen to create all of nothing , that is , without any second meanes without the assistance or aduise of any other . in this creation he vsed the helpe of his word onely , that was his omnipotēt selfe , whom the naturall philosophers otherwise termed the first mouer or supreme cause of all things . there was no power in his angels , for they were but creatures themselues , hauing their motions by his very motion . in the power of his onely will and motion it consisted to create the essence of the materiall substance of the world . and so he made heauen and earth , and by vertue of his spirit he breathed life , forme , or motion into them , and into all the creatures thereof , so that all things were in the compasse of sixe daies enlightened , replenished , supported and sustained by the motion of his powerful spirit , yea all things , the firmament , the planets , starres , meteours , elements , and all other creatures whatsoeuer , were vnited with such a perfect vnion that they make vp a perfect globe , map , or booke , of his neuerenough-admired nature ; and which is most miraculous to mans capacity , euer since that he moued them , they continually moue one another by different motions & do effect all things in this world eyther for generation , preseruation , or destruction according to his supreme direction . some moue one another by necessary or fatall motions . some by voluntarie motions , some by casuall motions , some by naturall motions : eyther slow or swift . what good things come to passe , we are to attribute to himselfe , who is the first mouer of all these motions . but what euill things come to passe , we must ascribe to the second motions , which are voluntary and vncompelled by him : i say , we are to ascribe euill things to second causes , that we detract not from his omnipotence in making him the immediate cause , or in affirming that they proceeded without his consent . for as goodnesse comes from his wil : so euill cannot come against his will , but by his sufferance and permission it comes from secondarie motions . lineament . iii. the spirit of detraction conuicted for measuring gods prouidence by their owne humane prouidence . those naturallists doe greatly erre which measure the diuine prouidēce by their own humane prouidence , or rather by their wanton affections . little doe they thinke that their naturall computation of time causeth this vnnatural imputation , for with god all times be one , and a thousand yeares in his sight are but as yesterday . with him who is the beginning and end of all things there is no time past , nor time to come , in respect of his foresight , by reason that his foresight is his present sight , so as he beholdeth at once , at one instant which instant with him is alwaies and eternall , not onely all things which euer happened or euer shall happen , but also euery particular thing as then presently done ; and looketh so earnestly , so cleerely vpon it , as though his eye were fixed intentiuely on that thing , and on nothing else . the reason is , because there is no distinct differences of time in the eternitie , seeing that at one looke he seeth all the world ouer . and his intent to doe a thing , and his doing of a thing , is all one and the selfesame , in respect of his eternall knowledge , though it be otherwise in respect of mans naturall knowledge . let this suffice for gods generall foresight or purpose of all things , which we call his prouidence that extends vniuersally to all the world , and to all the creatures thereof . now it remaines that i discourse somewhat of predestination , which is not a thing seuered from his prouidence , but onely that noble part thereof , which belongs to his noblest creature vnder the co●e of heauen , for whose sake he created all the world , making him his deputie or bayliffe to vse the same for his glory , and not to abuse the same for his owne luxuriousnesse . lineament . iiii. the authors censure of predestination . that all second causes doe worke their effects according to the first causes direction , which is god. how god endowed some with free will through grace to enable them vnto faith . the spirit of detraction conu●cted for imputing the cause of mens damnation to gods decree . good and euill were certainly predestinated vnto vs in our seuerall estates , euer since the beginning of the world by our creatour , not according to any euill deserts , or vertuous motiues of ours , but onely according to his owne free pleasure , according to the absolute counsell of his owne soueraigne will , and according to the vniuersall power which his omnipotence hath ouer the workmanship of his hands . neither yet constraines he any of his second causes to commit good or euill by any forcible operation or necessitie of nature , but by disposing vnto effects sutable to their seuerall conditions : whereby both good and euill actions shall flow out of the said second causes according to their owne dispositions , euen as a voluntary quality proceeds from a voluntary cause , and a casuall quality from a casuall cause . his omnipotent maiesty ( i say ) as the first mouer , the first cause , is the immediate mouer , and cause of all effects whatsoeuer the second cause brings forth , and also the cause of all their inclinations . euen as deliberation ( which is the chiefest act of our vnderstanding in the knowledge of good and euill ) and the gospell of christ are the mediate and secondary causes in the first act of the conuersion of our humane willes ( now passiue ) towards the will of god being the first and supreme cause of our deliberation , of this gospell , and of our willes ; and euen as these two causes ( the second depending on the first ) must ioyne together before that we can resolue on any good or euill word , thought , or deed : so the planets , meteors , or other natural creatures of god , in respect of him being second causes , cānot produce any effect whatsoeuer good or euill for our benefit or harme , without his supreme direction . both causes worke naturally in this world , when both conioyne in a naturall effect against a naturall creature . and yet sometimes it pleaseth his soueraign maiestie to wound nature without any such second or natural causes which gulfe because it is perillous to saile through , i will modestly content my selfe by the shore , or on this side of that great sea , following du bartas his aduise , hauing faith for my sailes , the holy ghost for my p●lot , and the bible for my starre . qui voudra seurement par ce goussre ramer sage , n'atlie iamais cingler en haute mer. ains costoye la riue , aiant la foy pour voile , l'esp●it saint pour nocher , la bible pour estoile . but ( quoth the reprobate ) then may i do whatsoeuer my will enduceth me vnto . it is all one whether i commit good or euill . for if goodnesse be already predestinated vnto me , i shall surely light vpon it ; neither can all the prouocations of the world , the flesh , or the diuell , cause me to erre . o curuae in terras animae , coelestiura inanes ! o stooping soules to earthly trumperies , and quite deuoide of heauenly mysteries ! though god foresaw before the ground worke of the world was laid , that such and such might be saued : yet notwithstanding he knew in his wisdome that they could not by reason of their affections , and of themselues without his assistance , attaine to that perfect state . and therefore he interpoled his mercy together with his iustice , he sent his owne spirit among them incarnated to ease them of that grieuous yoake which flesh and bloud found insupportable , whereby he foresawe that men might please him , if they were endowed with as much free-will , as they might chuse for their enabling thereunto . to this end he inspired some with faith , and some he reiected : yet with this caueat and condition did he predestinate them to faith , that this faith should serue as a badge or cognizance to discerne them from the reprobate ; so that their election being conditionall , they should not waxe presumptuous , cowardes , nor apostates . thus all our actions , all our goodnesse , all our misfortunes , yea and our liues , willes , and destinies are subordinate without coaction or constraint vnto gods directions , whose supreme will being aboue our willes , and flowing into our willes , takes not away the iudgements of our vnderstanding , nor enforceth vs , but so ruleth vs , that we in chusing or refusing doe somewhat follow our owne reasonable willes . for he that made vs , without vs will not sanctifie vs without vs , that is , without our cooperation and consent . much lesse can the influence of the starres or meteours induce a necessitie of destinie , and master our complexions without our consent . the very beginning of all our operations was infused by our creator in our selues with freedome of will. so that no constellations or meteours , if being corporall substances they triumph other whiles ouer our bodies by gods direction , yet cannot they sway our mindes , because they are diuine , spirituall , and of a purer substance then themselues . and surely they are strongly possessed with the spirit of errour , which ascribe the cause of their damnation immediatly vnto gods ineuitable decree , for the certainty of his decree doth no way force them of necessitie to be saued or damned , as they please . and though the intent of god himselfe be certaine and immutable , yet notwithstanding the meanes of bringing the effects of saluation or damnation to passe , doe not proceede from necessarie but from voluntary motions : for gods prouidence or foresight , which as i wrote in the former discourse , is alwaies present , eternall , and at once , obseruing that such effects would follow , and seeing as it were at the same instant such to follow his commaundements as liuely , as if they had alreadie fulfilled them , and cont●arywise seeing such and such to commit sinne , as if he had seene them then alreadie committed , knew certainly who would be his elect , and who would be rebellious . weercupon , he ordained eternall rewards and eternall punishments for them . as for example , a man sicke of a calentura or burning ague is charged by his physition not to drinke wine . the patient notwithstanding the strictnesse of his charge by reason of his continuall custome , and former disordered life carouseth wine , and dieth . which that poet well remembred : et tremor inter vina subit , calidumque trientem excutit è manibus : dentes crepuere retecti . in drinking wine the panges of death from him the cup do wrest : his members quake , his teeth doe shake , his life can finde no rest . now the cause of this mans death was himselfe , for if he had obeied the phisitian he had recouered his health . after this fatall accident we cannot denie , but it might haue otherwise hapned , but the thing being once done , we certainly know it was done , and what was done must needs be done : for now it cannot be vndone . howbeit that in the doing or drinking of the wine , the sicke party might haue chosen whether he would drinke it or no. so in our actions concerning saluation or damnation , there is no necessitie or restraint , but we may chuse in time whether we will be saued or no , neither ought we iustly to accuse god for our damnation if we be damned , or blame his immutable and ineuitable decree , but lay the fault where it ought . seeing that god is content , that his will should concurre with ours , let vs lay the fault on our stubborne selues , who through a customarie delight in sinning haue wittingly and wilfully deserued it . for his diuine maiesty to free himselfe , did tender his grace to all , & euery man might by acceptance there of auoid the punishment , & flie from the wrath to come , if he would ; so that it is not the necessitie or constraint of gods decree , which inferred our damnation , but our contempt of gods commaundements , which albeit we need not commit , vnlesse we would : yet being once committed must needs be committed ; which his prouident maiestie perceiuing thus to proceede and chance as alreadie proceeded and chanced , decreed eternall reward for the righteous , and eternall punishment for the reprobate . concerning this last point , we may iustifie the certaintie of his decree . but to charge his prouidence with the occasion of our sinnes , as by the necessitie of his decree , is damnable ; for it is one thing to enquire whether god knew that such and such would be damned ; and another thing to enquire whether he forced them to sinne , and so to worke their owne damnation . and it is another thing to affirme , that god knowing such and such would sinne according to their natures did decree eternall punishment for them . lineament . v. that god is not the authour of temptation , but an actor therein . neyther tempteth god any man : but giueth the wicked man ouer to his owne concupiscence , and consequently to sinne , and sathans alluring baits . he tempteth no man immediatly , but according to his vnsearchable pleasure , he turneth away his countenance , withdraweth the influēce of his grace from him , and then is mans heart hardened by reason of his owne naturall imbecillitie , lead into temptation , and left ( as corpus opacum ) eyther for a while eclipsed , or for euer enticed with the world , the flesh , and the diuell . and yet god is not the author of our corruptions , though he be an actour in corrupting . the doing of a thing proceeds from the creator , and the euill doing from the creature . that the harpe soundeth , the harper is the cause , that it soundeth ●ll , the harpe it selfe is the cause . in all naturall bodies their owne brittlenesse is the cause of their corruptions . not the agents , but the patients worke their ill sauouring . that we talke , that we walke , god is the cause ; that we talke amisse , & walke awrie , our owne wantonnesse with our weaknesse is the cause . our tongues were made to glorifie our creator , our hearts to meditate before we talke , that both consenting and concurring together in a ioyfull embassage towards god , the soule may deserue a ioyfull welcome in heauen . in regard of which circumstances , o mortall men , let your dead bodies be embaulmed , your meates perboyled or poudered . let your tongues , hearts , and steps be directed by the bridle , lampe , and line of gods holy word ; for with the heart , man beleeueth vnto righteousnesse , and with the mouth confession is made vnto saluation , according to that diuine disticke : non vox , sed votum : non musica chordula , sed cor : non clamor , sed amor cantat in aure dei. not flattring words , but feruent vowes of mind : not musickes sound , but soules by faith refin'd : not outward cries , but inward flaming zeale , within gods eares ring out a pleasing peale . lineament . vi. how god predestinated some to be saued . why all men were not elected . that mens owne willes by gods sufferance occasion their reprobation and harme . the authors sentence concerning himselfe , whether he be one of the elect . that good and euill cannot come without gods consent . ovr heauenly father , whose prouidence or foresight is no other then his present sight , before the beginning of the world seeing men at that time ( though vncreated and vnborne ) all present in his sight , as if they were alreadie created and borne , readie to receiue doome or iudgement , and seeing them at that instant to refuse his grace , as liuely as if they had already refused the same , obseruing withall the corruption of their nature continued by custome , to produce corrupt fruits and effects accordingly , elected the purer moulded spirits apart from the rest , enabled them with his grace as with a speciall gift or pardon ( for indeed the very purest had deserued death and damnation ) and freely of meere fauour gaue them their liues at the mediation of their redeemer , and also their liberty , which their first parents haue since wittingly forfeited . the rest , as reprobates , refusing his charter of grace , and alreadie in his foresight ( which is eternall , and alwaies present ) condemned and standing before him in the state of damnation , he suffered still to perseuer and to be as he found and saw them . crie for mercy they could not , because his instice required equality or satisfaction . beg for liberty they could not , by reason that their sinnes had entangled and tongue-tied them . and so for want of speaking and suing with remorce of conscience ( which we call repentance ) vnto the sauiour of the world ( by whom i vnderstand gods mercy , which ●ince was made flesh & shined before his iustice ) they sustained the punishment , that was due vnto them . wherein they were not to blame god , but rather themselues , that foolishly delayed their suites . i heard that of late daies a prisoner well lettered , after condemnation hauing gotten the benefit of his clergy according to the lawes of this land , and referred to his triall whether he could reade or no , was sodainly so bed azeled and bereaued of his eye sight , that for want of reading he lost his life . now who can blame the iudge in this case ? surely no man. for he was iustly hanged through his owne default . the iudge did what he could iustifie , yea and perhaps was forced to shead teares , when he pronounced the iudgement . much more fault are we to finde with those sinners , which can reade and beg for remission , and yet of set contu●acie ( like a curst child wholly addicted to frowardnesse ) will not be perswaded once to say abba , father . to returne vnto my former matter of election , god findes men euill , and leaues them so , for he is not tied to giue them grace , except it please himselfe . to confirme this , i regard many creatures , and doe finde them all diuersly disposed , some to good , some to euill , some to riches , some to pouerty ; i finde this diuersitie in our very grounds . heere , is good arable land , good pasture : there , growes neither corne nor pasture , but briers , brambles , tares , cockle , furres , heath , or stones . — non omnis fert omnia tellus , hic segetes , illic crescunt foelicuis vuae . all grounds beare not alike all kind of things : here , growes grain , there the grape more fruitful springs . but why all grounds yeeld not the same commodities , we must leaue that secrecy to gods vnsearchable will. i like manner i see our earthly kings bestowing titles of honour vpon diuers persons , and vpon diuers occasions . some they dubbe knights before the battel , and some after the battell . some others they grace of their owne sesecrete iudgement , or for some cause vnknowne vnto vs. after the like manner ( to compare great things with small ) ( o eternall father ) thou disposest of thy sinfull creatures . some thou callest , some thou electest , some thou reiectest . of those which thou callest , some thou reseruest for one purpose , some for another ; and all for thy glory . neither ought we to maruell or murmure at this , that we be not all called & chosen , considering what was our beginning , our fragility , our stubborne natures , and that we deserued no fauour at all . seeing our first parents both man and woman tasted the fruite of good and euill , it is but discreet seuerity , or rather diuine mercy , that thy soueraigne maiestie electeth some ( as good persons ) of their seede to honour thee , and leauest the rest ( as euill ) to their owne appetites in satisfaction of thy iustice . to the one thou giuest heauen for the honour of thy mercie , to the other hell for the honour of thy iustice . and yet dare not i alwaies iustifie the elect , in exempting them quite from the thraldome of sinne , seeing that they are but brittle flesh and bloud , who might commit follies in their youth being subiect to the knowledge of euill , and neuerthelesse become reformed in the middest of their age , as capable by the diuine bounty of the knowledge of goodnesse . now it remaineth , that i touch a little , as i saile by the shoare of curiositie , wherefore god suffereth the workmanship of his hands to be damned ? for the solution of this triuiall and idle question , it is written , that the potter may ordaine his owne vessels to what vse himselfe pleaseth . for no doubt , but god is glorified in the damnation of the reprobate ( as in the reuelation he is honoured for iudging the whore of babylon ) albeit that he be no cause of their wickednesse . commonly he suffereth euill to chance by that meanes as he bringeth goodnesse to passe , extolling his owne glory out of their errours , and in effect his sufferance of euill is nothing else but his destination and decree of goodnesse . so that the cause of mens reprobation proceeded not from the ordinance of gods will , but from their owne willes by gods sufferance . in a word , it is not good to be ouerbusie with this eternall purpose of god ; for it is the marke of a reprobate to intrude himselfe ouerboldly into the secrets of his maker . let vs then modestly content our selues with the apostles counsell : i say ( through the grace that is giuen vnto me ) to euery one that is among you , that no man presume to vnderstand aboue that which is meete to be vnderstood ; but that he vnderstand according to sobriety . let vs like infants content our selues with milke , pap , and such tender meate , as serue fittest to nourish our tender constitutions . and let vs not couet or rather wantonly long after any foode of a stronger quality , able to ouercome our weake natures , lest we be confounded . for they that gaze too long vpon the sunne beames , will become blinded with the glory or maiestie thereof . we must not prie into gods secrets ; but pray vnto gods sonne , our all-sufficient sauiour . for do not we strictly censure him , that enters vncalled into a great mans chamber , vpbrayding him , as an vnmannerly sawcy iacke ? what auaileth it me to enquire whether another man be in the state of saluation or damnation , while my selfe haue more neede to prie into mine owne state , to liue mosse tenus propria , within mine owne lot , and ( for my further knowledge , quàm sit mihicurta suppellex ) like a snaile , to shoote into mine owne home ? is not he vnwise that rogues abroad for strange and curious newes , leauing his owne house vnsetled , and as a prey to his mortall enemy ? god giue me the grace to muse & meditate with my selfe from day to day , whether my selfe am in the state of saluation or no , and to do my best endeuour to please god , whereby i may become one of his elected number , leauing off such f●iuolous questions & foolish inquisitiōs . for although that the number of the elect and r●probate be certainly knowne in the eternall purpose of god : yet considering the causes of saluation and damnation to be incertaine , variable , and voluble in mine owne conscience , i am driuen to submit my selfe with feare and trembling to gods mercy , hoping for the one , and fearing the other ; lest his number of the elect in respect of me be not certaine . for i finde by experience , that sometimes being penitent and pensiue for my sinnes , i am in the state of saluation , and that some other times seduced by sathan , the world , or the flesh , i am in a most doubtfull and desperate estate , which i pray god to suspend and turne to the best for my redeemers sake , that became a sacrifice for my sinnes . with this hope or faith i was fed euer since my baptisme , that being thought worthy of so great a grace , and of many moe blessings besides , i may beleeue & build vpon it , that i am elected . therefore i will not faint like a coward , but glory that i am a christian , protesting to continue faithfull ; as one sometime gloried that he was borne a man , and not a beast , a protestant and not a papist . thus farre haue i aduentured to wade in the depth of predestination , free-will , and election : whereupon , as on a most sure foundation , i establish this proposition : that promotion comes neither from the east , nor from the west , nor from any where else , then from the first cause , for he alone putteth downe one , and setteth vp another ; and that no calamitie , nor crosse can chance without the same first cause , the god of endlesse glory , power , strength , wisedome , mercy , and bountie , whose name be blessed and praised for euer and euer , world without end . amen . lineament . vii . the causes why god ordained thunder and lightning . the naturall nutriments of lightning . why thunder and lightning be most dangerous in winter . where they worke their operations more ●●hemently . an admonition to build low . we must leaue vnto nature her peculiar office , because she effects nothing without the predestinate counsell of the eternall mouer . the winters durt , the sommers dust , the ayrie clouds , all of them spring from natures motion . the ayrie regions are moued , and thereupon stormy blasts of winde arise . the vapours turne and tosse , then duskie clouds appeare . at last both winds and clouds carried about in the wheele of violence ingender tempests , thunders , and lightnings . all which though they issue from naturall causes , yet we must note them , as tokens sent from the author of nature , who being bound to no causes is himselfe the originall cause of all causes . like as the partie-coloured rainebow prognosticates the diuine league indented betwixt his supreme maiestie and sinfull men : euen so let vs iudge , that thunders be volees of canon shot to rouze vs vp from our drowsie defiled dreames . to this end it lightens , that besides our sence of seeing , our other affrighted sences may solicite the sluggish queene to saue her selfe , and her snaily house before the generall day of doome . doe out your candles , away with your oyles , remoue your lard , take away the nutrimēt of lightnings , lest they ouerthrow your weaker lights , yea and extinguish your chiefe delight , the light of your bodies , the image of euerlasting light . omne simile nutrit sibi simile . euery like nourisheth his like : no maruell then , if lightnings endowed with an vnctuous substance approach naturally to oyle , tallow , bacon , grosse bodies , and to hot moistned wares . thunder is most dangerous in winter , according to those vulgar rythmes : a foule winters thunder a faire sommers wonder . because the ruler of nature at that vnseasonable time is disposed to make his deity manifest to miscreant atheists , who limit such meteory signes onely to the spring and autumne , and also because his maiestie meanes to awake his rebellious children out of the lethean lethargie of carnall voluptuousnesse . the places where oftnest thunders strike , and lightenings flash , be high trees , high houses , high hilles , not onely because they are neerest to the region of the ayre where fiery exhalations doe alwaies wrastle and warre with congealed vapours ( as euery agent workes most fiercely vpon his neerest matter ) but likewise because the lord would haue vs humble our selues before him by such terrible admonitions : which the satyriste also toucheth : ignouisse putas ? quia cum tonat , oeius ilex sulphure discutitur sacro , quàm tuque domusque ? thinkest thou , that god hath quite forgiuen thee ? because thou seest the highest oaken tree sooner , then thee or thy faire house , defa'st with thunder claps and sacred sulphurs blast ? and as a more ancient poet in more liuely colours paints out the extremitie of meteores against the loftiest seates : — uentis agitatur ingens pinus , & celsae grauiore casu decidunt turres , feriuntque summos fulgura montes . the hugest pine with winde is shaken downe ; the highest tower is soonest ouerthrowne ; the loftiest mount with lightning is o'rblowne . in respect of which inconueniences a wise emperour of rome forbad ( by an expresse decree ) any citizen in rome to build a house aboue fortie or fiftie foot high . and thou deare christian , which readest this humble booke , i admonish thee to build low , to carry a low saile , to lay aside thy peacocks plumes , to behold thy feete , i meane the earth , from whence thou camest ; and lastly i warne thee to prostrate thy thoughts before thy heauenly father , the worlds great thunderer , following the poets counsell : vi●e tibi , quantumque potes praelustria vita : saeuum praelustri fulmen ab arce venit . liue to thy selfe , and shunne the stateliest roome ; for thunder doth from highest castle come . lineament . viii . how god sendes thunder and lightening eyther for his glory , for mens triall , 〈◊〉 for their punishment . examples asw●ll moderne as auncient of forcible thunders and lightening . in all ages it pleased god to manifest his ●aiesticall power of thunder and lightenings among mortall men eyther for his glory , or for monition sake , or for their punishment . at mount sina● to shew the israe●●●● is glorious strength and maiestie , he appeared with exceeding loud trumpets , with terrible thunders and lightnings , which the prophet dauid thus expressed : the lord thundred out of heauen , and the most high gaue out his voyce , hailestones and coales of fi●e . another time to trie iobs faith , and to make the diuell a lyar in impeaching his innocence and integritie , god caused his heauenly fire to descend , and to consume his seruants and flockes of sheepe . likewise for the conuersion of the israelites at the prayers of elias he sent fire from heauen to consume the sacrifice . the like did he againe at the praier of the said elias send downe to destroy ahaz●as men . and this very weapon of lightning and sulphureous fire vsed he against sodome and gomorrhe . alladius an ancient king of the latines ( who reigned before romulus ) had his palace set on fire with lightning from heauen , and perished himselfe therein . a king of clide was strickē with a thunderbolt frō heauē . a maide of rome trauelling to apulis was killed with lightning ( no harme outwardly appearing in her bodie ) and at the same instant her garments were also shaken off without any rent , & her horse also killed , & his bridle and girthes shaken off without any breach . it is reported of king mithridates , when he was a very infant lying in his cradle , that the lightning caught the swadling cloathes , and set them on fire , but neuer touched or hurt his body , saue only there remained a litle marke of the fire vpon his forehead , againe when he was growne , it chanced that the lightning pierced into the bedchamber where he was asleepe ; and for his owne person it was not so much as singed therewith , but it blasted a quiuer of arrowes that hung at his bed side , went through it , and burnt the arrowes within . there was at rome a souldier , who keeping the centinell vpon one of the temples of the citie chanced to haue a flash of lightning to fall very neere vnto him , which did him no hurt at all in his bodie , but only burnt the ●atchet of his shoes : and about the same time , whereas there were certaine small boxes and cruets of siluer within wooden cases , the siluer within was found all melted vnto a masse in the bottome , and the wood not iniured at all , but continued entire and found . many haue died by reason of thunder or lightning without any marke or stroke , wound , scorch , or burning seene vpon them , whose life & soule for very feare hath flowed out of their bodies , like a bird out of a cage . olimpius an arrian bishop had his bodie sodainly burnt with lightning at carthage : which iudgement of god fel vpon him , as many thought , for blaspheming the blessed trinitie . one prester the sonne of hyppomenes for blaspheming god was striken with a thunder , and perished . anastasius the emperour in the yeare of christ . being addicted to magicke and the manichean heresie , did perse cute such christians as reproued his finnes and wickednesse . but at the last lightning came fearefully about his house called tholotum , he crept from chamber to chamber to seeke where he might be safest : but nothing would preuaile . the flashes in the end ouertooke him , and he perished miserably . hatto the bishop of mentz , when in the yeare of christ , by the instigation of conrade the emperour , he endeuoured to murder henry duke of saxony , was sodainly slaine with a stroke of lightning . in the yere of our lord . at frisazium a towne of saxony a great nūber both of houses and people were destroyed by lightnings . it is writtē , that the mother of hierom fracastorius ( who afterwards became one of the most learned and famous phisitians of christendome ) hauing the said hierome in her armes then an infant , was her selfe killed with lightning . but her child was not hurt at all . in the yeare of our lord ● . the citie of claraualla in france , being stricken with lightning about noone daies did so fiercely burne , that in three houres space their towne , castles , & churches were vtterly consumed . in the yeare of our lord . an honest citizen of crentzburge standing by his table , and a dog lying by his feete , were both of them sodainly slaine by a lightning : yet a young child , which stood hard by his father , was preserued safe . it is not long since paules proudsteeple ouercrowing all the spires in england felt the blowes of diuine iustice with her sister babell ; the one by lightning , the other by confusion . one wyman a citizen of glocester , as many there yet liuing can testifie , about fortie yeares past , hauing a son called arthur wyman at the vniuersitie in oxford , very earnestly required another sonne of his , one william wyman to carry some prouision of victuals vpō a whitsonday to his said sonne in oxford . this younger sonne , after many excuses , was at the last forced vpon that high day nolens volens to go forwards on his iourny to oxford . but by the way in a thicket of wood he was found strickē dead with lightning : yet his body in outward appearance was without any marke . the mare whereon he rode was also smitted dead , and sauored very strong of brimstone . and the meat which he caried , as kid , lamb , &c. were so corrupted with blackish sent , and stunke so ill fauouredly , that no man could abide the smell thereof . mistresse lowbell a gentlewoman of colchester yet liuing , about two and twentie yeares ago or there abouts was sodainly stricken downe with lightning , and so scorched and singed in her bodie with the sulphureous slame , that she could hardly be cured within a quarter of a yeare after . about the said time at a place called croes-askurne in the countie of carmarthen , vpon the day of a gentlemans marriage , as they were making merry there , a very strange accident hapned . there came a thunderbolt , and pierced quite through the said house , and also a certaine womans head-tires were rent and torne from her head with a blast of lightning at that instant , without any other harme . likewise about that time a whole houshold at a place called talley in the said countie , were burnt with wild-fire . there perished at that time by report fiue or sixe little children in the said house . whereby it appeares , that the innocent is sometimes smitten with such strange ends aswell as nocents . there was a fearefull lightning on the seuenteenth day of nouember . which in very short time burnt vp the steeple of bleachingley in surrey , and in the same melted into infinite fragments a good ring of belles . which accident , because it was so lately done , i will rehearse the same more at large , according to the discourse of one simon harward , who wrote thereof compendiously and learnedly . when i came ( quoth he ) to visite the towne of bleachingley , i found their cause to be equall ( if not worse ) then the rumour or report , which was before published : i found that by the lightning ( which came with the terible thunder on munday being the seuenteenth of this instant nouember , about ten of the clocke in the night ) the spire steeple of the said bleachingley , hauing beene lately new couered to the great charges of the parish , in three houres space was vtterly consumed with fire . the steeple was about twelue fade me high aboue the battlements of the square stone worke : but it was a steeple spreading downeward very large in circumference . the same worke which bare it ( being also about twelue fadome high ) is a long square of one and twentie feete one side , and eighteene feete the other side . it is thought by good workemen , that two hundred loades of timber will not suffice for the erecting of such a steeple , as that stoneworke did lately beare . i found also the belles ( being before a sweete ring , and so large , that the tenor waighed twentie hundred waight ) partly melted into such fragments , and partly burnt into such cinders , or intermingled with such huge heapes of cinders , as it will neuer heereafter serue to the former vses thereof . this lightning did not onely this harme in surrey , but also it afflicted sussex , and diuers other places about the very same time . it was very strange when it fired bleachingley steeple , it entred also into the house of one stephen l●gsford of buckstead in sussex almost twenmiles from bleachingley , and melting the lead of his glasse windowes , did with great violence breake through , and rent in sunder a strong bricke chimney . what shall i write of mine owne tragicall euents vpon the third of ianuary . which are nothing inferiour to any of the accidents here recited ? but because i intend to set the same out more distinctly by it selfe , i will suspend the story only during the space of an houres reading from my readers view . about the same time there happened in dors●tshire at winburne minster a very strang accident . about foure a clocke in the afternoone , as they were at euensong , the steeple spire being strongly built of lime , stone , and sand , and beset with yron barres , was sodainly stricken downe with thunder and lightning , the leads were rent and torne , yea and which was most miraculous , the singing mens bookes were torne in their hands , and the seates before their faces likewise rent and broken . and this the glorious god hath done , because the mouthes of the wicked may be stopped , who iniuriously detract from his prouidence in imputing my misfortunes onely singled out aboue all others ; as though the same miraculous mouer , which moued these heauenly creatures of his against me , did not also extend his power in the like degree vpon others in this realme . howsoeuer , welcome be his angell vnto me , whether he brings me tidings of peace , or of tribulation . lineament . ix . that they detract from the glorious maiestic of god , which attribute his thunders , lightnings , and other mercory signes to the diuell or his adherents . proofes out of the word of god , that god alone sendeth forth such terrible signes . seruants must obey their masters aswell curteous as curst , children must honour their parents , though otherwhiles they chastise them seuerely , subiects must pray for their prince , and serue him , though he exceeds the limits of law . euen so ought we being the seruants , children , and subiects of the almighty , brooke patiently all visitations whatsoeuer the lord sendeth , eyther deseruedly for our sinnes , or momentary for our triall to confirme our vertues , lest prosperity puffe vp our mindes with pride . vpon our submission our gracious lord will stay his hand as he did with the niniuites ; vpon our repentance he will rebuke the winde , and say to the sea , peace and be still . but nowadaies a contrarie superstitious spirit possesseth many of our pharisaicall critickes . they are not content to detract one mortall man from the other , eyther their goods of bodie , their goods of minde , or their goods of fortune ( though in this case they are inexcusable ) but they must detract from the onely glorious god his glorious appurtenances , and his goodly types of maiestic . yea , they goe about by such absurde detractions to annihilate his infinite authoritie , to abridge his incomprehensible motion , who at one becke can barre them of all motion . romulides saturi inter poc●la , our carping troianes , whose god is their bellie , amiddest their bacchannales and tobachanales doe blasphemously bruite abroad , that the diuell raiseth windes , tempestes , thunders , lightnings , and earthquakes eyther immediatly of himselfe , or else by the meanes and mediation of some omnipotent coniurer . if sicknesse oppresse them , out of hand , they post with ahaziah to a cousening coniurer , or wizard as wise as themselues , to know whether they be bewitched , or whether they shall recouer of their disease . this is their faithlesse wont , as though there were not a god in israel . if the lord sends his angell , or descends himselfe in glory , with thunder and lightening , as he did sometimes on mount sinai , they blasphemously impugne , saying , that god is locally circumscribed in heauen . none can work miracles in these latter daies saue the diuell . he , euen he it is , that appeares in varieties of shapes , more then are specified in ouids metamorphosis , sometimes a centaure , sometimes a blacke dogge , some other times a winged fowle of the ayre . all this while ( thou most mercifull iudge ) grieuest thy patient spirit at their perrish , petulant , and proud assertions . thou makest as though thou hearest them not , scorning to extend thy iustice against such silly wretches , before the predestinated time ; for thou art as voyde of perturbations as they are subiect vnto detractions : yet will not they refraine their tongues , because that their runnagate babling , being not restrained with feare nor shame , wandereth vp and downe scotfree without punishment . rise vp o lord , and let them pay the price of their detractions , or let them know that thou canst not endure any competitour of thy glory . but what knowledge neede they further ? what other light expect they to illuminate their darksome mindes ? they haue moses , the prophets , and the gospell , as bright shining lanternes to guide their sensuall vnderstanding . they haue auncient fathers to expound them . thy seruant augustine might satisfie their curious positions , who about twelue hundred yeares sithence wrote , non est putandum istis transgressoribus angelis seruire hanc rerum visibilium materiem , sed soli deo , that is , we must not thinke , that the substance of these visible things in this world doe obey the angels , which fell , but that they obey god alone . thou art a jealous god , and can'st not abide that thy enemy should vaunt himselfe on thy maiesty ; thou art slow to anger , but great in power , thou hast thy way in the whirlewinde and in the storm : the clouds are the dust of thy feete , the mountaines tremble before thee , the hils melt , and the earth is burnt vp at thy sight . o peerlesse paragon of vnsearchable worth , what nobler instance neede i produce , then thine incomprehensible selfe for thine owne immensiue and inexhausted power . when thou communest with iob , most profoundly thou bewrayest mans infirmity , and infallibly concludest , that no creature whatsoeuer can diue into the deepe consideration of thy secrete workes . out of the whirlewinde thou spakest , and demaundest of him , hast thou entred into the treasures of the snow ? or hast thou seene the treasures of the haile ? who hath diuided the spouts for the rame , or a way for the lightnings of the thunders ? these questions surpasse our capacities . holy and wonderfull is god in all his workemanship . the earth trembles at the presence of the lord , at the presence of the god of iacob . let it snow , let it haile , let it thunder , let it lighten , let the earth moue , i acknowledge no other supernaturall cause then the first cause , the first mouer , one god world without end . i doe faithfully beleeue , that through his commandement the lord makes the snow to hasten , and sendeth forth swiftly the thunder of his lightning ; also that he turneth the heauens about , that they may doe whatsoeuer he commaundeth them vpon the whole world , and that he causeth raine to come , whether it be for punishment , or for his land , or to doe good to them that seeke him . the heauens , the elements , and whatsoeuer is vnder the moone , attend the commaund of their great creator : some for his glory , some for their tryall , some others for their sinnes he scourgeth and smiteth . against these he armes his naturall creatures as piercing arrowes . then shall the thunderbolts goe straight out of the lightnings , and shall flie to the marke , as to the bent bow of the cloudes . sometimes he smites vs gently , expecting our conuersions , as he spake by the prophet , i smote you with blasting , with mil deaw , and with haile in all the labours of your hands , and yet you turned not vnto me . vnto his maiestie alone will i complaine , when any hurt befals me : o lord vnto thee will i crie , for the fire hath deuoured the pasture of the wildernesse , and the flame hath burnt vp all the trees of the field . vbi nunc facundus ulisses ? where now is the wizard with the diuels reall force ? stand at your cause , and bring forth your strongest ground , saith the lord of hostes , shew vs things to come , and tell vs what shal be done hereafter , so shall we know that ye are gods. but indeede your knowledge is vaine , your power poore , not worth the speaking , behold ye are gods of nought , and your making is of nought : yea abhominable is the man that hath chosen you , and abhominable is he , that ascribes the workes of the glorious god vnto his enemy the diuell . lineament . x. probable pro●ses out of ciuill policy , that god is iealous of his glory , and glorious signes , and therefore not prebable that he would lend his real power to the diuell examples of worldly states , which could not endure vsurpers of their transitory titles and p●●rogatiu●s . that god hates coniurers , witches , antichristians , and other detractors and 〈◊〉 worse then athe●sts or ignorant infidels . though i proued out of holy writ , that the lord is iealous of his inexplicable power , and cannot tolerate with euerlasting patience , that any creature , specially a wicked creature , visible or inuisible , diuell or man , ph●●ton or medea , coni●rer or witch should prie into his secrete treasury , or soare vp into the eclipticke line , and commaund the sunne and moone to stand still with iosuah , or cause fire to descend downe from heauen with elias , or drie the sea with moyses , or rebuke the stormy windes with christ : yet notwithstanding for the hardnesse of worldly hearts , i will illustrate the selfe same argument , with familiar and domestical examples of mortall states , who likewise cannot brooke , that any other make vse of their transitory incidents . do not we see that earthly potentates be more agreeued with their owne subiects rebellions , with their iniuries and vsurpings , then with the dishonest attempts of their open foes ? at whose handes they expect nothing but extremity of warre and bloudy massacres ? doe not we finde that the pope and other princes of his faction beare deeper hatred , rancour , and emulation towards the protestants , then towards the turkes , mahumetans , or iewes , whose vicinity might worke them farre greater scath and damage ? their malignant reason they ground vpon the comparison of two corriuals in loue whose wrath can neuer be appeased , but with the vtter subuersion of the opposite party . o what a disconsorted policy is this , that christians agreeing together in the foundation of religion prosecute one another with such capitall enmity , worse then euer the pharises the saduces , or both of them , like pilate and herod , combined together to put to death our sauiour christ ! the pope at rome , at bologna , and at other cities ; the emperour at vienna , and at diuers imperiall cities in germany ; the venetians at venice , at verona , and other places doe tolerate iewish synagogues , bankes of vsury , and noysome iakes of pocky baudry , in respect of priuate interest . and yet they cannot suffer one church of protestants among them , no nor one single man of the same profession : or if they doe but suspect a man addicted that way , they exclaime with the stiffe-necked iewes , dimitte nobis barabam , loose vnto vs barabas , loose vnto vs theeues , vsurers , iewes and stewes . crucifie these lutherans , lutherano al fuego , ad ignem , fire and fagot for these hereticke dogges . thus do they rage together and imagine vanity against the lord and his an ointed . they like wise send away their posts , vsurpers of the name of iesis , as the flies which issued out of the dragons mouth , to enuenome our springs , to infect our mindes , to kill our kings , and to blow vp at once our whole estates . this is their vsuall complot , while the common enemy of christendome lies close by their noses , ready to dispossesse them of their liues , liuing and liberty , as was likely of late dayes to fall out , when the pope after the winning of otranto by the turkes , doubting his safegard , resolued once to translate the papacy to auinion in france , if that a certaine cardinall , wiser then himselfe had not disswaded him . the originall cause of all this hatred is iealousie , together with a false perswading humor , that our church vsurps his holy power , which somtimes he pretends from the emperour constantine , and some other times from s. peter . whether this exercising of another mans authority be legitimate or spurious ; let them , who thinke themselues iniured , redreste the iniury how they can . in the meane time we perceiue the minde of man impatient of vsurpers and detractors , to boile for reuenge , as if an euerflaming torch were set vnder it . no maruell then if princes punish forgery , and other detracting crimes . he that detracts his kings prerogatiue with a malicious purpose , to attribute the same to himselfe , is laesae maiestatis r●●s guilty for wounding the royall maiesty , and to be attainted of high treason . will king iames our dread soueraigne suffer any subiect of his to weare a crowne of golde , to de● act his royall authority , to leuie armes at pleasure , to encampe himselfe , to hang a man without due course of law , or to coine golde ? no : it is against his prerogatiue , against his iurisdiction . the world abides not two sunnes : no more can the vnited empire of great britaine endure but one supreme monarch . he that sueth into the court of rome detracts from the kingly glory , and therefore encuires the danger of premunire . euen so if a subiect of this realme bring in a bull of excommunication from rome , against another subiect , it is by the auncient common law , high treason against the king , his crowne and dignity ; as hath beene adiudged in the raigne of edward the first . for the king of england is the vicar of the ●●ghest king. in a constable or any other , it is forgery and detraction to write a warrant in a iustice of peace his name , without his consent . yea , and a justice himselfe was fined in the star-chamber , circa . . elizab. reg. for sending his warrant vpon suspition of felony , with a blanke or window to put in ones name , which he knew not , at his friends request without certainly acquainting him with the matter before . what a tedious quarrell continued with vnsheathed swords betweene the turkish ottoman and the persian sophy , about the very colour of the turbant , which both were bound by their ceremonious law to weare ? such another friuolous iatre hapned among the friers touching the colour of their frizen weedes . one stood vpon blacke , betokening mourning : another vpon white , the displayed ensigne of innocency . this busie body claimed it to be gray , that their weeds being like vnto ashes might moue them to repentance . that hare-brain'd scholer proued out of schoolemen and profound dunces , that all the rest of the disputants were arrand heretickes , for their sinnes being as redde as scarlet or as purple , they ought not to hold with any other colour . many brawles , many factions , yea and bloud-sheds arose about these idly vsurped colours ; till after diuers commotions , decrees and orders on all sides infringed , a finall end with much adoe was established by the generall councell of christendome . there was a dangerous tumult in france , very like to chance betwixt a famous auncestour of mine out of wales , and the lord norris concerning their armes . both gaue the rauen , both challenged it from the same house , from one vrian prince of rheged , otherwise called carict in scotland , who eyther by conquest or marriage seated himselfe in our countrey of west-wales . my said auncestour ( as our walsh nature relies ouermuch vpon genealogies and heraldry ) and his walsh company , being no lesse then fifteene hundred horsemen and footemen , could by no meanes be disswaded from the quarrel , vntill the duke of nors●lke ( whose daughter , sithence countesse of bridgewater , was married vnto his heire ) sollicited king henry the eight then in camp , to take vp the controuersie , and order the lord norris to giue it flying , and the others as he did before . if mens mortall feuds conceiued against their emulous concurrents for light occasions , and , as the prouerbe termes them , for a goats haire be so heynous , hereditary , so frequent , so customary in all countreyes , why doe we tempt the lord our god , and doubt , that his eternall maiesty , in whom there is not the least spot of sinfull perturbation , hates detractours of his euer-shining glory , and also them , which attribute his miraculous deedes to his creatures or enemies ; i say , why doe we doubt that he detesteth them in a faire higher degree , then if they were profested atheists blinded with ignorance ? hee that knowes his masters will and doth it not , is worthy of many stripes . wherefore i constantly auerre , that the lord hateth antichristians , euchanters , coniurers and witches , for their detractions , forgeries , delusions , and false miracles , worse then the heathen with all their idolatries . to this end that auncient father affirmeth , if any that went afore vs eyther of ignorance or simplicity hath not obserued that which the lord commanded , his simplicity through the lords indulgence may be pardoned ; but we , whom the lord hath taught and instructed , cannot be pardoned . where the spirituall steward lends one talent , there he looketh the interest of one againe ; but where he exposeth out twenty talents , there he iustly expecteth the encrease of twenty againe . like as a simple seruant sent out in a darkesome night , and misseth his way , deserues his pardon more freely then he , which purposely gaddes and goes out of his way in the cleare day light , preferring his own wanton pleasures before his masters profite : so the ignorant christian , sinning of meere simplicity is farre more tolerable then the enlightned gospeller , which afterwards dissembles and detracts vpon a greedy or gaudic hope of golden mountaines . lineament . xii . wherefore god diuerteth his naturall creatures against mankinde . that all crosses and misfortunes proceede onely from god. that in any wise we must not delay repentance . an obiection against sudden death by the spirit of detraction out of the letany , with a consutation thereof . thus the starres haue their ordinary motions , the elements their courses , and the metcors their voluble dispositions : except otherwhiles it please their arch-mouer to diuert some of them as terrible alarums for our admonishment . then euery thing fights against vs : our natiue ayre strangles our wearied winde-pipes : our nourishment through gluttony works our latter end . fire & water conspire against vs : one dieth by fire , another by water . thus armes he nature against nature , creature against creature , and man against man , eyther for his glorie , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that mortall men may know his strength and acknowledge their owne weakenesse : or for mens tryall , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to trie their integrity , to mollifie their stony hearts , and to shape their inward man to regeneration . others he smites 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , vessels of wrath , to perpetuall punishment ; though commonly he lets them flourish in this world like palme trees , reseruing them to damnation in the world to come ; euen as he lasheth some for their reformation , and not for their ruine , ad correctionem non ad ruinam , as queene elizabeth of famous memory spake touching a subiect of hers then in durance . this kinde of punishment , called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the lord himselfe names the rod of men , the plagues of the children of men , such as the father vseth to his childe , he likewise vseth to his elected childe , to the intent that man might not waxe ouer-wanton in affections , or seem righteous in his owne conceit , ( for no flesh stands instified in his sight ) and as that holy man alleadged , that hee might deliuer him from pride , that he might keepe his soule from the graue , and his life from the sword . whereto agreeth that prouerbe : dulcia non meruit , qui non gustauit amara . who tasted not the sowre deserues not sweet . god foreseeing that some of his children might sinne in many things , scourgeth them with infirinity of body , lest they should sinne , vt ijs vtilius sit frang● languoribus ad salutem , quam remanere incolumes ad damnationem . that it might be more profitable for them to bee broken with diseases for saluation , then to remaine whole and in health for damnation . this another auncient father confirmes : magis intus dolemus per hoc , quod foris patimur . we grieue in wardly the more for that , which wee suffer outwardly . and againe , while wee are outwardly strucken , we are secretly and wofully recalled to the remembrance of our sinnes . our fleshly fathers corrected vs , and we gaue them reuerence , and shall wee not patiently endure our heauenly fathers scourge ? they for a few dayes chastned vs after their owne pleasure : but hee for our profit , that we might be partakers of his holinesse . when any plague , murren , losse , crosse , or misfortune befals vs , that proceedes not from the diuell , but from our father in heauen . it is he that created light and darknesse , that makes peace and trouble . it is hee that ordereth this worlds globe , and turnes the wheele of all our fortunes . and againe , as himselfe promiseth , if we will walke in his ordinances , he will send peace in the land , but if we despise his commandements he will send a sword vpon vs. his prouident maiestie knows best what befits our fraile natures . he will haue mercy on them , who deserue mercy at his handes . and he will punish those that deserue punishment . shall we receiue good at the hand of god , and not receiue euill ? shall we reioyce when the sunne shines , and when it lowres , shall we lowre and frowne likewise ? know then , o worldly men , that no euill can chance vnto you without the appointment of god. out of his mouth goeth both euill and good , as the prophet lamented . and as another prophet testified , shall there be euill , that is , calamity in a citie , and the lord hath not done it ? great reason it is , that hee which sent vs into this world , should take vs out of the world , after what maner soeuer it pleaseth him . whether it be by ordinary or extraordinary meanes , by death naturall or violent , lingring or sudden , welcome be death vnto vs that be borne to die . for this cause while we haue time to repent , let vs beginne instantly out of hand , to amend our liues , before his darts doe hit vs , before the darke night of tribulation comes vpon vs. repentance , which is done vpon the la●● houre , is commonly done vpon feare of future torments . then it is hard by reason of our prrsumptuous delayes to finde grace and mercy , as a spanish diuine very well obserues . malse hallan los remedios en el trabaio , que en●e descansoy paz no se buscaron , ill doe they finde remedies in time of trouble , when they sought for none in time of peace . in this case the counsell of the wise man is very good , get thee righteousnes , before thou come to iudgement , and vse phisicke before thou be sicke : examine thy selfe before thou be iudged , and in the day of destruction thou shalt find mercy : humble thy selfe before thou be sicke , and while thou mayest yet sinne shew thy conuersion . most certaine it is , that sathan tyrannizeth most furiously at the shutting vp of our liues , when we are least able to resist by reason of our extreme paines and panges both in body and minde . then the very best haue enough to doe . a man hath not two soules , that he may aduenture one of them . therefore o christian , stand to thy tacklings , stand stout , alwayes prepared to preuent all future euils , o lim haec meminisse iuuabit . the time will come , when the remembrance of thy fore past crosses will auaile the repeating . in the meane time , mors tua , mors christi-fraus mundi-gloria coeli , et dolor infor●i sunt meditanda tibi . thinke on thine owne , and christ his death , and on false worldly traines . thinke also on sweet heauens ioyes , and on infernall paines . god helpe vs , if we shall do nothing else in this world but liue in continuall care , pensiuenesse , and perplexity of minde , as in truth we must , if we liue in feare of deathes suddaines . but the case is otherwise , for the church hath prouided in the letany , that we pray god to deliuer vs from lightning and tempest from plague , pestilence , and famine , from battell and murther , and from sudden death . o man full of detractions , how long wilt thou tempt the lord thy god ? this earthly world was not giuen thee for a paradise , but for a purgatory . it was not made thee to build in , but rather to pull downe , to crucifie and to mortifie thy couet●ous thoughts , that in the other world thou mightst liue for euer with christ and his angels . this world is indeede a place of triall , a warfare , a maze of troubles , and a seate to soiourne in for a time , for short time . wherefore , and because this time later or sooner , serius aut citius is not limited by patent to any mortall creature , whereby we might foreknow or preuent the brunts of nature , fortune , or destiny , ( which three i hold to be the ineuitable will of god ) let vs stand watchfull against sudden death , seeing it is for a great prize , for a great purchase ( that none can be greater ) euen for the saluation of our deare soules . i graunt , that olde adam prayeth against the suddennesse of death , but ( alas poore man ) it is for doubt of the worst . it is the nature of a sinfull soule , to become so enamoured with this enchanting world , that it loathes , as the horror of hell , all sudaine mischiefes , and chiesly a mischieuous death . we would faine die the death of the righteous but in no wise would we liue the lise of the righteous . and yet how dare we iudge of them that die so suddenly ? may not the ●ord dislodge his tenants at will specially , for their aduancement without warning at any time ? did not hee after this sudden manner , as it were in the twinckling of an eye , translate henoch and elias in their soules and bodies vp into heauen ? many good men haue died sodainly . abell , iosias , onias , and others had no long warning to prepare themselues . god knowes best what besits our humane natures . it may be , he causeth some to die suddenly , because of their crazed braines , lest in their lingring disease they fall according to the constitution of their bodies into despaire , or to railing and reuiling , whereby they might leaue behinde them in this world an infamous memoriall . therefore to case them of their torments , and for auoyding of so soule a scandall he suddenly sends for his selected seruants . some others he send for suddenly and terribly to terrifie them which remaine behinde ; for if gods seruants die such a fearefull death , what hope hath the sinner ? in a word , good men neuer pray against suddaine death , but to the entent they might order their worldly businesse before their deathes , as the said to hezechias , set thy house in order for thou must die . lineament xii . that we must not iudge by mens misfortunes , or sudden death , that they be forsaken of god. charitable censures , which a good christian may yeeld touching those that die suddenly . the spirit of detraction conuicted for censuring ouer cruelly of the authors wife , who was striken dead with lightning the 〈◊〉 of ianuary , where ●er comm●ndation and assumption are moralized . when the lord is disposed extraordinarily to extend his glorious power , why dost thou , ô foolish man , presume to enter into his hidden power ? why dost thou labour ( like lucifer ) to climbe vp into his chaire of secrets ? shal the thing formed checke him that formed it ? can the pottervse his vessels as he thinkes good ? and shall not the lord dispose of his owne creatures ? who ar● thou which iudgest another mans seruant ? what canst thou tel , whether god hath predestinated them to saluation , and accepted of their submission , as of the thiefe which was crucified with him , at the last gaspe , and as they say , betwixt the bridge and the brooke ? betwixt the stirrop and the ground , mercy i thought , mercy i found : as one ●pitaphed vpon the tombe of him , that fell dead sodainly from his horse . sometimes it pleaseth his maiestie out of our errour to raise his owne honour , and to make vertue perfect and complete by infirmity . and therfore it is verie vncharitable for one sinner to iudge of another sinner . let him who is without sinne throw the first stone at him , as christ said . ●●et the sinner draw out the beame out of his owne eye , before ●e remoue the mote out of his brothers eye . it is gods office onely to iudge the euent and end of things . therefore iudge nothing before the tr●e , vntill the lord comes who will lighten the hidden things of darknesse , and open the counsels of the hearts . saint paul was made a gazing sto●ke vnto this world , he was defamed , yea , he was made as the filihinesse of the world & as the off-scouring of all things , yet a chosen vessel and apostle of christ. when it was told our sauiour , that pilate had massacred the galilaeans , euen as they sacrificed , he willed vs not to iudge of their liues and sins , but by their example to amend our liues . for neither those poore galilaeans , nor yet these eighteene vpon whom the tower in siloc fell , were greater sinners then all ohers which dwelt at ierusalem . iosias was one of the godliest kings , that euer reigned in iuda , yet was he killed with dartes in the battell against the king of aegypt . zachariah the prophet , stephen the martyr , with other seruants of god were tyrannously put to death . yea , and christ himselfe being without sinne endured worldly sorrowes without number , and also died a most terrible death : yet did they iudge him as though he were plagued and cast downe of god , according to that which was prophesied of him . the lord is righteous in all his waies , the lord is holy in all his workes , as the prophet dauid confessed , and as maurice the emperour protested , when he saw his wife and children murthered before his face by his seruant phocas . how then darest thou which art vnrighteous and vnholy , sit and reade on the secret deeds of the righteous god , and on the wondrous proceedings of the holy one of israel ? sometimes it pleaseth him to fulfill in our daies that prophesie of his concerning the taking of the godly from among the wicked . the righteous perisheth , and no man regardeth it in his heart . good godly men are taken away , and no man considereth it , namely , that the righteous is conueyed away from the wicked who heape vp treasures and pleasures for this world , as the godly do for the world to come . it may be also , that his mercy is so great , that respecting not our sinnes , his aboundant grace will vouchsafe to pronounce that answere concerning lazarus in our behalfe : this sicknesse is not vnto death , but for the glory of god. correspondent to which is likewise the satisfaction , which our sauiour christ yeelded to his disciples demaund , when they asked him about the blind man : master , who did sinne , this man or his parents , that he was borne blind ? iesus answered , neither hath this man sinned , nor his parents , but that the works of god should be shewed in him . perhaps the lord sends extraordinary accidents vpon his seruants to the intent , that they should serue for a parable or warning peece to the rest of his people in this countrey , from whom he meanes shortly to take away their power , the ioy of their honour , the pleasure of their eyes , and the desire of their hearts , except out of hand they become watchfull and repentant with the niniuites . for if iudgement begin at the iust what shall be the end of them , which obey not the gospell of god ? and if the righteous be scarcely saued , where shall the vngodly and sinner appeare ? if there be no difference betweene the innocent and reprrobate in the manner of their deathes and worldly crosses , why doe we ioyne field to field , land to land , and make account to see long lasting daies in this transitory world , or to die in our soft downe beds ? the word of the lord came to ezechiel : behold , i take away from thee the pleasure of thine eyes with a plague , yet shall thou neither mourne nor weepe . so ezechiel spake vnto the people in the morning , and in the euening his wife died . the parable was this : thus saith the lord god , behold , i will pollute my sanctuary , euen the pride of your power , the pleasure of your eyes , and your hearts desire . and you shall doe as i haue done , ye shall neither mourne nor weepe , but ye shall pine away for your iniquities , and mourne one towards another . thus ezechiel is vnto you a signe . and thus perhaps am i a signe vnto you , o worldly wizards , whose tongues are hired by the detracting spirit to blaspheme the powerful lord of lightnings , to curse god and die with iobs wife and to lay an ambush for your neighbours good name , fame , and reputation . learne by these exemplary crosses to be vigilant , for in the houre which you thinke not , as a theese in the night , will death steale vpon you . it is high time for you to prepare your selues , to preuent the tempter . alreadie it begins to smoake , and as the poet forewarnes : tunc tua res agitur , paries cum proximus ardet . when the next wall vnto thy house doth burne , looke to thy selfe betimes , next is thy turne . these reasons considered , i dare boldly auou●h ( for no earthly creature can iudge her conscience more freely then my selfe ) that my welbeloued wife , whom god of late hath taken to his mercy by an vnexpected accident , by the lightning power of his fearefull thunder resteth in the lord as concerning her soule , and resteth on earth as concerning her memory : both which , ( i trust ) by the diuine bountie scorne all the brauadoes , scaladoes , and engines , which eyther enuy , or sathan can inuent for their assaults . this is the chiefest solace i embrace after so great a crosse . this christian hope richer then any temporall or golden haruest i reape to my selfe after my fatall losse . for my light affliction which is but momentary , causeth vnto me a farre more excellent and eternall waight of glory , while i looke not on the things which are seene , but on the things which are not seene i looke not so s●rupulously on the manner of her death as i looke on the manner of her life , which god receiued as a burnt offering . packe hence therefore ye enthusians , and be not like vnto curdogs , that bark at a dead lyon. though she fell she shall rise againe , though she sate in darknesse , the lord will be a light vnto her . my tongue is no hireling herald , to coine her a new pedegre , nor yet a merc●nari● aduocate to extoll her shadow in steed of substance ; onely in steed of popish pos●humes or purgatorie trentals , i will sacrifice this cacomtasticall oblation , as seralem coe●am , a funerall banquet to her well deseruing memory . holy augustine neuer conceiued more diuinely of his mother monica , then i doe of thy felicity . o happie soule , partaker of celestiall ioyes , thou needest no praise of mine , seeing that thy god hath transported thee in the yeare of lubily to this port of tranquility and conuerted thy pilgrimage to the hauen , or rather heauen of euerlasting health : where though thou abound with vnspeakable pleasures , yet pardon me if i striue to canonize thy peerelesse fame . the pleasant sounds of thy verdant vertues ( like so many resounding ecchoes ) shall neuer vanish from mine insatiable eares . thy extraardinary loue , the liuely jdaea of a spotlesse life shall alwaies dwell within the mansion of my restlesse minde . at all times whether it be morning or euening , noone-tide or midnight , while i soiourne in this house of clay , i will congratulate thy high fortunes . all haile immortall spirit , thou spouse of christ , wrapt vp in his holy armes , full of transcendent grace , full of transeendent glory . all haile , full of health , full of happinesse , which art translated from mortall men to immortall saints , from sorrow to solace . yesterday thou wentest entāgled with the thorny cares of this world , now thou triumphest among the angels of heauen . yesterday thou wert here , where iob himselfe complained , that he was placed as a but to be shot at , where gods enuenomed arrowes stucke in him , where the prophet dauids bones were consumed , that he roared all day long . now thou florishest in the harmony of gods spirit , minding on nothing but on diuine vertues , on spirituall melody . yesterday thou wentest drooping in an earthen cote , shaken with the frownes of enuy , with the frumps of detraction : to day thou walkest ( and this day shines alwaie , neuer sets ) in a temple not built with hands , in the line of the liuing god , without enuy , without deraction . here is thy habitation assigned thee , thy lot is fallen in a faire ground . liue for euer . and this as a looking glasse shall glister vnto thy friends on earth : dorcadis hic dotes , miti cum mente rebecchae , priscillaeque fides : mens tam●n vna tribus . corpus humas , mundus laudes , tenet igneus eliae , elisias tua mens , elizabetha , rotas . here dorcas deeds ( as starres ) doe shine , priscillaes faith heere doth combine with mild and kind rebecca●s mind , yet but one soule to three assign'd . thy bodie earth , the world thy name , thy soule by faith elisian fame . elizabeth eterniz'd gaines . elias-like in lightning waines . lineament . xiii . the authours gratulation for his late fortunate deliuerance . his description of the lightning tragedy , the third day of ianuarie , . at what time god tooke away his wife . his description of other crosses at the very same time . how god fore-shewed by mysteryes the said crosses before they hapned vnto the authour : wherein his censure of dreames is interlaced . his description of his miraculous escape out of the sea , wherein he fell by force of a cruell tempest on a christmas day . . god forbid that i should charge all my countreymen with the branded marke of blasphemie : for there be many good men which neuer kneeled vnto baal , which neuer worshipped the spirit of detraction , all ready viua voce , as the prouerbe saith , with both hands to hold vp the roofe of my opinion . they alledge simply and charitably that this great accident vpon my wife and house came from god , as a faire warning for mee and them to prepare our selues for his heauenly kingdome : which charitable conceit , i cannot cancell with obliuion or ingratitude , but rather confirme the same with an applauding alleluiah . the lord gaue , the lord taketh away : blessed be the name of the lord. no man aliue this day stands more indebted then my selfe for matters of life , vnto the author of life . daniel was wonderfully deliuered from the lions clawes ; ananias , azarias and misael from the fierie fornace ; ionas in the whales belly , from the stormy sea ; and paul with his pilots , marriners and companions from perishing in the mediterranean seas : but what am i vile wretched sinner , whom thou hast saued as strangely from fire and water ? o glorious god , is it because thy prouident maiestie hath predestinated me to some worthy seruice tending to thy glory . o bountifull lord , of vnsearchable wisedome , graunt that my faith may be signed with the seale of thy mercy . let my spirit become regenerated and renued , as the potters vessell , markt to an honest purpose . whatsoeuer i am , whether tolerably toward or vntoward , tolerably cleane or vncleane , i wholy submit my selfe at the feet of thy mercy , altogether depending on thy sonnes merits , from whence i will not depart , though i were sure with asahel to be slaine by abner , and as iob protested , if thou wouldest kill me , yet will i trust in thee . on the third of ianuarie . about the third houre of the night , or thereabouts , as i lay solitarie vpon my bed , what with torment of a sodaine tooth-ache , and what with an extraordinary pensiuenes of minde , presaging ( as afterwards ehanced ) some future euils ; and also somewhat terrified with the great lightning , which then flashed most extreamely : behold , a forcible lightning in forme of a fiery pillar , extinguished the candle-light burning before mee , and with that , as it were in the twinckling of an eye , strikes me with a most violent blast , that i verily thought my braines had been dasht out , and that i was at deathes doore . to confirme this imagination of mine , in the selfe same instant it thundered in such impetuous and extreame manner , that the earth moued ( as sithence appeared in sundry other partes of this realme ) my house shooke , in so much that i am perswaded no canon no basilisco , nor any other artillery could make the like terrible report . with this fearefull volee together with the former lightning flash , i fell into a kinde of traunce or confused thought , and ( as saint paul speakes of his assumption into paradise : if it be lawful for me so to say ) whether i were in the body , or out of the body , i cannot tell , god knoweth ; but i verily supposed to haue seene in spirit the warning-peece shot off for this worlds dissolution , or finall alteration against the generall day of doome . within halfe a quarter of an houre or thereabouts ( as i coniecture ) i returned to my selfe , and to my troubled senses at the loud cry , which two of my houshould , then being newly awaked out of their senselesse traunce raysed , in seeing my wife falne on the ground and dead among them . at this noise which they made , changing my thoughts , i made full account , that my house had beene throwne downe with the thunder clap or earthquake , & therefore astonished as i was , to saue my life , ( being as i imagined , in that great ieopardy , ) i rose vp , and hastned me downe into the lower roome or kitchin , where i had heard the cry . by the way , her daughter , being one of the two , whose cry i had heard in my chamber , met me , and told me that her mother was sodainely stricken dead . at my comming thither into the kitchin , i found my wife quite depriued of life , in a blackish sweat , strongly sauouring of brimstone , which the poets call , sacrum sulphur , holy sulphur , yet notwithstanding , least it might be a faint or swowne , i called for help to my seruants to haue her body bent forewards : but at the first , none directly vnderstood me , excepting the two aboue-named , vntil afterwards vpon our vehement lamentations and cries , the other three ( for there were in all , fiue , two men and three maides , besides my wife , in that roome , ) beganne by little and little to come vnto themselues , hauing been all in one instant throwne downe to the ground as dead with the lightning and thunder . two of these three last , at my first call and comming downe , reuiued : but the other , being a seruing-man of mine , lay longer in the trance . all of them stood as deafe and distracted , not able for their liues a long while to lift vp her dead body . some of them could neyther heare nor vnderstand what i spake , nor what i would haue them doe : their braines were so confusedly shaken in their heads , that they could not for a long time answere me in reason . when this fatall blow was giuen , my wife sate on a stoole , ouer-seeing her maydes melting of tallow . and for this purpose , the seruing-man of whom i spake before , stood by her with a candle in his hand . the kettle of tallow lay very neere vnto her . aboue the place where shee sate , iust aboue her head , hung bacon in the roofe of the house . all which being naturall nutriments of lightnings , by reason of their vnctuous substances , encreased the vertue thereof , and doubtlesse by the predestinate will of our heauenly father , occasioned this foreible dampe , and perhaps augmented the earthquake . her body was entire and whole without diminution of any part , sauing a little of her hayre , which was rent or snatched off with the attyres of her head , & her fillet , which were likewise somewhat burnt , and also sauoured of brimstone . in like manner her stomacher , her whale-bone bodies , and her smocke neere about her heart , where there was a small marke somwhat black , were burnt , rent , and torne with the heauenly flame . perhaps her corpulence ( she being very grosse ) caused her thus to be singled and selected out from among the rest of the company . but leauing that philosophicall opinion alone to the vnsearchable knowledge of god , without whose prouidence one haire cannot fall from our heads , i will proceede further in declaring the tragicall euents which we found the next morning inflicted by the lightning , thunder and earthquake . the next morning ( for all that night wee durst not bouge from the same roome , so greatly had feare seazed on vs ) wee saw all the tiles fallen for the most part from the house , and some dispersed in heapes vpon the house . wee found the chimney top of the chamber where i lay , quite cast downe : part of the waightier stones tumbled through the chimney downe into my chamber , yea , and round about the bed where i lay at the time of this fatal blast , to the great astonishment of al that saw it : and surely it is miraculous how i escaped aliue , vnhurt , or vnscorcht in this terrible time of horror . two glasse-windowes were also burnt with the lightning , whereof the one was a window by my beds feete : the other on the loft right aboue my chamber , and aboue my bed . besides , three other glasse-windowes were battred and bruised with the thunder or earthquake . aboue a dozen breaches or rents were found pierced through the wals of the house , being almost foure foote thicke , and as strongly built , as could be of lime and stone . also one of the beames was somwhat remoued from the place . and that which seemes as strange , a fat cow amidst many other kine in the stable , was culled out and killed , or rather stifled with the lightning : which induceth me ( as i said before ) to thinke , that this dampe tooke strength and power according to the nature therof , from such fat , liquide , and oylie substances or bodies . this opinion her selfe verified vnto me about a fortnight before shee dyed , when she caused all the candles in her house to be done out , for feare least the lightning , which at that time was somewhat fearefull , should encrease and receiue force from the candle light . yet with this limitation doe i attribute such matter of vnctuositie and vertue to lightnings from these inferiour bodies , that god who workes by measure , number , and waight , sends these or such like kinds of fate vpon vs to admonish vs not to make reckoning of this world , as of a perpetuall paradise , nor to sleepe ouer-long in the voluptuous bosome of carelesse negligence . neyther ought i ( seeing i haue gone so farre ) to conceale another wonder , to wit , that she fore-tolde in her life time , as well to diuers others , as to my selfe the shortnesse of her life in this world : for this was an vsuall speach of hers sundry times within the same quarter of the yeare that she dyed : i know very well ( quoth she ) i cannot liue till the first of march. another time , being ( as i remember ) not aboue three weekes before her death , descending downe from her chamber , where then she had beene at prayers , shee came smiling vnto me with these words : husband , i bring you good tidings , you shall be rid of me , and you shall haue another wife : for i am fully assured , that i shall dye very shortly , and that before the first of march. and i thanke god , i am prepared ; let him send when hee will. which words of hers being by me accepted in iest ; shee replyed , as if shee had seene a vision , or felt some extraordinary motion in her spirit : you thinke i speake in iest , but marke the end . neyther did the lord ( i speake it to his glory ) send this glorious alarme vnto mee without an implicite or mysticall premonition , for about two moneths before , or thereabouts ( as farre as i remember ) in a dreame i saw the very like accident . mee thought i was at a knight my brothers house , and there lying vpon my bed , i imagined to haue seene and heard vpon the sodaine in the night time a most terrible lightning and thunder , in such wise , that i made full account the whole house had beene burnt or cast downe , and therefore to saue my life , with much adoe i hastned out of doores , where i supposed to haue beheld the inner part of the house terribly flaming with fire , and presently after i might see one conueying out of doores a chest ; whereupon i bewailed , that a blacke truncke of mine , stored with money was left behind , consumed with the flame . this dreame i related to my said brother , being at my house about three weekes before the accident , & wished him in my brotherly loue to looke somwhat more warily to his house , least night fires might endanger him , by reason of the height of his house ( the same not inferiour for height to any house which i haue seene ) and likewise by reason of the partitions being timber-worke neuerthelesse for all this , i aduise not the reader to embrace this dreame of mine for an infallible president , because that dreames sort our commonly according to the diet , temperate , or intemperate , sparing , or gluttonous , which men vse . and yet i beleeue , god seldome vseth to inflict any notable accident vpon a charitable christian , that mortifies his body with competent fasting , and moderates his soule with contemplation of heauenly mysteries , vvithout some secret prodrome , or fore-running glimpse of his powerfull purpose . nor doe i aduise my reader to surmise , that i conceiue ouer credulously or superstitiously of morph●us or phobetor , the poeticall gods of dreames , as necessarie causes of notorious effects . for my sentence is none otherwise of dreames , then of comets , and eclipses , vvhich likewise are not the causes of remarkable euents ; but onely such signes and tokens are as smoake at the top of a chimney , or as an iuie bush , put forth at a vintrie , the one prognosticating fire within , the other the sale of wine . thus it pleased the glorious lord of lightnings , to extend his miraculous mercy towards me , and perhaps to leaue me ( as a firebrand taken out of the burning , or as ezechiels signe ) for a testimonie of his lightning glory to hardned hearts . this is the second miracle , whereby as a virbius or rediuiu●s , i acknowledge my selfe twise restored from death to life , within the compasse of seauen yeares , euen about the selfe same season of the yeare , when our sauiour christ became flesh for the saluation of flesh . the first time of my deliuerance vvas vpon a christmas day , . this latter time on the third of ianuarie , . and both vpon a tuesday . in fraunce betwixt tremblado and marena , a passage of two leagues ouer , it was my chance , on a christmas day to be stricken into the surging sea vvith the boistrous force of a cruell tempest , where i had no sooner falne , and cried to the lord for helpe but sodainely beyond all expectation i found an oare betweene my hands to defend , or rather deferre my life . and to this houre i cannot deuise where-hence the said oare should chance vnto me . in this dolefull sort i floated almost a quarter of an houre very often tossed and ouerturned with the furious rowling of the stormie waues : vntill it pleased god at length of his exceeding bounty in that rough tempestuous weather , when the proudest ship became humbled as the weakest reed , to direct the course of that small barke from whence i fell , towards mee , and to guide the marriners hands ( as a man would say against winde and weather , against oares and sailes ) for the haling me vp in a manner dead and ready to forsake the oare . so that i may boldly say , that i haue beene miraculously preserued both from fire and water . sic coniurati veniunt ad classica venti . so windes coniur'd descended to our sailes . and if it were lawfull for me to apply those meeters in the psalter destinated to our sauiour christs resurrection , i would sound out with ioyfull cheere : thus from aboue the lord sent downe to fetch me from belowe : and pluck● me out of waters great , which would me ouerflowe . i would also with ionas the prophet , exhibite my submissiue petition vnto the lord my sauiour : thou didst cast me downe into the deepe , into the midst of the sea , and the floods compassed me about : all thy billowes and waues passed ouer mec . and i said , i am cast away out of thy sight , yet will i looke againe towards thine holy temple . here , i could lay downe how his omnipotent maiestie respected me in all my trauailes both by land and water . twise i passed the pyrenaean mountaines betwixt fraunce and spaine , and that in the dead of winter . twise i trauailed ouer the alpes , i escaped the banditi in italy , robberies in hungary , and in other forraine countries . all which deliuerances per varios casus , per to● discrimina r●rum . through diuers straights , through dangers infinite . ordinarie and extraordinarie i ascribe to no other destenie or fortune , then to the great redeemer of the world , the mighite lord , strong , mercifull , gracious , slow to anger , aboundant in goodnesse and truth , reseruing mercie for thousands , forgiuing iniquitie , transgression , and sinne . from whom i confesse this last lightning tragedie to be sent , as a preparatiue for me and others . in like manner i confesse , it was profitable for my soules health , that god after this dreadfull fashion , rouzed me vp out of my tent of securitie . for indeed i liued almost as carelesse , as sardanapalus , bewitched with worldly ease ; but now i thanke my gracious lord , mine eyes begin to open , my soule begins to see her faults . god giue mee grace to perseuer in this acknowledgement , and to ascribe the glorie vnto him alone . lineament . xiiii . the spirit of detraction connicted for censuring the lords secret iudgements . the authors imperfections acknowledged . his meditation on his late crosses . notwithstanding the premisses , the spirit of detraction is readie to read a cruell lecture to pratling momes and tatling niobes , that doubtlesse the punished partie vvas eyther very vicious himselfe , or else his vvife or parents had offended god in the highest degree . o my friends , be not so curious in your censures . in that yee iudge others yee condemne your selues , for yee that iudge doe the same things . iudge not least yee be iudged . and as for the scornefull , doth not the lord laugh them to s●●rne ? why then doe yee scorne and scoffe at your neighbours harmes , whereof god is the author ? who is hee that blesseth , that curseth , that rewardeth , that punisheth ? is it not he the lord ? vvhy then detract yee from his vnsearchable secrets ? why endeauour yee to vsurpe his peculiar prerogatiue ? we are persecuted , but not forsaken , we are cast downe , but we perish not . our mortall bodies for a time returne to dust , but our soules rest in abrahams bosome . it pleased the lord to smite his righteous seruant with infirmitie , to forsake him , and to be angrie with him for a little season : but at last he pardoned him , as the prophet forespake of christ. for all this my defence , the spitefull spirit of detraction relents not at all . by reason of anothers extraordinarie iudgement , he chargeth me strictly with impietie . is not ( quoth hee ) thy wickednesse great , and thine iniquities innumerable ? therefore snares are round about thee , feare sodainely troubles thee . doth not god reuenge the fathers sinnes vpon the children to the third and fourth discent ? o menstruous or rather monstrous absurditie ! though my talke be this day in bitternesse , and my plagues greater then my groaning : yet will i vndertake to controule thine errour , and confute thine heresie . all soules are mine , saith the lord , both the soule of the father and the soule of the sonne . the same soule that sinneth shall dye , the sonne shall not beare the iniquities of the father , neither shall the father beare the iniquitie of the sonne . for mine owne part , i confesse my selfe to be chiefe among sinners , but yet much wronged to become subiect vnto your detracting iudgements . yee are none of my iudges : i appeale to caesars iudgement seate . i appeale to the king of kings , the king of mercie , who will reuerse by a vvrit of errour your false vsurped iudgements . if thou lord wilt be extreame to marke what is done amisse : o lord who may abide it ? woe be vnto vs , woe , w●e , be to the most laudable life that we leade , if thou o lord , setting thy mercie aside shouldst examine it . who can say , i haue made my heart cleane , i am pure from manie sinnes ? doth the blinde accuse the blinde ? doth an olde senex fornicatour accuse another fornicatour ? num luscus accusat luscum , clod●us m●●chum ? and doth the spirit of detraction the most sinfull spirit of all spirits , detect me for sinning ? well , my confession is not auricular , but openly reiterated : if i wash my selfe in snow water , and purge my hands most cleane , yet shalt thou plaegue me in the pit , and mine owne cloathes will make mee silihie . mine owne fleshly vveedes being tainted vvith longing thoughts , must sing a sorrowfull peccaui , to the tune of stoope gallant . and vnfainedly to vse saint pauls words : i allow not that which i doe , for what i would , that i doe not , but what i hate that doe i. albeit that oftentimes i haue a will to doe well , yet the nature of my flesh not any wise able to be expelled with the forke of mine owne naked reason , confounds this readie will of mine , and causeth me to commit moe sinnes in number then the sands of the sea . all which with a contrite minde i submit to the mercy of god , crauing most humbly on the knees of my heart in the lowest degree of reuerence , my redeemers merits as the vaile of grace , to stand betwixt his diuine iustice , and their gore-bloud guiltinesse . but certainly in my poore iudgement god took away mine innocent vvife after the aboue-said manner ( for though i say it , & all her acquaintance wil say as much as i , that she liued as godly & as honestly as any whatsoeuer in all her countrie ) not so much for my sins , though the same might be grieuous , as for that all others might prepare themselues against their nuptials with christ iesus , remembring that prophesie concerning babilon , who said in her heart : i shall be a lady for euer , i am , and none else , i shall not sit as a widdow , neither shall i know the losse of children . but thus said the lord , these two things shall come vnto thee sodainely in one day , the losse of children and widdowhood . o lord of infinite iudgement , widdowhood is sodainely come vnto mee , thou hast iustly visited me , and bercaued me of my chiefest comfort . thou knewest shee vvas too good for mee . thy vvill be done , o mightie lord. let the infusion of thy grace into mine vntoward soule recompence my griefe and losse . thy grace is sufficient for mee , thy power is made perfect through weakenesse . when wee are most perplexed with worldly crosses , then is thy spirit strongest in vs. and euen as the soules vertue is strengthened with infirmitie , so certainely it is necessarie for our licentious natures now and then to be curbed vvith infirmities . it is necessarie for vs , that sinne the messenger of sathan , doe other whiles buffet vs , and bruise our earthly heeles . it is necessarie that malice bridle or rather prick , as vvith sharpe pointed needles , our detracting wanton thoughts : whereby we might remember our owne weake condition , and turne to god , who alone is without infirmitie . let me doe what good i can , let me endeauour as much as is possible for flesh and bloud to endeauour , yet i shall proue but an vnprofitable seruant , i am blacke like an aethiopian , nay i am more blacke , my very teeth are blacke ; my soule is all spotted , all guiltie of vncleanenesse . onely my beliefe is that thy grace is more aboundant then tongue can speake , or heart can thinke , or pen can paint . lineament . xv. the authours gratulatorie prayer vnto the lord for the aboue-said wonderous effects . o louely light , o lord of maiestie , how ouer-late doe i beginne to know thee ? my welbeloued put in his hand by the hole of my doore , offring to breath faith into my soule . but such was my dulnes , such my drowsinesse , that i could not once sigh , sobbe , nor say , abba father , o my father , i haue sinned against heauen and against thee . yea , thou wert in the superiour part of my heart , and i neglected thee . thou didst call mee both within and without , and i reiected thee . i reiected the well-spring of liuing vvater , and resorted to noysome cisternes of puddle worte , full of wormewood comforts , full of tickling hopes , vvhich were speedily spent : for all vvordly comforts and vaine hopes doe vanish away like winde . and yet , it pleased thy lightsome spirit , o lord of life , after many a scorching summers attendance , after many a frozen winters watching , expecting my conuersion , to knocke againe most patiently at the doore of my soule , and thus to call vnto her while shee slept so carelesly : open vnto me , my sister , my loue , my doue : for my head is full of d●●r , and my lockes with the drops of the night . againe , and againe , it pleased thee to inuite mee after this manner : returne , o thou rebellious childe , and i will heale thy rebellions : for euen as a woman hath rebelled against her husband , so hast thou rebelled against mee . how dease is he that heares not such a voyce ? a voyce more vehement then the sound of many waters . how deepely sleepes he , that is not wakened vvith such a morning vvatch , vvith such a melodie ? a melodie more musicall then euer tuball , amphion , or arion could possibly conceiue , when all thy creatures combined against me , in reuenge of my disloyaltie towards thy sacred soueraigntie , thou didst temper their fiery fury , thou didst moderate their biting bitternesse . the foure elements , which thou madest for my conseruation , conspired all to roote my being out of the land of the liuing . the ayre threatned to taint my breathing with contagious smels , with stigian stinckes . the fire assayed to burne my bruitish body . the water stroue vvith might and maine to ouerwhelme me vtterly . the earth endeuoured before her time to abridge my luxurious life ; and all because i had offended their great creator . but thou more mercifull then thy creatures , for the loue of thy name , and for the loue of thy sonne , didst controule all their practises , and confound the deuises of the diuel himselfe . how happy am i , that thou prolongst my dayes ? how kinde art thou that sparest to spill the bloud of thy very foes ? o kindenesse without desert ! o courtesie without comparison ! behold behold , yee mortals all , how the lord hath deliuered me from the danger , nay , from the dungeon of death , from sodaine death . the god of glory hath defended mee from thunder and lightning , from vvater and fire . o what oblation can the poore samaritan● sacrifice vnto his sacred maiestie , for these his wonderous workes ? ille magis gratae laetatur mentis odore quam consecrato sanguine mille boum : nam prece non alio gaudet honore deus . god better loues a thankfull minde , then many oxens bloud : for poore mens prayers he preferres before the rich and proud . seeing thankfulnesse is such a sweet smelling odour in his sacred no strils , let me proclaime his glorious name , alleluiah , osanna in the highest . blessed be the name of his heauenly highnesse , blessed in heauen , blessed on earth , and blessed throughout all ages . the lord be blessed for euermore , vvhich hath enlightned mee in the darksome shadow of errours , vvhich hath enlarged mee from a vvorld of perils , vvhich hath recalled me failing , vvhich hath raised me falling , vvhich hath recouered mee running almost out of breath , from falling and fainting . let all nations performe their duties , let them praise the lord : for it is hee , that commandeth the waters : it is the glorious god that maketh the thunder : it is the lord that ruleth the sea : the voyce of the lord is a glorious voyce : the voyce of the lord breaketh the cedar trees ; yea , the voyce of his thunder was heard round about , the lightning shone upon the ground . the earth was moued and shooke withall : his way is in the sea , and his paths in the great waters . applaud him , o my soule , applaud his magnificent maiesty . let his laud be euer in thy thoughts . let all thy faculties , all thy attributes and operations spread themselues as blooming vines round about my heart , my braine , my tongue , that the same may become as the pen of a ready writer , to sound out and resound his most puissant power . others according to the altitude of his iudgements , he cutteth off by vntimely death : but me he spares aliue , as a monument of his liuing mercy . o what had become of me , if thou haddest cited mee likewise at that horrible houre before thy tribunall throne of iustice ? o my sauiour , i thanke thee for thy peerlesse patience , i praise thee , though basely and barely in respect of thy benefits , i adore thee , i honour thee , i humble my selfe before thee all the dayes of my life : i returne , i repaire vnto thee , not haltingly , not hollowly , but holily ( i vvould i could say vvholy ) all the dayes of my life . o giue me grace , help my weaknesse heale mine vnbeliefe . lineament . xvi . the conclusion of this present circle , consecrated by the authour to his wiues memory . the application of her memorable death . the authours apologie against the spirit of detraction , on the be●a●se of this present circle , where his wiues memory is saluted with a christian farewell . ingenuous reader , hitherto after the example of antimachus , who composed a booke in the commendations of his wife lydia , haue i labored to eternize my deere wiues memory , to the end & entent that when the spirit of ' detraction ( as the sorcerers rod was swallowed vp by aarons rod ) is consumed to nothing , and vvhen his lying mates doe dye , and lie ingloriously in rotten earth , the vvorld shall finde , that shee liues for euer among the liuing inuita inuidia , in despite of enuie , that shee flourisheth like a palme tree , which the more it is suppressed , the more returneth vpwards , consonant to that of the wise-man ; the memoriall of the iust shall be blessed , but the name of the wicked shall rot . her memorable end anatomized and embalmed in this my bookish coffin , shall yeeld odoriferous perfumes of her milde , meeke , and modest life , to the sence-pleasing comfort of the elected innocent . and that i may record the memory of her end allegorically with the poet : etumulo vi●lae , fortunat àque fauillâ nascentur , cippusque , leuis sua cont●get ossa . out of her graue fine violets shall bloome , and a light stone shall her sweet bones entombe . thus out of my miseries , as out of the ashes of a burnt phoenix , is built a beacon of liuing miracles , vvhich i humbly pray his heauenly highnesse , among other suppliants of his , that they may effect in me , what a more radiant light effected in saint paul , namely , the illumination of a darke conscience . for vvhen my body ( like a bowle ) was carryed about vvith the bias of concupiscence & my soule rockt a sleep in the cradle of worldly securitie , by sathans inchanting lullabies , then my lord , that saw me so misse-led , like vnto salomons foole , laughing , when indeed i had more cause to weepe : then my louing lord , i say , tooke compassion on my foolish fals , and gaue me a sound pinch , or prick in the flesh , that started and stirred vp all my reasonable faculties to consider more iudiciously , in what a case i stood both body and soule . what better vse of this temptation can i produce , then that thy death deere wife , like elishaes bones , which reuiued a dead corse , hath vvrought a double miracle ; the one in thy translation , the other in my conuersion ? then that this lightning accident hath enlightned both our soules . thine it preferred into paradise ; mine it prepareth for paradise : thy soule ( as a type of zeales flame , ) it purified actually , secundum passionem ; mine it purifieth potentially , secundum propassionem . thus both of vs do stand as monuments to the church here on earth ; the one as a relicke richer then mausolus his tombe , the other as a publicke notarie , reserued to sound out the wonders of the great god , and to transcribe vnto after-ages thy extraordinarie end . if the spirit of detraction reply , that i intend a needlesse labour to embalme a dead carkasse with such costly oyntment ; saying , what needed this waste ? loe , i returne his enuious demand this vnparalel'd answere of our sauiour : i did it to bury her . it is to performe the last obsequies of her funerall : that wheresoeuer the gospell is sincerely preached throughout this land , there also these circles of mine ( vvhereof her memory , next vnder god , was the motiue ) may be read , as a mirrour of gods miracles , as a memoriall of her liuing vertues , and as a monument towards her of my kinde affection . it is the last solemnitie , the last precious oyntment which i can poure vpon her head , the last adieu , the last office of good will , which i can accomplish for her sake . this kind of epitaphes in honour of the dead , an holy father highly commendeth : it is pietie ( saith he ) to publish the deceaseds vertues , yea , it is a meanes to encrease grace in our owne selues . therefore let no man blame me , because i erect these paper-statues to the glory of my deceased wife , seeing that many others of nobler endowments haue endeuoured to illustrate their dead friends . it is not long since that famous gentleman , phillip mornay lord of plessis , mourned in the like manner for the death of his onely sonne , who of late was slaine with a musket-shot at the siege of the citie geldre , vnder graue maurice : which dolefull catastrophe hee set out in a little booke called du plessis teares , written to his wife charlotte baliste ; why then should i feare thy shadowie prickles , o spitefull spirit ? in praysing her , from whom haue i detracted ? downe therefore , downe vvith thy malicious stings , and interrupt me not in my zealous offices ; while i betake my selfe to the mournfull accents of a voice almost stopt vvith throbs of griefe , while also i sacrifice my last gratuities vnto her sacred spirit , interrupt me not : adieu thou seruant of christ , thou patterne of piety . adieu thou map of gods miracles . adieu my loue , my ioy , my comfort . adieu , and rest thee henceforth among the heauenly roses , rest in peace for euer free from the thornes of malice . adieu againe and againe . adieu elizabeth my wife for a while , and welcome sweet iesus my sauiour for euer . the seaventh circle of the spirit of detraction , conivred and convicted . lineament . i. that the spirit of detraction can neuer annoy vs , while the maiestie of iustice shines vpon vs. the authours supplication to the lord chancellour of england , the lord president of wales , and to all other his maiestics iudges of record within this monarchy of great brittaine , for the extirping out of notorious blasphemics . the spirit of detractions craft in molesting his maiesties inferiour officers . his diabolicall craft in wronging of priuate persons . the authours conclusion to the aboue-sayd lords , for reformation of the said abuses . how amiable shewes thy face ( o queene of uertues ) when the light of maiestie shines vpon thee ! euen as amiable shewes thy face as the face of an angell , as the face of moses , which he was faine to vaile by reason of his bright-shining beautie , after hee had seene a glimpse of gods glory . when thou sittest equally in thy throne of state , with the ballance in one hand , and the sword in the other hand : how worthy then to beadored , being so adorned , so transfigured in glory , with the three apostles on mount tabor ! while this ballance lasteth euen the lambe may dwell with the wolfe without dread or doubt . while this sword of iustice hangs ouer caines head , as it sometimes hung ouer damocles his head by a slender threed , his yonger brother abell may walke innocent in his vocation , and cheerefully sacrifice his oblation of thanksgiuing , sounding out this dittie of the princely psalmist : i will sing of mercy and iudgement , vnto thee , o lord , will i sing . the carefull magistrate need not feare the sword of ismael , which is a reuiling tongue . iacob after his three apprentiships vnder laban , may trauell vpon the kings high-way towards his natiue home , secured from his eldest brother esaus sword . moses may exercise his office with alacritie and courage , notwithstanding the rebellious muttering of corah , dathan , and abiram . in this golden age of iustice , ' dauid may manifest his zeale , and ioyfully dance before the lords arke for all the scornefull flouts of michol , or the scolding speeches of semci . now hee cares not for his emulous and enuious aduersaries , who to some out the dregs of their mindes subborned false witnesses , laying to his charge those things which he neuer knew . in this flourishing time mephibosheth triumphes ouer his seruant zibaes scandalous accusation . while this thy ballance , o sacred iustice , or this thy sword , the one as a cause indented to leade the vse of thy fine , the other as a finall concomitance or statute staple to establish thy euer-stable iudgements , or vvhile both of them together , as causa & causatum , two friendly correlatiues doe follow the strict contents of their commission of oier and terminer , the iniurious imputations of potiphars wife can neuer impeach chast ioseph ; nor can the snarling and doggish letter r , redoubled out of doegs nostrils impaire the credite of abimelech . neither can iezabels letter produce seduced testimonie against naboth , nor can the rulers of babilon worke the ruine of daniel . reioyce , thou daughter of israel , renowned susanna , for the elders which accused thee are ouertaken in their owne snares ; they are found in contrarie tales . while this seate of iustice stands sincere , without staine , without sicklenesse , stephen may boldly reproue the sinnes of our lawlesse libertines without feare of forged witnesses , or clamorous suggestions , that hee blasphemed god and moses . so full of efficacie is the influence of iustice , vvhen her bright beauteous body is countenanced with the glorious aspects of prudence and magnanimitie , the attributes of the eternall maiestie , that presently the spirit of detraction with all his blacke guard of sinne will disperse themselues to nothing , as a companie of bragging waspes at the violence of northren winde . there flocked sometimes out of this fluttering swarme innumerable , to beare downe the reputation of ionathas with his prince : but what became of them , and of their runnagate slanders ? as soone as they heard the sound of king alexanders trumpet , proclaiming ionathas to be the kings friend , and him for this cause to be cloathed in purple , and to weare a collar of gold , they vanished away , like waspes or bees , leauing not so much as one of their stings behinde to offend that renowmed macchabee . right honourable , and prudent senatours , ( to whom the sunne of this mightie monarchie hath imparted part of his powerfull authoritie , to iudge the tribes thereof ) i haue purposely framed this preface towards your patient spirits , that thereby your honours may discerne the anguish of my sicke soule , which labours ( like a woman intrauaile ) to discharge her long and toilesome load . non quaero quod mih● v●ile , sed quod multis . i sue not onely for my selfe , though ( perhaps ) my particular griefe is such that it may crie for vengeance vnto the highest heauen , but on the behalfe of many thousands , who moane and groane vnder the vvaight of a little diuell , the tongue of sinne. in what measure this tyrant lauisheth and lordeth , i am not able to expresse in words significant , seeing that it passeth the power of any one modest writer to comprehend the sway and swing of spirituall monsters . amidst the incessant complaints of so many subiects , who continually ( like iobs messengers ) solicite your wisedomes with their frequent informations , besides your owne trials , your honours may enquire from one to one , and obserue from day to day , how many zealous persons finde themselues agrieued out of court , and in court , euen from his maiesties starrie court , to the least and base court. out of court at ordinaries , at gossipping , at tauernes , at tobacco-taking , a man shall heare nothing but detractions , nothing but contumelies and lies , nothing but captious and carping speaches . when they are wantonly wearie with iearing , with ieasting one at another , with tearing their neighbours good name and fame with their taunting tongues , like vnto delphick swords , and with diuersities of scandals worse then the prints of scourges : then they fall to swearing , to swaggering , and to blaspheming of their lord and father in heauen , in stead of hallowing his holy name . o times ! o iniquitie ! if god be their father , where is his honour ? if he be their lord , where is his reuerence ? to you ( iudicious lords ) as the watchfull sentinels , or rather the wise surgeons of our state , it belongs betimes , euen before the darkest night of errours steales vpon vs , to prouide for corrosiues and cauterismes against these vgly vlcers , which ranckle within the body of our common-weale . sith it hath pleased his royall highnesse to communicate part of his light vnto you , whereby euery one of you might moue in his place , not naturally ab oriente ad occasum , but supernaturally from nature to the authour of nature , i beseech your lordships in the lowest degree of reuerence , by vertue of this your heauenly motion , your vertuall influence , and irradiation , to dissolue such clouds of detractions , into dismall showers vpon the detractours heads , according to that of the princely prophet : they haue digged a pit for others , and haue falne into the m●ast of it themselues . they sought to bemire & beray their honest neighbors with their legends nay , with their legions of lies , intending to set them vpon the stage of scorne on the scaffold of scurrility , and there to cloath them with reproach and shame , not vnlike those spitefull iewes , which plaited on our sauiours head a crowne of th●rnes , crowne to delude him , thornie prickles to torment him . by vertue of your authorities , your starrie motions , let such clouds and vapours be dispersed into vvhole flouds of vengeance vpon the spirit of detraction . let their bodies feele the smart of your sword , whose wilfull wills will not relent with the waight of your ballance . if other mens examples serue not to bridle their vntoward tongues , let their owne estates pay the ransome of their contempts . while such monstruous sinnes beare dominion among vs , neuer let your wisedomes thinke , that your officers of inferiour rankes dare execute in that proportionable expectation your monitorie directions , your wholesome rules for the repressing of ryots , for the restraining of vnrulinesse , as otherwise they would , were they assured of protection . while periurers and petti●ogging promootors range vp and downe at their pleasure , neuer let your honours looke but for vnequall proceedings , and vniust presentments at our neighbours hands . but some one will obiect , that the courts of iustice lie open as well for the basest as for the noblest subiect ; neither will our lawes permit a priuate person to lay violent hands on an out-law , or on him vvhich is attainted of premunire : so equall a reference beares iustice towards subiects of all conditions . by these reasons periurie fortifies it selfe against the open face of truth . yet notwithstanding , whosoeuer ponders more pregnantly the present state of our publike weale , comparing the same with that of the olde vvorld , shall finde that our present policie had need of further muniments to vnderprop it ; least also your atlantick shoulders become wearie , or to speake more properly , least your vp-streatch'd hands ( like those of moses ) might faile at length in their important charge . though god ( i confesse ) hath ordayned the sunne to shine vpon the vngodly , as vpon the godly , and as the preacher wrot , all things come alike to all . the same condition is to the iust and the wicked , to the pure and impure , to him that sacrificeth , and to him that doth not sacrifice . though the lord created them all alike , in respect of outward endowments or accidentall meanes , yet notwithstanding he hath seuered them , specially in the second life , entitling the innocent as lambs , & the reprobate as goats , the one as good seede , the other as tares , the one for heauen , the other for hell. the like distinction i could wish to be practised among those iudges , which either take or hope themselues to be partakers of that second life ; so that all notorious lewd members might be excluded ( if it were possible ) from molesting of quiet spirits . to this purpose , after a sort our late parliament prouided a countermining order for the speedie dispatch and triall of suites commenced against officers at the common law . but so it is ( right honourable ) that these caterpillers implead a barre in this finall concordance : for if your officers come accompanied vvith honest neighbours , to search or suppresse suspicious people , or else to apprehend disturbers of his maiesties peace : these wicked ones apparrell themselues in the robes of subtiltie , and with the helpe of mercenarie tongues , laying an ambush for iustice , they surmise with aesops wolfe , that the poore lambe in forcible and riotous manner mudded the well , where water was vsually drawne for their lordly mouthes . this offence by their sathanicall inuentions being exorbitant , and beyond the capacitie of the common law , they frame their suggestions before your honours , in hope that their suites by reason of the manifold affaires , vvhich distract your diligent mindes , shall hang vnheard for two or three yeares space ; within which terme they will worke meanes to compromit their said friuolous suites , or else by tossing and tiring their aduersaries too and fro with tedious trauailing , to end them at home for their credite and aduantage . if an honest man hath a summe of money due vnto him by obligation , the partie indebted not able to spare it by reason of his ouer-lau●sh expenses in apparrell , wenches , and such inordinate vanities , and seeing no shift at the common law to auoid the payment , confederates with two or three of the diuels consort , bare legged vagrants ( those whom homer termed houselesse and tribelesse ) and vseth the forfeit of their soules for his temporall aduantage , and for the hindrance of his creditours in his maiesties court of chauncerie . doth a landlord demand the occupation of his owne and natiue free-hold , requiring the tenant either to compound for a longer terme , or to leaue it vnto his dispose ? presently these wrangling wretches with bread and cheese in their scrips runne headlong to the counsell of the marches , where vpon affidauit of their three yeares possession , and afterwards vpon proofe by some of these damned crew , that they contracted with their landlord for a lease paroll , though such an act was neuer done , or perhaps done for some other consideration of import , they procure either orders to continue their possessions for the said supposed & deposed terme , or vntill they be expulsed by vertue of verdict at the common law : where also by reason of these vilipendious varlets testimonies , they win the garland of their forged suits . o the perfidiousnesse of false & faithlesse hearts , that thus rashly runne into the lake of fire and brimstone ! these inconueniences happen daily , to the impairing and impeaching of our temporall fortunes . yea and which is most detestable among christians , these treacherous iudasses and impious impes of sathan combine together against our credites , which some of vs value beyond craessus his treasurie , and some other times against our liues , which as tenants in capite we hold from the king of kings . these abhominations of my natiue country here i submit before your eyes of iustice , that the same may serue as additions of examples vnto your manifold experience , whereby your honours may conceiue or rather recall to memorie , what terrible tempests doe daily encounter your inferiour ministers and others his maiesties vvell disposed subiects ; notwithstanding that you know alreadie better then a thousand such as i am , that there is no signe more certaine , that men are vertuous , then to see them hated of the vicious ; for imminent enuie euer persecutes eminent vertue . good my lords , employ your vttermost endeauours for the extirping of these accursed actions . the more paines yee take in this waightie businesse , the more conspicuous crowne of honour shall you weare in the heauenly citie , euen by his appointment , who ( though inuisible to the eyes of flesh and bloud ) stands in the assembly of the gods , and iudgeth among the gods , that is , in the midst of you , o earthly iudges , which likewise that holy man protested , saying , that his eyes are with kings and princes in the throne . and another confirmeth the same vvith a reason : for yee execute not the iudgements of man , but of god. to this end , that the lawes of this land may not further be iniured by the spirit of detraction , let his counterfaite castor and pollux be crushed in the egge , his rancour repelled , and his rage repressed in the beginning of his raigne : for if sathans surmised suites vvere blasted in the blossome , the rest of his snakie spirits would presently sneake away into their bottomlesse home . if the lippes of our satyrciall semeies vvere seared as a subiects lips in france vvere seared vvith a hot iron for his petulant speaches , vvhen they transgresse , and transcend the bounds of obedience , then surely vvould they yeeld their hearts vvith greater awe and ciuilitie to the ballance and sword of iustice. if their tongues vvere tempered towards your subordinate ministers , they vvould vvith greater reuerence respect your higher authorities , as the resemblance of his maiesties person , yea , of god himselfe . but some will say , that these sons of detraction , cannot so soon cashiere ther blasphemies , periuries , & slanderous suggestions , by reason of a continuall cankred custome , which they deriue into their wils euer from their cradle in their education & conuersation . for confirmation of this fallacie , they insist on the locrensian law , on the state of our bodies , which may not brook innouation nor breach of custome , the same being ( as physicians hold ) another nature . with the sophistrie of this vntempered morter ( right prudent lords ) our momists vse to daube ouer their grosse errors as though the conuersion of a corrupted custome were the peruersion of an authenticke law. the alteration of our customarie diet ( i confesse ) seemes raw and rough at first vnto our crabbed natures , but within a while after , it turnes to the benefit of the patient , where the custome is refined or reduced into a better ; for what is custome without truth ? none other then as meate without salt ; an old wiues fable , and an old doating sinne . whatsoeuer sauours not of faith is sinne . the word of god admits not of wrangling policie ; neyther may vve wrest it according to our vvorldly deuises . it is primitiue , and contemnes mixture ; it is pure , and hates hypocrisie . the lord hath spoken , and his speaches shall stand for euer : heauen and earth shall passe away , but the vvord of god shall neuer passe . yea , one day tels another , & one night certifieth another , that his spotlesse spirit abhorres those refractaryes , which blaspheme his hallowed name , which beare false testimonies against their neighbours . but vvhat am i that thus audaciously goe about to confront your experience , vvhose bookes of iudgements i am not worthy to open ? what am i that seeme ( as sus mineruam ) to instruct nathans in iustice , nestors in counsels ? pardon my trespasse ( vertuous iudges ) as the highest iudge hath pardoned yours . as many peeces of flesh ( i speake it vnder your accustomed patience ) do better the pottage : so these aduisoes of mine , though ambitiously elated , ( i know ) cannot hinder your graue proceedings . let them go then , as little looking glasses for abcedarie nouices , vvhose abilitie perhaps in wit or purse will not serue to get them mirroirs of a firmer substance . lineament . ii. that after controulement instruction is necessary for them , that be possessed with the spirit of detraction . that taciturnitie and patience doe coniure him downe into hell . forasmuch as the detracting spirit , and his false feathered eagles are vnmasked , and discouered through the vvinde of gods word , which before in this age of ours was ( like an infortunate planet ) predominant ouer the horoscope of our natiuities : it is high time that i minister an antidote or preseruatiue against the precedent mischiefes , and after controulement that i adioyne instruction ▪ seeing both together are as necessarie for the variable will of man , as phlebotomy for a pleurisie or calenture . euery euill at the first budding is quickly extirped , but being suffered for a while to runne a lawlesse race vncurbed or vncorrected , it becommeth past cure . euen as wilde-fire or lightning hauing receiued nourishment or matter to worke vpon by candle-light , tallow , or oylie substances , increaseth in a house , and there-hence vvould breake into the next house , and at last into the whole towne , vnlesse at the first inflaming it be quencht with milke : so the spirit of detraction being suffered to creepe into an honest mans house ( like aesops vnthankfull snake , which the innocent husbandman saued from the chilling colde ) and there , by negligence permitted to infect some of the household , will at length not onely enuenome the head of the family himselfe , but also empoyson the vvhole neighbourhood , except at the first his fiery force be extinguished with the milke of taciturnitie and patience . of this kinde of milke , among other ingredients , is that oyntment made , which the apostle mentioned : ye haue an oyntment of him that is holy , & ye know all things . though truth hath taken off this false vizard , yet vvee must apply the fruits of truth for his further condemnation , and that other wicked spirits may likewise be kept backe from planting themselues in the little world . with taciturnitie the spirit of detraction is choakt : with patience the detracted conquereth the detractour . vincit qui patitur . in old time this kinde of spirit vvas coniured vp by vnhallowed holy vvater , by massemonging miracles : now our countrey-men rayse him vp by pots of good liquour , and pipes of tobacco , therewith both day and night profaining their bodies , which rather they ought to purifie vvith mortification , as the temples of the holy ghost : for wanton flesh and bloud cannot inherit heauen . in old time his malice was sometimes allayed by simplicitie and superstitious singlenesse of minde : now hee can neuer be put downe , and packt into hell without taciturnitie and patience : both which , if thou . who readest this circle , dost obtaine at thy heauenly fathers hand , thou needest not doubt of thy soules saluation , nor of silent sobrietie . lineament . iii. the discription of taciturnitie . that the nature and qualitie of a man may be discerned by speach or writing . that wise men in priuate may descant of their neighbours faults , so that the same tend to edification . albeit that taciturnitie be a kinde of milke farre more delicious then the parac●lsians lac virginis , or false mahemets heauenly iunkets hard to come by , knowne but of very few , and those sons of art , vvhose chiefe aphorisme is to keepe close their soueraigne receipts from vicious persons ; i will notwithstanding aduenture to disclose vvhat it is , borrowing the discription thereof , out of monsieur du chesue his portraict de la sancte . taciturnity is to heare and premeditate a thing well and long , to be briefe and short in his answeres , that is , to speake little or nothing . taciturnite est bien & longuement oscouter , & premediter , estre briese & court on ses responses , ascauoir , dire peu ou rien . this rare medicine makes the patient which takes it , to carry his mouth in his heart , whereas detraction causeth men to beare their hearts in their mouthes , to deliuer dregs with drinke and to shoot their foolish boltes before that discretion wils them . which moued a certaine wise man , that on a time vvas askt by his prince at a banquet , why hee alone sate still like a foole without parleying , thus pithily to answeare : a foole ( be it spoken vnder your matesties correction ) can hardly hold his peace at a banquet : for as salomon saith , the foole putteth forth all his spirit , but a wise man deferreth it afterwards . o diuine vertue ! o discreet taciturnitie ! which resemblest the patient deitie , vvhich repellest hunger and thirst , which neuer renderest griefe , blame , nor shame . surely the best coniecture , vvhich may be made of mens inclinations is by speach or writing . loquere vt te videam , speake that i may know thee , quoth socrates to a nouice of his : as for example , if thou hearest one discourse immoderately of faire women , fine apparrell , of hauking , hunting and gaming ; or if thou hearest him vaunt ouer-gloriously of his owne vvorth , or speaking in print , in inck-horne termes , thundring out sesquipedales , and hornificabustulated metaphors , verborum bullas & ampullas , wordes of his owne bubled , or botled stampe ; or if thou seest him scribble disioynted phrases , and lame hyperboles , then note him for a vaine-glorious fellow , a phantasticall parrot , a golden asse , led too much with the imaginatiue facultie . if his common talke be of law cases , of lying chronicles , of old wiues fables , or if he rips vp pedegrees , repeating his owne or his kinsmans genealogy to cadwalader , to brutus , to saturne , to noah , in all companies , and at all times of honest mirth , obserue him for an excellent memorie , and vvithall for a notable foole . if he waighs his vvords by the ounce , if hee speakes seldome , or not before a question be asked him , and if he regardeth circumstances , as the dignitie of the person vvith whom he talkes , the place , the time , the nature of the hearers , and the matter of speach , alwayes vsing gods name and authoritie vvith submissiue reuerence , knowing that his omnipotent maiesty heareth euery vvord hee speakes , then marke him for a man of vnderstanding . hee that vvill learne to speake , must first learne to be silent : for as the italian prouerbe teacheth , l'huomo parlando poco e ' annumerato fra i sauij . the man vvhich speakes little ▪ is accounted among the vvise . and as the french-man saith , les foullies plus courtes sont les meilleures , the briefest sheetes are the best . be a man neuer so vvitty , yet if hee parleyes much , his tongue cannot chuse but erre , and trip in some principall points : which ( as another italiaen vvrites ) vvill trouble the stomacke more then ten graines of antimoni● or stibium . conturbano piu lo stomacho que farebbon●●●eci grani de antimonio . so that one vvord out of square may blemish a mans whole reputation , and cause zoylists to descant and sit vpon him perhaps vvhile hee liues . neyther can i excuse the wisest clerkes , that they likewise be not sometimes subiect vnto the spirit of detraction , as that learned lord demonstrates : men though otherwise graue and learned , may erre , eyther by mistaking principles , or giuing too light eare vnto false informations , which are rightly termed the spectacles of errour : for god onely searcheth the heart and raines . but what censure will their owne inckpot senate yeeld of such iesting and iybing , nicking and nipping paedantes , vvhich cannot bridle their vvide mouth'd hackneys , namely , that such persons be but parliamenting parasites , pungitopian peeuish momes , ridiculous readers , bacchanalian parolistes , super-ingenious iayes , superficiall flaunting fooles , letting their tongues runne before their wits , without rime or reason , without matter or methode : for as the wise-man writeth , in many words there cannot want iniquitie . notwithstanding all this , i am not so seuere a cynicke , neque mihi cornea sibra est , nor are my heart-stings so horny and hard-laced , as to banish all manner of delightfull discourses , to deceiue away the time vvithall , for i graunt that a friend , an alter ego , may vvithout impeachment of detraction , or doubt of libelling , vnlocke the cabinet of closest counsels , and secretly conferre vvith his friend about those matters , vvhich to report openly vvere flat against the rules of christian charitie , or ciuill modestie . yea , such is the sugred torture , the sweet tormenting force , the naturall influence of true loue , that the husband cannot conceale from his vertuous wife , nor the wife from the vertuous husband , vvhat nouelties or rumors runne , reuell , and range abroad in their neighbourhood . according to vvhich agrees that italian saying ; ilcaldo del letto dilegua souuente il ghiaccio della taciturnita , the heate of the bed thawes oftentimes the ice of secrecie or taciturnitie . to conclude , vvith this indented couenant i approue the secret scanning of other mens actions among vvise friends , prouided that the same may redound to their mutuall example , that it may serue them for a president or booke-case for the soules edifying , and afterwards that such speaches lye priuily entombed within the coffin of their hearts . lineament . iiii. that patience is policie in detractions . an exhortation to patience . an obiection of the detracted . a confutation . he that is detracted can neuer anger his detractour more , then when he holds his peace with patience , and answeres not againe his slanderous speeches . time weares out the greatest scandall . therefore wise politickes haue patiently dissembled backbitings , making as though they heard them not . for euen as fire vnder the ashes consumes away , but being stirred it kindles , and may doe harme as well as good : so let the man vvhich is deepely and without cause back-bited by the spirit of detraction , and his lying crew take open notice , and noyse abroad the vndeserued slander , it may turne to his discredit , as well as to his credit , by reason that mens natures are so corrupt , suspitious , and guiltie in themselues , that they will easily iudge the worst , and imagine all others to be like vnto themselues ; but in processe of time they will be wearie of one mans obiect , and therefore when other calumniations come in place the former are forgotten , and : ( as fire couered with ashes ) lie quite extinguished . if an asse or colt kicke thee , wilt thou recalcitrate and spurne him againe ? or if another doth torment thee , wilt thou torment thy selfe ? the remembrance of iniuries hurts a man more then the receiuing of iniuries . therefore let not the sunne goe downe vpon thine impatience . and though thou sufferest sathan to looke in at the key-hole of thy heart , yet keepe him out from lodging there . let vs then beare with mens infirmities , if they be not too outragious , let vs blesse them that curse vs , and desire god to conuert their enmitie into amitie . i say , let vs endeauour to conuert them by conuerting their enmitie into a chrisitan-like vse . by this meanes , we shal worke miracles , and cause the vnbelieueds hardned heart to relent and receiue remorce in conscience . a spanish homilist relates out of another authour , whom he termes el gran cassiano , a notable example tending to this purpose . an honest hermite on a time being iniuried by an infidell with this exprobration and blasphemous detraction against his christian profession : que milagros extraordina●ios hize esse tu christo en el mundo ? what extraordinarie miracles did this thy christ so in the world ? he answered , no es harto milagro , que tus blasfemias è iniurias no me offendan , ni me alboreten tus am●naeas ? is not this a sufficient miracle of his , that thy blasphemies and iniurics doe not offend mee , nor thy threatnings moue mee ? the vtility vvhich we get by meditating on our sauiour christ is so admirable , that the remembrance of his miraculous patience enduce vs to tolerate with humility the infirmities of our fleshly brethren . wherefore let vs stop our itching eares from these detractions , euen at the first bound , before they be throughly ingraffed in our hearts . for as there would be no theeues , if there vvere no receiuers : so there would not be halfe so many chattering mouthcs to detract , if there were not so many charmed eares to soke and suck them in . but notwithstanding these pareneticall caueats of mine , thou stumblest againe on the plaine , exclaiming , that it is impossible for flesh and bloud to endure such scandalous detractions . thou canst not tarrie the lords leasure . the clouds hide him , that he cannot see , he walketh in the circle of heauen . o crazed soule , vvhy deprauest thou his eternall knowledge ? if thou be railed vpon for the name of christ , blessed art thou : for the time is come , that punishment must begin at the house of god. if thou sufferest detractions by reason of worldly crosses ' , thou art worse then mad , if thou settest those things by thy heart , vvhich thou oughtest rather to set by thy heeles . thou art not thine owne man nor at liberty , if thou makest such reckoning of transitorie accidents here on earth . it is no meruaile , that the dogges of this vvorld doe barke at thee , for what are we in it but strangers and pilgrimes , expecting daily to be sent for . seges altera in herba est . here we haue no continuing ●itie , but we looke for one to come . we looke for an euerlasting haruest , for an heauenly ierusalem , the foundations of whose walls are garnished with precious stones , whose gates are pearles , whose street is pure gold , as shining glasse , which hath no neede of the sunne , neither of the moone to shine in it , for the greater light extinguisheth the lesser ; the glory of god for euer lightens it , farre brighter then a thousand sunnes & a thousand moones . into which euerlasting citie no malicious detractour , no lier , no impatient spirit , nor any other vncleane thing shall enter . lineament . v. that the spirit of detraction begins to shrinke through the influence of taciturnitie and patience . the spirit of detraction conuicted for broaching out questions of princes soueraignties . that priuate persons ought not to dispute of their prince his dealings . see , how the spirit of detraction begins to shrinke and to sound a retraict ( like socrates his scolding wife , now that the vertues of taciturnitie and patience doe barre thy graue mouth from answere , letting his mallice to haue the last word . see , how hee stands mute , shaking and quaking at the glimpse of these glorious gifts . his lightning is vanished into smoke , & his slanders on a sodaine slackned . to detract from iehouahs name vvith vaine swearing , or from his workes with mens poysoned paradoxes , he confesseth it blasphemie worthy of his bottomlesse pit . no misfortune can happen without our creatours prouidence , nor one haire from our heads without his predestination . the starres thou alone doest stint , most mightie god , euen by sathans owne confession : the meteours thou alone doest sway , in ordering their effects , as it pleaseth thy secret wisedome . when thou sendest out thy thunder and lightning , as harbingers of thy power , who can controule thee ? when thou takest a prey : who can enforce thee to restore it ? who shall say vnto thee , why didst thou thus ? where are yee wizards now , with your witlesse wonders ? while yee auerre some of your constellations and meteours to be kinde vnto vs , and some vnkinde , yee open your mouthes against heauen it selfe , according to that of origen : dum alij stellas beneficas faciunt , alij maleficas , os suum in coelum aperiunt . for all this , our spitefull spirit houers in the aire ouer the heads of our malecontents , and as yet will not descend into his darke home , pretending himselfe priuiledged by the diuels sanctuarie vntill the great day , to tempt the flexible soules of flesh and bloud . true , sathan , true , thou art licensed ( i grant ) to peruert our faith for a vvhile , but not to subuert the same for euer . thy peruerting is but momentanie , as a corrosiue to conuert and to cure the dead rankled flesh . but if this seducing serpent persist to eate into the bone , resist his biting bitternesse , yee seruants of the highest , resist his power , though his words seeme coloured and couered with the purest gold of ophir , though he come disguised vnto you ( like ieroboams wife ) to entrap you by reason of your blindnesse . if he insinuates into you slanderous suggestions concerning your prince his soueraigntie , aduising you to vent them out at your mouthes , least wanting vent , they burst your straight-laced hearts , like vnto the embotteled aire ; coniure him in your sauiours name , and boldly say vnto him , auoid sathan : we must not raile at our superiours , for there is no power but of god , & the powers that be are ordayned of god. cursed be he which curseth the lords annoynted . cursed be hee which detracteth from gods lientenant . but mariana , and his detracting iesuites doe laugh at these positions . it is lawfull ( say they ) to curse and curbe our princes , if priuate mens acts be warranted by publicke iudgement , that is , if ipse dixit my lord the pope , that cannot erre , doe locke them out of the doores of heauen . o heathenish infidelitie ! laugh on yee kingkillars , laugh on for a little while in this earthly world , and yee shall surely weepe in the world to come . dauids heart smote within him , because hee cut but the lap of king sauls garment . and yet our mortified schoolemen , our ghostly romish fathers make no conscience to cut off the heads of our annointed kings , to compare these regicides with renowmed iudith . if reucrent bede were liuing in these dayes , how deadly would hee defie their profane deedes , separating himselfe from their communion ? this action of dauid ( quoth this honest clerke ) doth morally instruct vs , that wee must not smite our princes ( though they wrong vs ) with the sword of our lips , that wee must not in detracting-wise aduenture to teare the hemme of their superfluous deedes . if we approue not the holinesse of their liues , let vs applaud the holinesse of their vnctions . but in my iudgement such questions of princes scepters ought not to be disputed nor called into controuersie , no more then the eternall purpose of god , which is inscrutable , & incomprehensible by mortall men . chiefly , we of the reformed church , to whom god hath sent an vnparalel'd prince , ought not once to conceiue amisse of his royall purpose . or if it otherwise chance , must not we brooke his spots with the like patience , as we brooke an vnseasonable showre of raine , a storme , or an abortiue birth ? the dishonourable things , which a prince doth must be esteemed honourable , or else obserued but with halfe an eye . if we had any iust cause of such complaints , we ought rather to haue recourse to lacobs ladder , to the spirit of prayer , and so by repentance to rectifie our depraued wills , that god may take away his scourge , according to that schoole-mans counsell : tollenda est culpa , vt cesset tyrannorum plaga . in a peaceable common-wealth to set out problemes of this muddie nature , argues no profound policie ; specially , it becomes not meane ministers , or vtopian chymerizing schollers , to busie their braines with princes matters , whose eares and hands are stretcht out at the longest size : auriculas asini mida rex habet — an nescis longas regibus esse manus ? in this case , as in many other , theodore beza ought to be highly magnified , for that being seriously consulted by some seditious sectaries , whether inferiour officers might not lawfully raise armes against their prince , that violates his oath made vnto his subiects , that infringeth their liberties & immunities , that turnes tyrant vnto them , hee teturned this circumspect demur vnto them : we must demur vpon this point , not onely because it is dangerous , specially in this age , to lay open such a window , but also because that we may not determine the state of this question simply as you propose it ; but herein we must consider many waighty circumstances : and therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we deferre our full answere vnto your demand at this instant . but this graue answere suffiseth not the spirit of ' detraction . he broacheth it further : what if such things come to passe ? vvhat if the prince becomes an apostate ? which is as much to say , what if atlas his shoulders should waxe weary of supporting the skye ? capi●mis alaudas . then wee shall haue our labour for our paines . o vanitie of vanities ! doth our heauenly father for his sonnes righteousnesse deliuer priuate persons from sathans slauery , and shall wee distrust his diuine prouidence , that hee will not defend his church both from sathan , and all his instruments , visible and inuisible ? or if our sinnes be so grieuous in his sight , that his wisedome iudgeth it expedient to chastice our wanton wils , to season our luxurious natures with sowre sauce , and by tribulations to prepare roome for the holy ghost in the temple of our soules , shall wee grudge or grieue at his discreet corrections ? is it not his owne saying , that through the bryars of troubles vvee must passe into his heauenly world ? let vs therfore content our selues with sober knowledge , and not cauell and trauell about such mutinous arguments , which , were they in actuall presence , we may sooner wish to auoid , then salue it any other way but by teares and prayers . man proposeth , but god disposeth . he , euen he it is , that treades and tramples downe all tyrannies , that ordereth them for his own glory : he that abridged queene maries life for the propagation of his gospell : that sithence confounded so many attempts of iesuites & traitors , and that now of late sodainely and miraculously discouered the transcendent pouder-plor ; no doubt but hee will still continue his care ouer vs in the midst of our worldly waues , in the heate of our worldly warfare . amen . lineament . vi. the authours scope in this subsequent discourse . the spirit of detraction conuicted in protestants , for exasperating of puritanes in their peruerse humours . the spirit of detraction conuicted in puritanes , for their obstinacie against our ecclesiasticall canons . in the former circles i haue coniured and conuicted the spirit of detraction for the breach of the third commandement : thou shalt not take the name of the lord thy god in vaine . wherein i haue promiscuously touched the principall branches of this blaphemous sinne , i haue taxed outragious and vaine swearing , together with such foule faults , as seeme derogatory to gods titles , attributes , and workes ; to the scandal of our christian liberty : which seem also to confirme the reprobate in their hardnesse of heart . now in this present circle i will proceed to such common vices , that concerne our neighbours , namely , their railing , their runnagate reports , rash suspicions , misconstructions , ostentations , and false verdicts . and specially , i will reproue publicke calumnies . aboue all things , i exhort the reformed catholike , that protesteth to fight against the spirit of detraction , not to giue the least occasion of scandall to schismatickes , whether they be tapists or puritanes , eyther by frumping speeches , or by froward writing . rather pitie their obstinacy , and pray for their conuersions : specially , spare to speake spitefully against these sicke brethren of ours , whom we nick-name puritanes , or holy separatists ( as the ancients vsed to call the impostors of logicke , sophisters , and as we call papists , catholikes ) for what knowest thou , whether god hath not separated them in their mothers wombe to be his adopted seruants in their latter dayes , notwithstanding their crabbed zeale ? what knowest thou , whether the calme dew , which awaiteth on the age of maturitie , may by gods grace coole that ouer-feruent humour of theirs , if they suruiue to see that siluer-age of maturitie ? or if their peruersnesse be such , that they will not then relent , to what end serues thy railing passion , but to exasperate their peeuish mindes , and to confirme them in their errours ? it is noted , that michael the archangell in striuing for the body of moses with the diuel , durst not detract nor dare him by exprobration . gods spirit is meeke , louing , patient , voide of temeritie , and by these holy markes his seruants are discerned : which doctor whitegift , late archbishop of canterbury very discreetly obserued against cartwright , vrging thereby the nature of his impatient spirit . which infallible markes antichrist himselfe out of the heard of swine is forced to confesse , as cardinall baronius of late yeares verified , when hee inuaighed against the petulance and factions of our english seminaries at rome : they bragge much ( saith hee ) of martyrdome , but for ought i see , they beare not the signes of martyrs , of obedience , mildnesse , and humilitie . it is the part of a brother to endeuour his brothers conuersion into the vnitie of peace by gentle meanes , as abraham did to lot ; let there be no strife betwixt thee and mee , for wee be brethren . euen so likewise , seeing that wee agree together in the pure and indiuisible essence of our faith , let not temporall accidents disseuer the same which the holy ghost hath ioyned together ; let vs not grieue this holy spirit of god with our litigious speeches or writings , in comparing those , whom wee name puritanes with iesuites , christs members with the members of antichrist ; nor let vs broach this late surmised detraction , that these our crazed brethren doe conspire with those of the dragons angels , like pilate and herod reconciled , for the coercion and dethroning of kings : for surely such venome neuer issued out of caluins schoole , except they peruert and depraue the same as saint peter speakes of saint pauls epistles . well it may be , that some seditious sectaries to flatter their owne ambition , during the present time , to temporize , and to bleare old iacobs eyes , haue dipped iosephs coate in beasts bloud , but i neuer heard , that they euer imbrued their hands in iosephs owne bloud . well it may be , that they being flesh and bloud as well as others , haue repined , fretted and vttered some slanderous speaches in their malecontented moodes against their superiours in authoritie , onely about church-policie , not sticking to affirme , that notwithstanding their canonicall constitutions , they would still perseuer in their peeuish positions : but i neuer heard , that they complotted to commit any crying sinne , to strangle a mans being in nature . but what ? shall the puritane then detract at his pleasure without contradiction ? no , god forbid : hee must conforme himselfe to the identitie of the spirit , to the vniforme harmony of heauens musicke , least otherwise in following the self-opinion of his owne vnexperienced braine , not gathering with his maister christ , he scatter , and sincke in the midst of his muddy pond . to this end i beseech thee ( deere christian brother ) in the presence of god that gaue his sonnes body among vs , not peremptorily to be slaine againe , nor to be diuided into parcels , but spiritually , heauenly , and entire to communicate the same to the poorest as well as to the greatest : that thou , o diseased soule , doe hearken vnto thy physicians voyce , that thou humble thy thoughts and words towards thy brother in christ , not vsurping to thy selfe alone , as a selfe-seeming saint , his vndiuided body , which was also crucified for other penitents . god help vs , the very best of vs all , from the prince to the beggar is full of vncleannesse . yea , the angels of heauen are vncleane in his sight , and in respect of his perfection . the worme of conscience tels me , that my puritie consists rather in the forgiuenesse of my sinnes , then in the puritie of my vertues . submit therefore thy sturdy man vnto thy inward man. subdue thy golias , calonem illum carnosum , thy massie and proud tower of flesh vnto thy little lord , thy spirituall dauid ; and then submit both of them in things apocryphal and indifferent , not concerning thy soules saluation , vnto the scepter of mens authoritie . offer vp thy soule vnto god by faith , as an holy priest-hood , and a spirituall sacrifice in iesus christ. offer vp thy body in temporall matters , in ciuill policie to the gods of the earth . lineament . vii . the spirit of detraction conuicted for repining at our christian neighbours of scotland . the said spirit conuicted for detracting from our countrey-men of wales . yee noble saxon spirites tell me , what is the reason , that yee beare some secret emulation in the closets of your hearts towardes your christian brethren , borne in the same iland , vnder the same prince , the same faith ? was it not inough for you to bereaue them of the fertile fieldes of loegria , and to banish them amidst the craggie mountes , amidst the horride rockes of this northren zone , but ye must deride and defame them with your ironicall items , your ridiculous girdes ? now all coniectures are winded to the bottome . the fatall chaire of scotland , which your victorious edward transported to the abbey of westminster is restored againe into the possession of a scottish prince , nay of a brittish prince , of a right christian prince , and that with your consent , with gods assent . now there is no cause to reedifie that famous wall from sea to sea , which the romaine emperour built vpon the frontiers of both kingdomes . applaud , yee english , this happie vnion . congratulate this luckie lot . henceforth ye need not keepe watch and ward at your posterne gate . detract not therefore from your christian neighbours for his glorious sake , whom the father hath appointed to be the head of your corporation whether they be iewes or gentiles , scottish , walsh , or irish , bond or free , so that they concurre with you in the same religion , see that yee loue them as your selues ; and let not the diuell separate those , whom god hath ioyned together . perhaps the idiome of their speech their thicke pronounciation displeaseth your delicate cares , because ( like ephramites ) they cannot so distinctly vtter your filed shibboleth , because they cannot runne away with their words so glib● , so smooth , nor so elegantly as your selues . after this manner did the athenians inuaigh against anacharsis that famous s●ythian : but what answere did hee retort them ? speeches ought not to be termed bad , while they comprehended good counsels , while honest deeds accompanied their words . this also the apostle corroborates , requiring preachers not to come with excellency of words , to shew the testimony of god vnto the people . and this hee proues by a diuine reason , intimating , that the word of god consisteth not in the enticing words of mens wised●me , but in the euidence of the spirit and of power . but these scruples are too triuiall for men of vnderstanding . away then with such idle phantasies : away with such panick peeuish doubts . blesse we the authour of our vnion , which hath incorporated two christian kingdomes , constituting an eternall league of amitie betwixt vs by his own personall presence , by the maiestie of his birth : so that wee may boldly bid s. george , s. andrew , s. dauid , s. ' patricke to auaunt . auaunt , adieu ye sinnefull saints , and in their stead , come , come thou the onely true and sacred saint , lord iesus , to whom all other saints doe crowch and kneele for mercy . our cambrian cause comes next . for the same reason embrace our plaine societie ; speake well of vs , the poore remnants of the ancient britaines : and let not the prophecies of our bardhs dismay your generous mindes , that we one day shal lord it in troy-nouant , measuring your silken stuffes vpon our warlike ' pikes : that we shall worke our full reuenge , for that dismall and bloudy long-kniu'd day . these prophecies are already expired , but in a mysticall manner . haue not diuers of our nation beene elected mayors in your chiefe cities , and so triumphed for their due deserts ? i will not say , how austen the monk subiected your ancestours to the romis● yoake ; how swaine with his danes , and william with his normanes swayed ouer your persons , goods , and lands ; how your owne members haue beene torne among your selues through ciuil discord , when york and lancaster set vp their flags of red and white roses : ambo pares rosulas , & pila minantia pilis . though these misfortunes of yours might well satisfie a reuengefull spirit , yet will not i insist on such cruell augurismes ; but rather reioyce , that vnder the same prince , vnder the same lawes , the same liberties , wee ioyne together in our spirituall offices : i reioyce , that the memoriall of offaes ditch is extinguished with loue and charitie ; that our greene leekes , sometimes offensiue to your daintie nostrils , are now tempred with your fragrant roses : that ( like the gibeonites ) we are vnited and graffed into israel . god giue vs grace to dwell together without enuy , without detractions . lineament . viii . the spirit of detraction conuicted in aduocates and counsellours at law , for putting on a good face on bad causes . the authours resolution on the behalfe of honest lawyers . it is no small slander in our christian corporation , when our aduocates and counsellours at law , for the greedinesse of a little worldly mucke , doe put their tongues to sale , and polish their wits , purposely to colour a foule cause with faire speaches , to make that seeme tolerable before the tribunall seate of iustice , which they in their consciences know to be intolerable . this in very deed is a scandall to the weale-publike , to the spirit of god , which through the prophets mouth thundred out this terrible curse against such lewde practisers , cursed be yee which speake good of euill , and euill of good . this kinde of dealing is likewise rebuked by the wiseman : hee that iustifieth the wicked , and hee that condemneth the iust ; they both are abhominable vnto god. for certainely , were it not , that these instruments of sathan did patronize our enuious aduersaries by backing them in their base proiects , they durst not beard the sonnes of iustice so long as they doe●nay , were it not that they so boldly bolster and beare out ill matters , the reuerend iudges of this land need not lose halfe so many nights of sleepe , turmoyling their braines in the search of truth , least they wrong the partie innocent . whereto i might adde , how these wainescot lawyers in concealing and couering the carriage of such lewde members , doe aggrauate and augment the nature of their sinnes , which otherwise through the prickles of flesh & bloud , through the smart of shame they would forgo , submitting themselues to the rod of correction . for there is no better remedie to kill sinne and cure the soule , then to suffer the sinner to sustaine for his sinne some punishment by shame , griefe , or other meanes . what auailes it me to gaine a world of wealth , and within a short while after to leaue behind mee both my wealth and this world ? better it is to sup a messe of pottage with securitie , then to feede on the daintiest cates with hazard . admit that clients load me with golden fees for setting out a brazen face on damned causes : admit that all my life time i haue glutted my gut vvith fruit of paradise : yet if i dare not appeare in the presence of god , but am forced to hide my selfe ( as , where can i hide my selfe from his all seeing maiestie ) and to howle for very feare and anguish yee mountaines fall vpon me , yee rockes couer me , what shall my fees and fruit then profit me ? what good shall i get by them , vvhen death dogges me at the heeles ? when my pulses shall faintly beat , my sences faile , and my eye-lids shut , neuer more to open , vntill they shall see the gates of new ierusalem shut fast against their wretched maister ? o remember this , all yee , that leane to mamm●n , all yee , that loue shadowes better then substance , and falshood better then truth . for mine owne part , though i am but young , yet i haue obserued somewhat ; i know as many trickes and quillets to entangle men , as another doth ; i know diuers meanes to circumuent them , that happily thinke themselues as wise as my selfe , like vnto that italian , which boasted he knew so many deuises to get money , as there be dayes in the yeare ; but i protest before him that made me , i would chuse to be murthered , rather then to vse them in my greatest need . such is the resolution of my soule , or as a friend of mine lately termed it , the tendernesse of my conscience , that i fouly scorne to play the part of a mercenarie mechani●ke with my brother in christ. i fouly scorne to nourish contentions for mine owne aduantage . for how dare i claime my selfe to be of the same fraternitie , within the circle of charitie , within the vnion of the holy ghost , if i deale not plainely with my neighbour , if i speake not the truth from my heart without equiuocation ; nay , if i meane not plainely vnto him ? let this resolution of mine serue as an apologie , to excuse my retirednesse for not exercising that profession , in whose titles i sometimes gloried , though most vnworthily . lineament ix . the authours inuocation to the deitie for pardoning the p●●alance of his spleene in this present lineament . that iudges and executioners of iustice of all others , are most wanton'y detracted by our swaggering libertines ; wherein their vanitie is censured by the authour ; and also their craking genealogies are controuled . the cariage of iudges towards such detracting sycophants . an admonition to iudges , not to respect taunting tongues . another admonition vnto them not to rayle and reuile at their inferiours . others galled to the quicke vvith the multiplicitie of their owne enormities , by the instigation of this spirit of detraction , doe in their merriment scatter abroad many alehouse-iests , and gibes , against the fathers of their countrey , which spare no paines in the foulest night , to keepe watch and ward ( as vigilant sentinels ) for their safety and successe . these detestable detractions destilling from the streame of their vnruly passions , i vvill moderately taunt and attaint of empoisoned malice , mixtis veneno sontibus , all their well-springs being alreadie tainted with noisome venome . wherein if i exceed after the manner of flesh and bloud , barre thou the inundation of my running braine , bridle the mouth of mine vnderstanding , and manacle my swift-offending hand , o fierie influence of the incomprehensible deitie , by whose impulsiue inspiration all humble wits are moued to raise vp their stumbling neighbours out of the bogs and mire , yea though they were falne vp to their very neckes . time out of memorie they claime prescription of swinish shapes . why may not they do that which seemes good in their owne eyes ? being borne free , true troianes , true gentlemen , lineally discended without disparagement from great garagantua , whose olde auncestour ( as that lucian of france scoffing rabelais reported ) was the first that euer plaid at dice with spectacles on his nose . why should these puritane iustices direct forth their warrants for men as good as themselues euery day of the weeke , as well working dayes as sundayes ? it is a strange case to heare how the spirit of detraction domineeres it like a braggadochian caualeere , and how his foolish followers swagger it through the whole cloath with swearing and forswearing by no beggars brats , that if they had some store of coine , they would shoulder halfe a dozen iustices out of the commission . their lips are their owne , they say , and they may vse their tongues to many purposes , like the papists spirit of aequinocation , or like the delphick sword , to cut , to hack , to file , to saw , to wound a man , and againe to heale the same wound , conformable to that : lingua canis medicus , the dogs tongue is a surgeon . it is a strange case to heare these roisting ruffians amidst their tobachanales , and bidale banquets , boasting of their greazie gentrie without controulement or contradiction : vvhen as ( perhaps ) they cannot name one knight , esquire , or any gentleman of degree in their pettie pedegree to the third or fourth generation . at the period of which time ( euen by the consent of clarentius , or of any other prince at armes ) their imaginarie or chymerizing patent of gentilitie weares out of date , like vnto guilt spurres , vnlesse the same be renewed , regilt , varnisht , or enam●l'd for some vertuous cause by the king ; from whom , as the moone and starres become enlightned from the sunne , as the sunne from god : so receiue they their originall , confirmation , and comprobation of nobilitie from the prince of their countrey . but this is certaine , no man whatsoeuer builds or babbles of such outward ornaments of nature or fortune , which indeede are none of his , but his auncestours , as sir phillip sidneyes moate implied out of ouid : vix ea nostra voco , i say no man boasts of such temporall he●reloomes , but onely hee , which lackes the inward man in his heart , or some morall motion in his soule . or put the case they could by some reputed record of an hireling herald , deriue themselues by so many lines and branches , as there be dayes in the yeare , to la●celot du lake , king arthurs famous champion , to rodericke the great , or to some noble british prince before the romaine , saxon , or norman conquest : what other additions among the sonnes of vertue , deserue such detracting dawes of aesope , then ofscald squires , or of plaine gentlemen in the positiue degree without either welt or garde , crosse or pile . true gentrie scornes to brag , to barke , to backbite , to braue it out in time of peace , when cloakes doe yeeld to gownes , when ciuill conference is expected , and cruell vaunts exil●d into sathans cell , there to rest , vntill the warre-like drummes summon them to try their quarrels in the open field against their countries enemies , with hands and not with tongues , vvith swords and not with words , vvith pikes and not with pens . a gentleman is discerned by his gentle manners , and a vvise man by his sparing speech . noble is that french saying , la vert● seulement sait la noblesse , car il y a de nobles v●laines , ●t de vilains nobles . vertue onely makes nobility , for there are noble clownes and clownish nobles . there is no begger but he is descended from some prince , nor any prince but he is descended from some begger or plow-man . for when adam delu'd and eue span , where was then the gentleman ? god gaue to all men one and the same beginning , and the same end , dust in their creation , dust in their graues , frailety in the wombe , frailety in the tombe . to make a complete conclusion to these gentlemen detractours ( for you must vnderstand , that the spirit of detraction stands very much vpon his gentrie ) it may be also , that within these two or three hundred yeares one ▪ of their great auncestors , whom by the way they repeat in their genealogies from their demigorgons , i would say demi-gods , might come in at the window indirectly : for many grosse and grieuous alterations haue hapned vvithin the compasse of that time vnto great potentates and states , much more to priuate families . and this is very likely to be true , when antichrist and infidelitie vsurped throughout all this countrey , that baal priests being flesh and bloud ▪ as other men , and also hauing mens consciences superstitiously at command , might likewise haue the body of cambrian candaules his wife at their vnchast command , as well as that holy-seeming hermit , vvho vnder the colour and opportunitie of auricular confession , compelled his owne prince and the chiefest nobles of his court , to sing and sound out the olde cuckoes note to all the vvorlds hearing . therefore let christians contemne such childish comparisons of gentilities . and let them glory in nothing more then in the crosse of their redemption , whereto the neerer that they be , the nobler is their birth , as men newly borne and pertakers of loue , charitie , faith , and of other spirituall ornaments , that goe beyond all the symbolized ensignes of temporall heralds . out of vvhich circumstances collect , o christian soule , this one embleme diuinely embellished : the neerer to true charitie , the neerer to nobilitie . howsoeuer these fly-blowes of the spirit of detraction be allowed or disallowed to blazon armes , it is the part of a magistrate to beare a lyons heart , that he shrinke not in iust causes , nor respect the magnificall thunders of the spirit of detraction , more then the prostrate petitions of the spirit of humilitie . be he midas , or be hee codrus , be hee noble or be hee base , iustice must take place . therefore the poets record , that iustice hath neither father nor mother : likewise , they report , that iuno through her wealth , venus through her beautie , mars through his threats , and mercurie through his eloquence , hauing all of them conspired against iupiter , and yet not able to thrust him out of heauen , implied no other sence or morall thereby , then that a man of vertue could by no meanes , either for wealth , beautie , threates , or eloquence , be diuerted or turned aside from iustice. it is the part of a magistrate to vse that royall vertue magnanimitie for his chiefest support against detracting hamans , and deprauing semeies , and as a learned bishop of portugall describes , a magnanimous man though he see all the world eagerly bent against him , and though he see euery thing round about set on fire , yet hee through an assured confidence will continue constant . it is the part of a magistrate to imitate that resolute iudge in henry the fourths time , which feared not to commit into the kings bench victorious henry prince of wales , rather then those officers of iniustice , vvhom , another king of england vpon his returne from outlandish countries , displaced from their high commands , after their examinations by vertuous earles ; or then these corrupt iudges , whom cambyses caused to be flayed , and their skinnes , as monuments of terrour to be hanged vp in the fore-front of his palace . it is the part of a magistrate to esteeme the vvindie detractions of licentious libertines , who with presumptuous language dare brute abroad , that they can by their supposed familiaritie with noble personages vncommission ( or to vse their owne words vnsaddle ) any iustice of his iustice ship , i say it is his part to esteeme such derogatorie speaches , no otherwise then for brauadoes of a brided braine , or bragging vaunts of vpstart groomes , onely to daunt pusillanimous meacocks , vvhich neuer saw the lyons in the tower , nor vnderstand the truescope , at which the state of england aimes . euen as i neuer knew any man in all my life despised for his silence and sparing speach : so likewise i neuer knew any man degraded of his authoritie for his zealous endeauours on the kings behalfe . wherefore let this stand for a watch-word to our countrey iustices , that they be not terrified from well-doing , with the swaggering on-sets of craking crocodiles . let them put on the armour of patience , and the spirit of detraction will in time burst asunder like the babilonians god. let them but for a while stand still , and these thrasonicall rhodomontes , will voluntarily surrender vp the cudgels . their nature is to begin as men , and to end as women , to come in as thunder , and to goe out as smoke to boast of loftie things at first , and to faint at last vnder their owne burthen . for truth is great and will preuaile . then feare not yee proud hamans wrath , for ye execute not the iudgements of man , but of god , as king iehosaphat encouraged his iudges . ye need not doubt of your priace his countenance , as long as ye walk vprightly , and as long as fame the worlds great trumpetour sounds out that noble distick in your commendations : nec prece , nec pretio , nec pondere diuitis aur● , nec quicquam tumidis flectitur ille minis . nor with faire words , nor with rich bribing gold , they moued are , nor yet with threatnings bold . wherein then can they harme you ? in vncharitable lectures , in rayling , in reuiling , in reuealing their owne dregs , and as the apostle writes : in foming out their owne shame , like the raging waues of the sea ? let this be the vpshot of all your thoughts , as i said before , that no man vvhatsoeuer can escape the tempests of detracting tongues . it is an antient adage , that a barking dogge seldome bites , and that the deepest riuers runne with least noise , vvhy will yee therefore doubt these clattering clappers ? aboue all things i could wish , that those whom the kings matestie by the recommendation of his graue counsell , golden m●uthed nestors , and sage chrysostomes , hath nominated to sit in the tribunall throne of iustice , that they behaue themselues with more ciuilitie in their ordinarie speaches towards the inferiour family of christs church not nick-naming the vilest wretch , seeing that such deserue rather to be pitied or else punished after some other way . michaell the archangell reuiled not the diuell , albeit that he was worthy of millions of curses , and of a world of taunts . if wee be tyrants towards our inferiours . what sauours ought wee to expect at the hands of our chiefe superiour , which regardeth an humble contrite minde , more then all the sacrifices in the vvorld and vvhich confounds all haughty hot-spurres in their owne imaginations and vaine deuises ? to be short , imprint yee this lesson firmely in your hearts : cum sueris iudex , miti sis corde mem●nto : dicito quae possint dicta decereseneim . be milde and meeke in iudgement seat , and speake no words in passions heat ; but , as a graue and auntient iudge , speake without wrath , speake without grudge . lineament . x. that a true christian ought not to detract from the iudges of his countrey , though they wrong him . that no mortall man liues exempted from man fold crosses . what vexations besall to iudges themselues . detract not from the iudges of thy countrey , though they behaue themselues not so cleanly in their offices as they ought . but perswade thy quiet conscience , that the highest iudge beholdeth their corruptions from his heauenly pharos or watch-towre of knowledge , and that sometime or other , vvhen it shall seeme best vnto his prouident maiestie , hee vvill eyther plague them by immediate iudgements from heauen , or else hee will raise vp some sinister fortune here on earth , in reuenge of their enormious liues : for this is a principall maxime in diuinitie , that euery creature is offended with vs , when our creator is offended vvith vs. offenso creatore , offenditur omnis creatura . as long as thou sweepest and keepest thine owne closet neat and cleane , and carriest thy conscience vvithout guilt or guile , what matters it to thee , how other men demeane themselues ? cannot rich men weare what new-fangled apparrell best likes their franticke fancie ? thou must onely accompt for thine owne bailiwick . the number of the vniust haue euer exceeded the number of the iust ; and if these be condemned by iniurye , the other shall one day be condemned by iustice. the case thus depending , thou oughtest to pit●ie the essentiall and eternall losse of their soules , rather then to detract from the accidentall and momentary qualities of their bribed minds thou oughtest rather to consider their future calamities , then to commaculate their present fame with carping calumnies i am flesh and bloud , thou sayest , and cannot endure that the blacke oxe shall alwayes tread on my tender foot . they haue shamed me with committing mee to newgate , to bridewell , to bocardo , and to those lodges of infamie , vvhich are fitter for rogues , then for righteous men , for villaines , then for vertuous persons . o vvorldly creature ! vvherefore camest thou into this vvorld ? camest thou hither to liue for euer , or to liue a life of tryall or probation for a vvhile , vntill thine owne merits in the merits and mercy of christ , had purchased thee a perpetuall place in heauen ? art thou in an earthly prison ? giue god thankes , that hee respects thy soule , thy noblest part . for nothing drawes man to meditate on his dutie towards god more then pinching paines , more then the imprisonment of his body , when the minde may waike at libertie , and contemplate the rarest magazins of truths secrets . in my iudgement , thou oughtest to glorifie god the more , to gratifie thy foes the more ( if foes they be , which send thee towards heauen ) now that thou feelest with thy body and soule the true crosse , vvhich before thou did protest , promise and professe as a christian , but in bare wordes , to follow , nay to embrace during thy probationship . thy detractions ( as thou againe alleadgest ) are not causelesse : for thou art condemned causelesse and vnworthily to tortures , to tormenting paines . the pittilesse iudges , haue adiudged thee to iron bolts , to pillories , to be vsed like a rogue , to be made a spectacle vnto all the vvorld . o true crosse , true christian crosse , which our righteous sauiour hath borne before vs. hee vvas buffetted , hee was scourged , his head was bloudyed with a crowne of pricking thornes ; yea , and his precious body was pierced with a speare , and nayled to the crosse with cruell curses , mockes , and sloutes , and dost thou repine to imitate thy glorious maister ? no seruant is greater then his maister . thinke vpon iosephs state , how his body vvas vniustly captiuated , how his innocent feet vvere galled vvith stockes and fetters therefore content thy selfe , and god vvill release thee of thy smarting griefes . doe but examine aright the true course and occurrence of this world , and thou shalt finde that thy tormentours themselues are not free from some casuall crosse or other , and that alwayes as long as they liue . when they were yong , they complained of their parents rule ouer their vnrulinesse , they complained of aches in their heads and teeth , of itches , of kibes , and other infirmities : they complained of their schoolemasters scourge , of his fearuler , of his checks and chidings . when nature clothed their chinnes with beards , or hairie fleeces , their false ioyes vvere daily salted vvith choller , with enuy , with melancholicke fittes . their bodyes vvere perplexed with maladies of sundry sorts , vvith burning feauers , or such like sicknesses . their mindes vvere assayled vvith multitudes of cares , with discontentments or discourtisies of friends , of followers , or of their owne meniall people . when their hoary age crept in , which of it selfe is an incurable sicknes nullis medicabilis herbis , then likewise a world of troubles pursues them hourely at their very heeles , nay i vvould say at their backes , in their backes , in all the parts of their bodyes . now they grone and mone vvith dolour of the chollicke , the stone , and vvith continuall aches in their decayed ioynts , and as the poet wrote : — tunc cum lapidosa chiragra fregerit articulos , veteris ramalia fagi . the knottie cramping gout their ioynts doe gripe about : which like old beechen boughes , it breakes with often throwes . another vvhile the ptisicke caused through a long catarre consumes their corrupted wind-pipes , or else their filthy mouthes , which sometimes spued vp most filthy spe●ches , doe now spit out whole gobbets of flegme , like stincking oysters . others againe haue not that benefit , but languishing with wearied breath , they faint vnder their long continued oppilations , which the former poet painted out in this most liuely verse : gutture sulphure as l●ntè exhala●te mephitet . their throates exhaling lazily sulphureous smels full lothsomely . what shall i speake of promooters of pettifogging lawyers , or of cauelling neighbours , which like caterpillers , rats , and vile vermine , molest them with wrongfull suites , forcing them to trauell testaque l●t●que , through thicke and thinne , in great ieopardie of their liues , to consume all their money to the very bottome of their pu●ses , and to ●r●t them to the very bottome of their hearts . i will passe ouer , how iudges themselues are also vexed ; one while their vnnaturall sonnes disquiet them ; and how another while their owne wiues vphold factions in their owne houses against them . one while their credit is iustly called in question by their emulous companions , another while they are slandered with those things which they neuer once thought , no nor drearned of . thus god rewards them with the talion law , with like for like , after the example of adonibezeck who somtimes hauing threescore & ten kings vvith their thombes and great toes cut off , and gathering their crums & meat vnder his table , was at the last apprehended himselfe by the tribe of i●da , and had his owne thombes and great toes cut off , worthily perishing by tortures of his owne inuention , like as the inuenter of the brazen bull was adiudged by the tyrant phalaris first to try the torments . which also moued adonibezeck to brust out into these complaints ; as i haue done , so god hath done to me againe . to what end serue thy detr●ctions , when as thou seest them already tossed , toiled and turmoiled with infinit vexations ? lineament . xi . the reply of the spirit of detraction , to the premisses . an answere to the said reply out of the rules of policie fit to be obserued of pecuish preachers . the benefit that comes to a true christian by detracting tongues , where the spirit of detraction is conuicted with his owne sorce . these words of mine , replies another punie or pupill of the detracting spirit , sauour of a sermon stile , fitter for the pulpet then for geometrical circles ; for a preacher then for a pryer into spirits ; for the inward man , which must prepare himselfe for the other world , rather then for the outward man , which must suite and sort himselfe to the humorous spirits of this present world . tread vpon a worme and the worme will turne againe . musca habet splenem , & formicae sua bilis in●st . the little flie hath her spleene , and the humour of choller is incident to the emmet . how can a man of reason brooke to be continually crossed by his colltages and fellow-officers in his zealous endeuours ? how can a man chuse but vvhet his tongue to taunt their partiall actions ? these allegations , i confesse , are somewhat sensible : yet neuerthelesse leo non capit muscam , the lion scornes the flie with her silly spleene . men of reason must not altogether imitate creatures without reason , chiefly in matters of no import . sometimes wee must ( whether wee will or no ) gaze vpon a painted vvall , as paul termed ananias . sometimes wee must play the arichmeticians , imploying the helpe of ciphers to make vp our number . sometimes wee must dally with children to still them from whining and weeping . and so sometimes must the wisest man conceale his wisedome , he must change his speach ( as dauid did before the king of gath , he must faigne himselfe mad , he must scrabble on the doores , and let his spettle fall downe vpon his beard . stultitiam simulare loco prudentia summa est . sometimes we must obey the importunitie of the time : yet so that we commit not pernitious euill , to the intent that good may ensue thereof . wee must seeme to yeeld at first in the lesser causes vnto this spirit of contradiction , that men may yeeld to vs in matters of greater consequence . as for example , if thou goest about to conuert a iew , thou must not begin with detractions and inuectiues against circumcision , against his weake conscience for abstayning from swines flesh or blacke puddings . if thou labourest to turne a papist from his superstitious heresies , rebuke not his sect for the diuine vertue of continence , for their vow of chastitie , for the monasticall or single liues of hermites , monkes , friers , nunnes , and other religious votaries . oppose not thy speach against his abstinence from meates , seeing hee that feedes onely on sallets , rootes , or fruit , may be saued and iustified , as well as he , which onely eateth flesh or fish . in fine , crosse not his gored minde with carping at the signe of the crosse , or at any things indifferent , while they redound not to deadly sinnes against his patient maiestie . herein some iesuites deserue to ride in the chariot of ouation , of a little triumph , namely for their humiliation & prudent care in wearing the robes and habites of the pagan priests of china , whom they terme bunzies , without which no forraigner whatsoeuer might soiourne in that politique countrey . but vnder this venerable and vnsuspected habite father riceius , and others may certainely reduce many of that populous nation to the christian religion , as long as they seeke to edifie without idolatrie , and not to intermeddle with points of state , as they pretend in europe . in like manner , thou that grieuest thy selfe , for that thy fellowes in office doe hinder thy iust proceedings , for countenancing litigious & lewd liuers against thee , if thou canst not otherwise then by passionate speaches redresse thy wrongs , be sure not to gaine-say them in light or in indifferent causes . in so doing , thy very foes will admire thy patience , and ( perhaps ) at length they will ioyne vvith thee to suppresse common vices , which are such eye-sores vnto thy zealous conscience . doe not we daily see , that the peeuishnesse of a few raw , and vnexperienced ministers doe scandalize the state wherein they liue , & minister an aduantage to the enemie of insulting , and also fall themselues into greater labyrinthes , then they are able to wind themselues out againe ? their obstinate standing out against their elders and superiours for wearing of the surplice , the outward cognisance or badge of innocence , to separate the milke-white lambs from the rude , rough , and vnruly goates , what profit haue they reaped by these and such like refractarie murmurs ? none at all , but confusion and opprobrious shame . there is nothing more dangerous then to be selfe opinionated against the experimented rules of the churches reuerend sheepheards vvhose graue and gray lockes haue wonne authentick authoritie and canonicall obedience to their constitutions , customes , and vvholesome documents . there is nothing more discommodious then to build vpon a mans owne knowledge , as vpon a demonstration infallible , and to gaine-say an humorous spirit in the time of his fit . for these causes , o thou whose conscience groanes vnder a countries waight , let thy vertue domineere ouer their luke-warme labours , thy patience ouer their passions , and thy taciturnitie ouer their detractions , that the world and common voyce may canonize thy well-doing , and adiudge them thy inferiours in iustice , though they be thine equals in office ; that whatsoeuer is vprightly done , they may ascribe to thee , and what is iniuriously done , they may imputet their insolent contradictions . is it not then lawfull to beat and beare downe the spirit of detraction with his owne enuenomed vveapons ? may not a man repell force with force , words with words , checks with checks , chiding with chiding ? if they backbite , cannot i returne the like ? it is impossible , but that the mildest natured man should become somewhat impatient , seeing himselfe punished with obloquies , ignominies , and reproaches without cause . immerito veniens pana d●lenda venit . o sick soule how bitter are thy words , more bitter then wormewood and gall ! canst thou not for a while , for a little while , attend the lords leasure ? though toades doe croake in summer , yet they will lie still and silent in the winter . though these rhodomontes doe crake this yeare , they will be glad to liue at rest the next yeare . for those slanders , that are purchased for vertues sake , can neuer last long , or euer blemish a vertuous man ; nay , rather they deserue the title of honour , chiefly , if they proceed from wicked mouthes . regium est male audire . it is a royall thing to be ill spoken of . howbeit , i confesse it is burthensome to the conscience , if the slander be deriued by vngodly occasions . it is momentarie , if it spring by casualtie . but it is ioyous and welcome , if it comes for iustice sake . all haile then , o glorious slander , right welcome be thy blazing blast vnto the sonnes of vertue . welcome be thy foot-steps vnto the threshold of iustice. o necessarie curbe of correction , which art purchased at the dearest price . for what dearer price can there be then the losse of a good name ? that , which fooles repute an infamie , reckon thou for reputation : for what nobler reputation can you reape , then to resemble the apostle saint paul , who being slandred , did neuerthelesse reioyce in the testimonie of his owne guiltlesse conscience ? thy eares are vexed with the clacking noise of a tickling tongue . and doe not often ringing of bels , of passing bels , sometimes disquiet that sence of thine ? thy heart is wounded and stabd with a tormenting tongue . but what wound , what stab with steele the soule can kill ? such wounds , such stabs can neuer harme but humble thee . marke how the proudest man aliue becomes humbled after that hee receiueth wounds . the like benefit comes by detraction . by the stings thereof the haughtinesse of our natures is humbled . by the venome thereof , as by the speare of that warlike heros , which healed the selfe same wound it gaue , our spirituall wounds are cured and abated . through the consideration of these antidotes against detractions , temper the manifold malapertnesse of thy tongue , of thy tempting tongue , of thy tickling tongue , of thy tatling tongue , thy taunting tongue , thy vaunting tongue . thy iesting tongue , thy gibing tongue , thy iarring tongue , thy warring tongue , thy checking tongue , thy chiding tongue , thy clattering tongue , thy clacking tongue , thy carping tongue , thy babling tongue , thy boasting tongue , thy blazing tongue , thy blaspheming tongue , thy rai●ing tongue , thy reuiling tongue , thy scoffing tongue , thy scolding tongue , thy nicking tongue , thy nipping tongue , thy quipping tongue thy tripping tongue , thy defaming tongue , thy detracting tongue ; temper the phreneticall furie of this little tyrant , of what other inclination so euer it be ; and whet it not against thy neighbour , whom baptisme hath regenerated and adopted to the selfe same heritage , as well as thy selfe . say with that noble french man : du mesdisant la langue venimeuse et du flateur les propos ●mmielez , et du mocqueur les brocardes enfielez , et du maling la pursuite animeuse . from sycop● an●s , and their foule pois'ned quips , from flatterers , and their smooth-honied lips , from democrites , and their gall-stinging bookes , from hypocrites , and their dissembling lookes , good lord deliuer vs. lineament . xii . the spirit of detraction conuicted for censuring men for their poucrtie . birth . bodily imperfections . deride no man for his pouertie , for a man of faith is onely rich . hee that is poore in worldly wealth , hath no superfluous cares to with-hold his mind from spirituall exercises . while thou gluttest with gurmandize , stalkest with state , walkest with wantons , swaggerest with swash-bucklers , swearest with swaggerers , and detractest with detractours , the poore man fasteth and prayeth , yeelds euery man his due , he liues not in feare of theeues , nor of oppression for his goods cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator . the same god that made him poore , may make thee poore : for it is his sunne that shines vpon poor● and rich . he , euen he it is , that exalteth the humble and meeke , and scattereth the proud in the imaginations of their hearts . if thy neighbour be not as well descended as thy selfe . but basely borne , contemne him not with contumelious speaches in charging his birth with contagious sinne . the very best of vs all ( as the prophet dauid testified ) was conceiued in sinne and borne in sinne . but through our cleansing by baptisme , our soules become purified , and so doth the bas●st borne bastard . better it is for a man to be the head of his kinne , as ●icero was , then to be the last of his kinne , as catiline was . better it is to be the vertuous sonne of a vicious father , then to be the vicious sonne of a vertuous father : for a man is not accountable for his birth but for his behauiour and conuersation in hi●liuing . therefore that vncharitable detracting distick deserues the fagot : spur●s ille puer nullum suadebit honestum : na●us adulterio , semper adulter erit . when thou beholdest one that is crumpshouldred , lame , or otherwise distorted and deformed in his body , laugh him not to scorne , nor iest at his infirmities . for he that is deformed in his body , may conceale a generous spirit within , like vnto a tottered ship , which containes within it more goods then tenne such ships are worth . consilio pollet cui vim natura negauit . obserue the contrarie subiect , and tell me how many proper bodies hast thou scene without defects in their mindes ? in my iudgement , none but fooles euer gloried in their bodies constitutions , strength , or power ; wherein the horse the asse , and other beasts goe farre beyond mankind . the regard whereof causeth vs to require bodily force in a labourer , and wisedome of the minde in a commander . the body is earthly , carnall , fraile . the house , nay rather the prison of the soule , which indeed is heauenly , noble , permanent , and created after gods owne likenesse both in the essentiall vnion and in the trinarie subsistence . a body is not to be termed crooked or crazed , as long as it lodgeth an vpright soule , and harboureth an honest heart . aesope was crooke-backt , and yet admirable for his wit. tyrtaeus the poet was lame and yet chosen generall of the lacedemonians . innumerable persons there are whose bodily deformitie god doth recompence with large measure of spirituall gifts , supplying that place one way , which wanteth in another way : so that this saying is true , deus nihil fecit frustra . god created nothing in vaine , no not the craggiest mountaine made hee without some profitable vse for mans good . perhaps there lurkes a goodly mine , or at the worst milstones or quarries of tile , lime , or such like . others againe haue imperfections in their eye-sights , whom the spirit of detraction followes with girdes and floutes : wherein who can but smile ? spectatum admiss● risum teneatis amici ? in hearing blinde-minded people mocking at blindebodied people ? a man in diuinitie is not held to be blinde , except he liue in darknesse of errours , which altogether blindfold the vnderstanding , and depriue the soule of the eternall light , the knowledge of the liuing god. short-sighted folkes commonly shoote inward into contemplation , the noblest operation of the soule , and whiles the quick-sighted , i meane quicke of their corporall sights , doe gaze on euery idle obiect , eyther in iudging of beauties , or in marking at the skipping of grashoppers , or in seeing the goodly combate betwixt the mouse and the frogge ; the other by the benefit of his spirituall nature , wanting such obstacles and impediments , doe wholy addict themselues to reading or to musing . from which no spider sport , no trifling toyes may with-draw their intentiue mindes . and why ? because their creatour hath conuerted the infirmitie of their bodily eyes into their eyes of memorie and vnderstanding , whereby they become sagacissimi in coniecturis , ingenious , and very studious . lineament . xiii . the spirit of detraction conuicted for blabbing out tales concerning womens credits . wherefore it is not lawfull to speake abroad of womens causes . likewise take heed how thou talk est ( like a tatling tell-tale ) about womens credits , by suspition and suppositions crackt : or if in deed and euidence thy neighbors wife playes false , in violating herfaith , in vitiating her chastitie towards her honest husband : or if his daughter waxeth more lustily wanton then becommeth a christian virgine ; let not thy tongue be traduced , or produced as a reuiling runnagate in noysing abroad such ribauldries and baudries , if true ; or else such surmised secret things , which no earthly creature besides themselues can proue . it is alwayes incident to roysters and ruffians to read suspicious lectures on the carriage and behauiour of the most beautifull . some iudge the worst fatally , because themselues are guiltie of adultery , and so according to the often wishes , the shrewde and lewde nores of their owne peruerted fantasies , they condemne the pure with the impure . some againe , doe but gather by presumptions and circumstances , that chast women prostitute their bodyes , because they goe gallantly attyred in the fashion , with strange periwigs , with false bodyes , truncke sleeues , verdingales , and with costly iewels belike beyond their husbands meanes : because they paint their faces with artificiall drugs , and also because they gadde to stage-playes , to publike daunces , and showes vpon sundayes and holy-dayes , in stead of hallowing and sanctifying their soules with thankfull prayers . and in truth their reasons fall out many times currant ; for that such things being deuised by diuellish people , as allurements to spirituall fornication after the pompous gods of the earth , be likewise the fore-runners of fleshly fornication euen as pride is the mother of all mischiefe . othe s againe blab out scandalous impea●hments of honest womens fame , because they would not seeme alone to weare actae●ns badge , and therefore they se uerely censure of other mens wiues . many blaze out such detracting speaches , because they want matters of discourse to humour other men . but cursed mought they be that beginne these slanderous accusations , whereby man and wise doe vary , after that god hath ioyned them both together . cursed mought they be , who being partiall towards themselues doe neuerthelesse pronounce sentence of damnation against other mens incontinencie , as though themselues had neuer tript : yea and cursed be those sycophants , who with their runnag●te rumours and reports doe hinder gentlewomen from their promotion in honest marriage . this arrogant imputation our sautour christ himselfe refuted , when hee willed those presumptuous iewes , who inuaighed against the poore delinquent woman , that the purest of them being voide of sin , should fling the first stone at her though this sexe ( i confesse ) be weake , the weaker vessell , and may become seduced with faire protestations of golden mountaines as well as men , the impotence of whose disposition is thus described by a spaniard : la muger hermosa es cemo la mancana de dentro podrida y de sucra galana . like as thou findst an apple foule within , and faire without ; such shalt thou beauty finde . yet nothwithstanding be thou the last that bruits abroad such tales , calling to minde these graue rules : en bonne part ce qu'on dit tu dots prendre , et imperfait du prochain supporter : couurir sa faute , & ne la rapporter , ' prompt a louer et tardif a reprendre . what men doe speake in earnest or in iest , take in good part : and if thy neighbour halt , excuse her slips , report them not at least , be swist to salue , and slow to blame her fault . for who can tell the end and vse of our temptations ? it may be that god suffers some to goe awry like mary magdalene for a little while , because the lowly minded sinner may not despaire of his euer-during mercy , and because their owne rod of experience may chastice their iasciuiousnesse . of this nature is some womans fall , that she might rise againe , when her guiltie heart submits it selfe to iustice : for otherwise her conscience would not care for any thing , if it were not once deeply wounded for some hainous thing , and that with an euer feeling dint : whereby her contrite spirit might daily poure out this true confession before his throne of mercy : i doc know mine owne wickednesse , and my sinnes are alwayes before me . i could vnfold many other detractions against mens bodyes , mindes , and fortunes , deu●sed by d●uellish persons in these latter dayes , to ransacke the reputation of the best disposed were it not that i feare the censure of the wise in noting my discourse to be too prolixe and ted●ous . within this very place i will therefore fasten the anchor of the said discourse with this memorable lesson , aud● , vide , tac● , ●ivis v●uere in pace . heare and see , and say but the best , if thou dost loue to liue in rest . lineament ix . the reasons why men speake ill of learned bookes . that superstitious persons cannot rightly connict the spirit of detraction . that the true conuiction of the spirit of detraction consists in the mysteries of gods word . to draw now at last , to the last scene of this comick-tragedie , i will conuert my speach towards the detractours of learned bookes , which worthy wits by the holy spirits motion do daily transcribe , as monuments of gods glory , to all posterities . it is fatall vnto good men that their literate workes be vilified in their liues time , chiefely among their owne acquaintance ; for a prophet was neuer as yet esteemed in his owne countrey seeing that christ himselfe came among his owne nation , and was both despised and derided , what maruell is it then , that wise men are dispraised of the present age ? that the spirit of detraction pursues them vntill their dying day ? that hee defiles their workes with his stale and stinking vrine ? what meruell is it , that laudamus veteres , & nostros carpimus annos , we praise the old , and hate the present time ? what maruell , what noueltie is it nowadayes , that wicked men carpe at their wits whose disciples or apprentises they are not worthy to be , much lesse to vsurpe the place of aristarches or censorian catoes , ouer such industrious wights ? yee celestiall spirits , which expose abroad your sacred talents for your maisters profit , loath to lurke in the laechaeen caue of obliuion , feare not this manifolded monster . though he assailes your younglings , the fruits of your sanctified soules , with the wilde boares tuskes , with the beares clawes , with the serpents sting ; his beastly force can neuer enter through your enchanted armour . his enuie will be abated through your modestie ; his hatred , through your kindnesse ; his detractions , through your perfections ; his scornes , through your vertuous influence some kinde of al●mists their ignorance inciteth to despise the workes of the learned , as confirmes that old rule : scientia non habet inimicum praeter ignorantem : learning hath no greater enemie then the ignorant . some detract from other mens bookes , disgorging their gall vpon the absent authours , for no other reason , then because they would seeme wiser to the standers by , then they are indeed . some spit out infectious spite and rage against them of very ranke and meere maleuolence , for that it frets them to the heart , that their coequals in the goods of fortune , should become their betters through the goods of vertue ; that the radiant rayes of their corriuals name and fame eternized to the highest orbe by a bookish monument or colossos , should eclipse their temporall transparence , and quite confound the memoriall of their former factions . some for argument or cauillation sake seeke a hole where no hole is , reprehending those mysteries , which they cannot apprehend nor comprehend . the greatest part do ieere at their neighbours bookes , because they preferre worldly profit before their soules , not able to spare one houre in the day for holy exercise ; though they can spare whole moneths for gaine , ieasts , pleasures , fooleries , or in debasing of noble spirits . others discommend mens writings , because they cannot disproue them , and yet neuerthelesse , by reason that ipse dixit , the pythagorean , or rather pythonicall i doll of their consciences hath prohibited them by an expresse canon , not to beleeue the positions of protestants , though they issue out of truths owne mouth , therefore because hee which cannot erre nor lye , no more then socrates , if wee may credit plato for the one , and antichristians for the other ; because his seeming holinesse by vertue of his eagles feathered force indictes me for an horned beast , and my bookes for heresies , i must not trauerse the indictment , nor appeale to caesar , nor to the generall councell , but i must rest contented with my doome , that the spirit of detraction stands as yet stout , vnconiured and vnconuicted . ascend then yee spirits of euer-darkning night , aduance your selues on high , yee spightfull spirits of contradiction , extend your stings , intend your circles , and conuict your fellow spirits , if yee can . but why doe i imagine reail castles in the skies ? why reuerberate i the fleeting aire ? the ae●●iopian can as soone change his blacke skinne , as yee driue out the spirit of detraction . thou hast loued liars , o vsurping eagle , and thy blasphemie is come vp vnto the highest . therefore appeare no more thou eagle with thy horrible wings , with thy wicked feathers , thy vngratious heads , thy sinfull clawes , and all thy vaine bodie . at the least , presume not to take in hand this important taske , to confound this powerfull pantagruell , the limme of that mighty leu●athan , least your winged members ( as sathans subiects ) doe contrarie one another , and so diuided through ciuill discord they occasion the finall subuersion of your vvhole dominion . one graine of faith preuailes more then a masse of masses , then millions of ceremonies , of mens inuentions , for the conuicting of spirituall monsters . goe thy way then o detracting spirit , notwithstanding all these stings , tuskes , clawes , contradictions , carpings , calumnations , and cauillations of sauage people , of aristarches , of catoes , of momistes , of monsters , and vsurpers ; goe thy way , ( i say ) conuicted , i adiure and coniure thee in the name of the father , of the sonne , and of the holy ghost , the ternall and eternall vnitie , ( vvho for the mysterie of mans saluation is really distinguished in appellation , operation , and personall function , but indistinct in essence , omnipotence , and eternitie ; ) and venture not hereafter to possesse the sanctified soules of our new-borne brittaines , nor attempt to tempt the authour of this aduenturous arke , fraught by him but with simple circles in steed of noahs necessarie implements : vvhose spirituall faculties i finally pray our heauenly lord , the lord of hierarchies , to fence and fortifie with the shining shield of his sunnie spirit , not onely against thy spirituall spite , o blast of blasphemie , but also against all other aspiring spirits whatsoeuer , whether they dwell in the flesh , or out of the flesh . amen . finis . the contents of the lineaments and circles contained in this worke . the first circle . lineament i. to whose capacitie the description of spirits is difficult , & to whose it is easie . the authors inuocation to the godhead , through whose onely operation the spirit of detraction is to be coniured and conuicted . lineament ii. that the true meanes to conuict the spirit of detraction , is the meditat● on heauenly mysteries , and on the operation of goodnesse . mans curiositie in prying into gods nature , stinted by a non vltra . the description of some of gods attributes . that his a●seription is too excellent for mans apprehension . that good or euill cannot come to mankinde without his will. lineament iii. the admirable incorporation of the three persons in trinitie . their mysticall operation vnfolded according to our reasonable capacities . how god is said to be in heauen . after what manner the trinitie doe differ one from another , either in appellation or in operation . that the pagan poets , like apes , aymed at gods mysteries by their darke allegories . lineament iiii. the description of our sauiour christs incarnation . in what manner he tooke vpon him our infirmities . his terrible passion and death . his resurrection and ascension . that he alone is our medigtor with the father . his comming to iudgement . lineament v. the description of the holy ghost . how the catholike church was preserued from vtter ruine in time of poperie . that the misprision and contempt of the holy ghost , wrought the ruine , first of the easterne church , and then of the westerne . why this third person in trinity is peculiarly termed holy. the manner to discerne them that be possessed with the holy ghost , and why s. paul in his epistles salutes men in the name of the father , and the sonne , omitting the holy ghost . what it is to sinne against the holy ghost . the authours supplication to the trinity for his presumptuous discourse . lineament vi. their heresies conuicted which detract from the seruice of god , because they see him not with their corporall eyes . the knowledge of god proued by an instance of our earthly king , who is knowne throughout great britaine of all his subiects , though not of all with corporall sight . the excellencie of his spirit aboue the rest of his subiects . meanes to know god. why mortall men cannot see god. lineament vii . the description of some of the good spirits , which attend on their creator in heauen . their offices . greatnesse . the second circle . lineament i. the true application of the aboue said coniurations . that the names of other good spirits be manifold and diuersly taken in the holy scripture . after what manner sinne , the messenger of sathan stings vs. by what meanes we may repell the stings of sathan . that it is hard to iudge of our spirituall stings , and from whence they come . lineament ii. the originall root of detractions and other pollutions ; and whether the spirit of detraction and other sinfull spirits , which possesse mankind , be reall spirits or stings of the diuel ? the sight betwixt the knowledge of good , and the knowledge of euill . that the good gets the victory ouer the euill . that the diuell cannot harme a man really . lineament iii. that all wicked spirit : ordinarie and extraordinarie doe issue from the same head . that they cannot harme a man really , without his owne naturall or wanton motion . their varieties proued out of the scripture , where sauls lunacie is censured . that the spirit of detraction attendeth on all the said spirits . lineament iiii. why god giues vs ouer to be tempted by sathan . after what manner the diuell vseth now a-dayes to ensnare vs. the diuels policy for the circumuenting of soules . lineament v. mans fall from the state of innocencie is censured . curiosity curbed for intermedling with gods secrets . the first reason why man was not left altogether perfect and incapable of sinne . the latter reason . lineament vi. a meditation vpon sathans stings , occasioned by an vnfained dreame of the authours . whether the dragon which s. iohn saw fighting with the archangell , was reall or spirituall . whether the serpent which deceiued eue was reall , or spirituall , or both ; wherein the manner of her deceiuing is laid downe . lineament vii . that the holy ghost applies the scripture vnto mans capacitie . an admonition to the readers of the scripture . lineament viii . the election of the protestants after the imitation of s. pauls graffing in of the gentiles . meanes to discerne the antichrist by prophesies out of the scripture . m●anes to discerne the antichrist by his pompous manner of liuing , and also by his detractions . the third circle . lineament i. the nature of the spirit of detraction . his obiections . the authours answere . the description of detraction . his companions . his paradoxes . a briefe confutation . lineament ii. notes to discerne the spirit of detraction . a limitation of speaches . lineament iii. that the imbecillity of our natural dispositions tainted through the first mans sinne with curiosity , inconstancie , and negligence , is the prime cause of the spirit of detraction . that our curious search after the supernaturall beginning of time , worketh our confusion . of our curiosity . of our inconstancie . and of cur negligence . lineament iiii. that ill education is another cause of malicious detraction . that want of maintenance in the clergy , is the cause of ill education . certaine moderne abuses taxed in some remote angles of this kingdome . lineament v. that the secret and spirituall suggestion of the diuel , is the third cause of the spirit of detraction . the cunning reasons of the diuell to confirme sinne . their confutation . lineament vi. the naturall manner , how the spirit of detraction enters into a man and possesseth him . another reason to confirme the premisses . lineament vii . corollaries for the explanation of the premisses . where wicked spirits reside in man. lineament viii . that the spirit of detraction hath two principall instruments , the hand and the tongue . their apish trickes . their monstrous effects . a briefe dehortation from detraction . lineament ix . the authors censure of certaine english pamphleters , and ballad-writers , with an inuocation to my lord of canterbury for a reformation , not onely of these abuses in writing , but also of other enormities committed against the church-canons . a description of good and euill writers . that there is a mixt morall kinde of writing , seruing as the lesser light for the conuersion of the naturall man. lineament x. certaine detractions of our common stage-players are taxed . how god distributes his gifts diuersly to euery particular man. the authours briefe apologie concerning his owne imprinted workes . lineament xi . what kinde of persons the spirit of detraction doth soonest possesse : with a description of the common people . that wise men and of resolution must not feare the detractions of the common people . that it is necessarie for enuie to be the companion of vertue , and for the spirit of detraction to follow magistrates , as the shadow the body for the corroborating of their vertues . lineament xii . why men soiourne with the spirit of detraction , and will not be dislodged from him . that no worldly causes ought to dispose a man vnto detraction . lineament xiii . the conclusion , shewing that all persons from the prince his scepter , to the coblers naule , are subiect to detracting tongues . the fourth circle . lineament i. the felicitie and infelicitie of our country of great britaine . the authours supplication to the high and mightie court of parliament for suppressing of common swearing , blasphemies , slaunders , per●urtes , and other detractions offensiue to god and their countries weale . that they crucisie christ anew , which sweare eyther want only or wilfully by his bloud , &c. the authours motion for more additions to the statute of periurie . the necessitie of these additions , and of likely circumstances to lead our common iurours . lineament ii. that licentiousnesse is the cause of detractions , defamations , periuries , and blasphemies . that tauernes are the causes of licentiousnesse ; whereby the authour taketh an occasion to admonish magistrates of their dutie in this important case . lineament iii. that the spirit of detraction is sooner conuicted through the bright light and testimonie of the scripture , then through mens reall force or worldly deuices . lineament iiii. the spirit of detraction coniured and conuicted by the prophet dauids testimonie . lineament v. the spirit of detraction coniured and conuicted by king salomons testimonie . lineament vi. the spirit of detraction coniured and conuicted by iesus the sonne of syraches testimonie . lineament vii . the spirit of detraction and periurie coniured and conuicted by other testimonies of the scripture . lineament viii . the authours aduise to lury-men , wishing them to proceede vprightly according to their oathes , and also to meditate on the future discourse . lineament ix . the spirit of detraction coniured and conuicted by the ciuill lawes constitutions . lineament x. the spirit of blasphemous detraction conuicted by gods iudgements executed on some of our owne countries inhabitants . lineament xi . the spirit of detraction and perturie conuicted by sentence of our owne lawes executed on corrupted lurours . lineament xii . the spirit of detraction conuicted by the statute de scandalis magnatum , and also by the soueraigne authority of the court of starre-chamber . lineament xiii . of the iurisdiction of the ecclesiasticall court , touching words of detraction and defamation . where the kings writ of prohibition lies against such actions commenced in that court. that mixt actions belong to the common law . lineament xiiii . obseruations concerning words of detraction and defamation , fit to be perused of sheriffes and stewards , or of other iudges of inferiour courts , extracted out of the reports of sir edward cooke knight , lord chiefe iustice of the common pleas. lineament xv. obseruations concerning detracting libels giuen in the starre-chamber , and collected out of sir edward cookes reports . lineament xvi . the conclusion of the fourth circle , contayning the authours pareneticall charge to common iuries . the fift circle . lineament i. the authours scope in this circle . his inuocation to the godhead , against his ghostly enemies . lineament ii. how the spirit of detraction attributes the glorious workes of god vnto the diuell . that mens guiltie consciences driue them to ex●o●● the diuell and his supposed power . lineament iii. proued out of the booke of wisedome , that mens guiltie consciences caused them at first to feare bugs and spirits . lineament iiii. how mens guilty consc●ences made them to mistake the truth , and to become afraid of things meerely naturall . lineament v. a merry storie borrowed out of peter de loiers booke of specters , shewing how a trauailer was frighted in passing by a gallowes . lineament vi. whether in time of poperie the diuell appeared to coniurers or witches . why now adaies the diuels apparitions are ceased among the professours of the gospell . the authors opinion touching his visible illusions . lineament vii . how popish shauelings inuen●ed the vse of common coniurations and fictions , in policy for the greater efficacie of their idols , holy-water , and masse-monging ; wherein the weakenesse of their holy-water is shewed . that they coined lies of purpose to confirme their sect , namely , in luthers life time , of luthers death . a note deliuered by the authour touching the diuels reall power . lineament viii . that true miracles were but lent by the lord to the primitiue church , for confirmation of the gospell which accompanied the said miracles . how in their stead false miracles crept into the church with the antichrist in the time of the great apostasie . the diuels synode for employments of his hellish spirits . the authours digression , shewing that the diuels shape was not reall , but delusiue to deceiue the eye-sight . how men by his spirituall insinuations bec●me his agents here on earth . the diuels craft to continue men in their detractions . lineament ix . what is the craft of our common wizards . that souldiours and men of courage haue beene daunted with disgu●sed angels . examples of ordinary witchcraft , sorceries , and coniurations . lineament x. an example translated out of monsieur du chesne his pourtait de la sante , declaring how one monsieur poena , a phisition of paris , coniared two spirits out of a possessed mans body . lineament xi . an excellent example of con●uration , translated out of erasmus his exorcisines , fit to be obserued of our superstitious detractors . lineament xii . that the diuels common dr●ft is , spiritually to vndermine the will of man. that his scope and force is cousenage and deceit . lineament xiii . apborismes collected out of the first fathers of the primitiue church concerning the diuels power . lineament xiiii . the authours dehortation from such vaine detracting studies . the knowledge of astrologie stinted and censured . lineament xv. that the authours meaning is not to denie the diuels reall subsistence . his charitable application of the statute against witchcraft , made anno primo iacobi . that he onely denieth his reall power , and his palpable force ouer any of gods creatures . the vanity and fondnesse of wizards . that the hand of god plagued iob and other creatures of his . that good men neuer detract from gods glory . lineament xvi . the spirit of detraction punished by the immediate power of god , proued by examples out of the scripture . the sixt circle . lineament i. the spirit of detractions pleas and allegations on the behalfe of his humouring and soothing men in their vanities . the said spirit sharply rebuked for his equiuocation and dissimulation . the authours purpose in this subsequent circle . lineament ii. how the spirit of detraction goeth about to ouerthrow predestination in attributing our misfortunes immediately to the planets , thunders , lightnings , or other naturall creatures ; where the author excuseth himselfe for writing of such deepe mysteries . how god made the second causes and all other things in this world for mans sake . lineament iii. the spirit of detraction conu●cted for measuring gods prouidence by their owne humane prouidence . lineament iiii. the authors censure of predestination . that all second causes doe worke their effects according to the first causes direction , which is god. how god endowed some with free-will through grace to enable them vnto faith . the spirit of detraction con●●cted for imputing the cause of mens damnation to gods decree . lineament v. that god is not the authour of temptation , but an actor therein . lineament vi. how god predestinated some to be saued . why all men were not elected . that mens owne wils by gods sufferance occasion their reprobation and harme . the authors sentence concerning himselfe , whether he be one of the elect . that good and euill cannot come without gods consent . lineament vii . the causes why god ordained thunder and lightning . the naturall nutriments of lightning . why thunder and lightning be most dangerous in winter . where they worke their operations more vehemently . an admon●tion to build low . lineament viii . how god sends thunder and lightning eyther for his glory , for mens triall , or for their punishment . examples as well moderne as auncient offorcible thunders and lightning . lineament ix . that they detract from the glorious maiestie of god , which attribute his thunders , lightnings , and other meteorly signes to the diuell or his adherents . proofes out of the word of god , that god alone sendeth forth such terrible signe . lineament x. probable proofes out of ciuill pollicy , that god is iealo●s of his glory , and glorious signes , and therefore not probable that he would lend his reall power to the diuell . examples of worldly states , which could not endure vsurpers of their transitory titles and prerogatiues . that god hates coniurers , witches , antichristians , and other detractors and vsurpers , worse then atheists or ignorant i●fidels . lineament xi . wherefore god diuerteth his naturall creatures against mankinde . that all crosses & misfortunes proceed only from god. that in any wise we must not delay repentance . an obiection against sodaine death by the spirit of detraction out of the letany , with a confutation thereof . lineament xii . that we must not iudge by mens misfortunes , or sodaine death , that they be forsaken of god. charitable censures , which a good christian may yeeld touching those that die sodainly . the spirit of detraction conuicted for censuring ouer-cruelly of the authors wife , who was sticken dead with lightning the third of ianuary , . where her commendation and assumption are moralized . lineament xiii . the authours gratulation for his late fortunate deliuerance . his description of the lightning tragedy , the third day of ianuary , . at what time god ●ooke away his wife . his description of other crosses at the very same time . how god fore-shewed by mysteries the said crosses before they hapned vnto the authour : wherein his censure of dreames is interlaced . his description of his miraculous escape out of the sea , wherein he fell by force of a cruell tempest on a christmasse day , . lineament xiiii . the spirit of detraction conuicted for censuring the lords secret iudgements . the authours imperfections acknowledged . his meditation on his late crosses . lineament xv. the authours gratulatorie prayer vnto the lord for the aboue-said wonderous effects . lineament xvi . the conclusion of this present circle , consecrated by the authour to his wiues memorie . the application of her memorable death . the authours apologie against the spirit of detraction , on the behalfe of this present circle , where his wiues memorie is saluted with a christian farewell . the seauenth circle . lincament i. that the spirit of detraction can neuer annoy vs , while the maiestie of iustice shines vpon vs. the authours supplication to the lord chancellour of england , the lord president of wales , and to all other his maiesties iudges of record within this monarchy of great britaine , for the ex●●rping out of notorious blasphemies . the spirit of detractions craft in molesting his maiesties inferiour officers . his diabolicall craft in wronging of priuate persons . the authours conclusion to the aboue-said lords , for reformation of the said abuses . lineament ii. that after controulement , instruction is necessarie for them , that be possessed with the spirit of detraction . that taciturnitie and patience doe coniure him downe into hell . lineament iii. the description of taciturnitie . that the nature and qualitie of a man may be discerned by speach or writing . that wise men in priuate may descant of their neighbours faults , so that the same tend to edification . lineament iiii. that patience is policie in detractions . an exhortation to patience . an obiection of the detracted . a confutation . lineament v. that the spirit of detraction begins to shrinke through the influence of taciturnitie and patience . the spirit of detraction conuicted for broaching out questions of princes soueraignties . that priuate persons ought not to dispute of their prince his dealings . lineament vi. the authours scope in this subsequent discourse . the spirit of detraction conuicted in protestants , for exasperating of puritanes in their peruerse humours . the spirit of detraction conuicted in puritanes , for their obstinacie against our ecclesiasticall canons . lineament vii . the spirit of d●traction conuicted for repining at our christian neighbours of scotland . ●he said spirit conu●cted for detracting from our countrey-men of wales . lineament viii . the spirit of detraction conuicted in aduocates and counsellours at law , for putting on a goodface on bad causes . the authours resolution on the behalfe of honest lawyers . lineament ix . the authours ●nuocation to the deitie for pardoning the petulance of his spleene in this present lineament . that iudges and executioners of iustice of all others , are most wan● only detracted by our swaggering libertines ; wherein their vanity is censured by the authour ; and also their cr●●ing g●●ealogics are controuled . the cartage of iudges towards such detracting sycophants . an admonition to iudges , not to respect taunting tongues . another admonition vnto them not to rayle and reuile at their inferiours . lineament x. that a true christian ought not to detract from the iudges of his countrey , though they wrong 〈◊〉 . that no mortall man liues exempted from manifold crosses . what vexations befall to iudges themselues . lineament xi . the reply of the spirit of detraction , to the premisses . an answere to the said reply out of the rules of policie , fit to be obserued of peeuish preachers . the benefit that comes to a true christian by detracting tongues , where the spirit of detraction is conuicted with his owne force . lineament xii . the spirit of detraction conuicted for censuring men for their pouertie . birth . bodily imperfections . lineament xiii . the spirit of detraction conuicted for blabbing out tales concerning women credits . wherefore it is not lawfull to speake abroad of womens causes . lineament xiiii . the reasons why men speake ●ll 〈◊〉 learned bookes . that superstitious persons cannot rightly con●ict the spirit of detraction . that the true conuiction of the spirit of detraction consists in the mysteries of gods word . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . notes for div a -e ● . cor. cap. . . cor. cap. . col. cap. . . cor. . persius satyr . . . chron cap. . esa. cap. . iere. cap. . aug. lib. . trin. ephe cap. . & psal . . act. cap. . platarch . psal. . psal. . jran . l. . cap. psal. . dionis . areop . l. de hier. caelest . cap. . psal. . . mat. cap. . exod. . gen. . ioh. . cyprian . in tract . de simplicitate pr●lator . iob. . exod. . ioh. . col. . esay . exod. . gen. . ibid. . deut. . act. cap. . esay . . psal. . num. . & ioh. . dan. . esay . . esay . . esay . . ioh. . . zaleucus . dan . . esd. ▪ iustin. martyr in tryphon . esay . . psal. . psal. . . cor. . ephes. . apoc. cap. . . tim. . act. . apoc. . orig. l. . contra cels. hier. in ez● . in the french manuell . king iames in his premonition . luke . king i am . ibid. apoc. . job . . iob. chr. in hom. . in mat. heb. ● . . cor. cap. . athanasius . athenagoras in apologia pro christian. psal. . exod. . ioh. . exod. . act. . gen. . mat. . apoc. . . thes. . apoc. . apoc. . mat. . . ioh. . ephes. . rom. . esay . . ephes. . gal. . . cor. . ignatius in epist. ad phi●ippenses . esa. . esa. ibid. iob . sapient . cap. . psal. . ionas . dan. . acts . psal. . exod. . eze. ● . apoc. . dan. . apoc. . rom. . esay . esay . . eze. . irenaeus l. . c. dan. . . esd. . tob. lib. hebr. . mat. . apoc. . notes for div a -e t●rtul . in libr. de resur . carnis . psal. jerem. i . pet. . iob . . pet. . iud. . ecclus. . ephes. . rom. . rom. . sanctiago sobre euang. ecclus. . titianus in oration . aduersus gent. . cor. . num. . esay . . . reg. . holea . rom. . virg. l. . aencid . hier. in dialog . contra luciferia . theophil antiochen . lib. . ad antolycum . apoc. . persius in satyr . . the earle of northampton . the earle of northampton . tertullian . in lib de animá . tatian v in l. aduersus gentes . tertul. in . l. de animá . cant : . ioh. . exod. . . cor. cap. . . cor. . . cor. . . cor. ● . i rom. . ibid. ibid. rom. . . thess. . apoc. apoc. . ioh. . . ioh. . . thes. . a cantic . . b bernard super cantic . christ is the rocke , his wounds the holes , and the faithfull soule the doue , according to that beye simple as doues . num . ioh. . rom. . ambros. in oration . ad mediolanens . arist in categor de quantitate . notes for div a -e iuuenal . in satyr drayton in epist heroic . job . . reg. . commin . l. . c. . tim. . persius in sat. . horat. . cor. . persius in sat. . plato dialog . . de legib . psam . persius sat. . commin . l. . c. tacitus lib. . annal. horat in epist. . cor. . iob . horat. in epist. ariosto . b●rnard . in serm rom. . pauper henric ' . ecclesiast . . cato . ecclesiast . ● . ephes. . persius in sa● . . obiectio . solutio . cassiodor . lib. . epist. . thucid. lib. . histor. boetius lib. . de consol . philosoph . pros . . la portract de la sante . sect. . cap. . esay . . cor. . . cor. . notes for div a -e cant. . ibid. esd● . apoc. cant. . psal. . act. ● . aug. in psath . . chron. cap. . . thess. cap. . act. apost . cap. . psal. . psal. . psal. . psal. . psal. . psal. . psal. . psal. . psal. . psal. . ibid. psal. . psal. . psal. . psal . psal. . psal. . psal. . psal. . ibid. psal. . exod. . exod. . leuit. . psal . zach. . ibidem . cap. eecles . . matth. . matth . iames. . iud. epist. iam . cantic . iames cap. . ibid. 〈◊〉 . . exod. . eccles. : . b psal. . . c iob . . reg. . ester . . notes for div a -e wisd. cap. . apoc. cap. . king iames in demonolog . king iames in demonolog . apoc. . apoc. ibid. apoc. . ibid. cap. . torquemada en iar din de flores curiosas . colloquio tercero . d. . non nos gloss. § quis enim . . thes. . gen . . thess. . king iames l. . d●monol . cap. . apoc. cap. . . thess. cap. . apoc. cap. . ouid. lib. . metamorphi . gen. cap. . plaut in mostellar . sect. . du pourtr de la sante . capvlt . ● apoc. cap. . ibid. apoc. cap. . ibid. apoc. cap. . ibid. apoc. cap. . iustin. in defens . christ. ad senat . rom. idem in tryphon j●natiꝰ in epist. ad philippen . tatian . in orat. aduersus gents . irenaeus in lib. . aduersus haereses . origen . in libr. . in job . idem . in libr. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . cap. . tertul. lib. . aduersus marcion . jdem in libr. de cultu foemi● . idem in lib. de sug● in 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 lib. . de o●igine e●r●r . cap. & . aug. lib. . de sanci . trinit . ●thanas . in . lib. de humanitat . verbi . bernard . in ep. cyrill . contra ●ul . gregor . super iob apoc. . eccles. . esay . luc. . 〈◊〉 . . king iames in his second booke of daemonolog . cap. . virgil. lib. . aeneid . iob. ca. . iob. cap. . ibid. iob. . apoc. cap. . ibid. cap. . act. apost . cap. . genes . numb . cap. . numb . cap. . ibid. cap. . num. cap. . samuel . cap. . . reg. cap. . . reg. cap. . amos cap. . . reg. cap. . isai cap. . ierem. cap. . iudith cap. . act. apost . ca. matth. cap. . act. apost . ca. . rom. cap. . rom. cap. . notes for div a -e pibrac . persius satyr . . ia. cap. . rom. cap. . rom. . psal. . ibid. persius in sa. tyra . horatius . exod. cap. . psal. . iob. cap. . . reg. cap. . . reg. cap. . genes . cap. . dionys. haliea . lib. . anti. . d●odor . sicu . lib. . eutropius . plutar. lib. . sympos . quaest . plutar. sympos . lib. . quaeston . jbid. paulus diaconus sabelli . zonar . tom . . annal. gar●●us in met●orolog . malachia cap. . & exod. cap. . couarru . . part . decret . cap. . . mar● . cap. . . reg. cap. . aug. lib. . de sanct. trin. nahum . . iob. . psal. . eccles. . iob. . sapient . . hag. . io●l . . isa. . ibid. prook . tit . premunire . leg. sancti edward . cap. . cypr. epist. . ● iob . hugo libr. . de ammâ . greg. ● . parte curae pastor . submu . . heb. . esai . . leuit. . iob . iere. in lament . cap. . amos . hernando de sanctiago sobre euang. eccl. . esay . . rom. . c●● . . luke . . esay . . esay . iohn . cap. . . pet. cap. . ezech. cap. . job . cap. . horace . . cor. cap. . iob . corinth . . . am●s . claudian . detertio consulatu honorij . psalm . . iona. . virg. aenaeid . . exod. . rom. . prouerb . . corinth . . esai . . . iob . iob . ezechiel . ibid. psal. . august . lib. . confess . cap. . prouerb . . iob . rom. . esai . . corinth . . cant. . rom. . cant. . ierem. . ierem . apot. . psaime . psalme . prouerbs . nazian . in monod . basil. notes for div a -e psal. . psal. . ecclesiast . . psal. . iob . chr●n . iohn . prouerbs . the earle of north-hampton . prouerbs . persius in satyr . . hernando sanctiago sobre euangelios . iob . peter . ibid. heb. . apocap . . iob . bed. libr. . ex. posit . in samuel . plautus . thomas aquin. de regimin . princip . lib. . persius in satyr . . ouidius in epist. beza in epistol . . pet. . corinth . esay . prou. . osorius lib. . christian. nobilitat . chron. . iust. epist. persius satyr . . persius saetyr . . iudi● . . sam. . pibrac . pauper henricus cato . ● esdras . a triple paradox affixed to a counter-mure raised against the furious batteries of restraint, slander and poverty, the three grand engines of the world, the flesh, and the devil / by major george wither ... wither, george, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing w estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a triple paradox affixed to a counter-mure raised against the furious batteries of restraint, slander and poverty, the three grand engines of the world, the flesh, and the devil / by major george wither ... wither, george, - . [ ], , [ ] p. printed for the author, london : . reproduction of original in huntington library. in verse. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng imprisonment -- great britain -- poetry. libel and slander -- poetry. poverty -- poetry. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a triple paradox : affixed to a counter-mure raised against the furious batteries of restraint , slander and poverty , the three grand engines of the world , the flesh and the devil . by major george wither , who , now beleagured by their forces , throws out unto them this defiance . the said paradox maintains these particulars . that confinement is more safe than liberty , slander more advantageous than praise , poverty more profitable than riches . nusquam , non potest esse virtuti locus . seneca . london , printed for the author . . the author , to all those who have relieved him in his beleagurement . it is a more blessed thing to give , than to receive ; therefore , having hitherto been a receiver only , i am now desirous to be a giver also , though it be but of a mite , or of a cup of cold water ; for , we are not to expect benedictions or acceprations , strictly answerable to the quantity or quality of our gifts considered in themselves , but according to our purposes and abilities ; which incourages me to send you a handful of such fruit as grows upon my witherd-tree , now almost past bearing , that if you find it as pleasant and as wholsome , as i conceived it to be , you having therewith refreshed your selves , may if you please , pick out some of the kernels , and by sowing and replanting them in your orchards , preserve the kinde for future use , when my tree is rotten . i make not tender of this diminutive present , by way of r●tribution ; for , god is your reward : but to be a testimonial of my gratitude , and of my willingness , to have done more , if i had been able ; or rather , that it may be a memorial of gods mercy to me vouchsafed by your hands when i was deserted of the world ; which ought never to be by me forgotten : for , i confess , i have thereby lived to produce this , and whatsoever i shall do hereafter in discharge of my duty , and had else , ere this day perished from the earth , for ought i know to the contrary , though in my greatest wants and uncertainty of supplies i was always as far from a despairing distrust , as if i had then possessed a vault filled with hidden treasures , which no man could take from me : and ( though i am yet in no more certainty in respect of external supplies ) god preserves in me the same confidence , and i believe he will always preserve it in me . this , is so great , and so extraordinary a mercy , considering the many terrors , distrusts & necessities , wherewith many thousands of better men are daily exercised & proved , that i conceive my self obliged in conscience , openly to acknowledge it both to glorifie him who vouchsafes it , and to confirm in my self and other men , our christian hopes , by delaring what god hath done for my soul , who have nothing in my self to deserve it , but what is of his gift , and who have much more of my own , which rather deserves the contrary . i am , and i hope shall ever be so far from being ashamed of my preservation by meer charity , that i do esteem it a greater honour & happiness , than to have the most plentiful subsistance which the world can confer upon me by a constant revenue , with an eminent dignitary annexed : for i have seen the best provisions of that kind , not only to fall but to bring their possessors also to be worse than nothing . i had superscribed your names ( or hereto added a catalogue of them : ) but many of you are personally unknown , and , the rest having discovered themselves unto me , for our mutual comfort and conversation only ( without any desire that notice might be taken by other men of what hath been communicated , and passed between them and me ) i do forbear making your names publick , for that and other considerable respects . you are my friends by the surest side : for you were not made mine by my industry , merit , solicitation , or in respect of any carnal relations , but meerly by gods mediation who inclined your hearts to that voluntary compassion , whereof i had fruit in due season , sufficient to preserve me , without sordid want or dejection , in that condition wherein i am likely to be continued to fit me for that service , which i have yet to do ; and i am confident that he who made you my friends , will so keep you ; and make me thankful to him and you , whilst we live in this world . your acceptation i doubt not of , nor of assistance by your prayers to the end of my pilgrim●ge : for , though some of us may circumstantially differ in our iudgements , we are one in him and with him , in his essential truth , and in that love which knits all the saints into one blessed and everlasting communion . i am your humble beadsman , george wither . a triple paradox ; wherein are asserted , these particulars , that ( ty ; imprisonment , is more safe than liberslander , more advantageous than praise ; poverty , more profitable than riches . for an introduction , the author flings this express to the world . a parlie , unto thee disdainful world , i sound ; and have to thee this paper hurl'd . yet , neither for a treaty or compliance , but , rather , still , to bid to thee defiance ; for , what thou wer't , thou art ; and i yet am and will be , whilst i live , to thee the same . thou art become the mistress of the field ; hast me beleaguer'd , summond me to yield my fortress , and thou so proceedest on , as if thou wert assur'd , it should be wonn : but , thereon thou perhaps , mayst yet attend as long as did th' infanta for ostend ; and as she nothing had at last but stones , get nothing but dead flesh , and rotten bones . i see thine insolence , and every day hear what thy favourites are pleas'd to say , how they extol thy power , how they debase my succours , and my helpers would disgrace . i well observe , thou round begirt me hast ; that , having all my outworks quite laid waste , thou , to compleat a conquest , dost begin a fierce assault to ruine all within . that , to prevent the sending of supplies , thou fright'st my friends with slanders and with lies . my accusatrix too , become thou art ; and , justly ( i acknowledge ) in some part , but , not in all : for , chiefly , thy temptations inducements were to those prevarications whereby , my talents were sometime abus'd : though therefore , i seem worthily reduc'd to what i am ; thou undeservedly hast me pursued with malignity ; because the love which i once bore to thee was more , than thou deservedest it should be ; thou most injuriously requited hast that love , which in my youth on thee i plac't ; for , though i never totally was thine , thou had'st ( when least ) more of me then was mine : and , him , of his right , to whom all was due i robbed then , thy service to pursue . but , he , now gives me grace , thy wiles to hate , and to observe them ere it is too late , that what thou by thy falshoods dost intend , shall cross thine own designments in the end . thou , having into many errors run me , thought'st by undoing me , to have undone me , but art deceiv'd : for , that which thou hast done hath brought me to the knowledge of that stone , which turneth dross to gold ; and from offences instructs me to extract those quintessences , which will preserve my freedome in all places , supply all wants ; convert all my disgraces to honours ; and in every estate , with all things needful , me accommodate . the devil by thine aid , hath long time sought how , he his ends upon me might have wrought ; but , neither thou nor he , nor both conjoyn'd , had power to bring to pass what was design'd , untill the flesh , my dalilah , you got to be a third associate in the plot ; and then , both to her damage , and to mine you , such progression made in your design , that by deluding her , you soon prevail'd , in that , whereof you otherwise had fail'd ; so , by her frailty , more than by your power , ( i , being in your clutches at this hour ) am openly exposed ( in some sort ) like sampson for a while , to make you sport ; but , stretched your malignity so far that your own actings , your own works will mar : for , though my dalilah your vassal be , and you by her means have surprized me , your cords and chains will off again be flung , so that , we shall redeemed be ere long from our captivities , and in conclusion your own contrivements will be your confusion . when thou pretendedst kindnesses to me ( and by them , didst intend to ruine me ) thou gav'st me then , one of pandora's boxes , which , i return thee full of paradoxes that shall uncharm thy witchcrafts , and destroy those gins which thou against me dost employ : for , if thou open it , ( as it is sed prometheus opened what shee 's fabuled to have bestow'd on him ) from thence will flow those truths , which will thy falshoods overthrow , and make some who admire them , to contemn those iuglings wherewithall thou foolest them : as likewise all those bugbear-tyrannies , which thy oppressing-instruments devise to fright us from our duties , and adhere to thy allurements , out of love or fear . to batter down my petty single sconce , thy three great'st engines thou hast rais'd at once , and so surrounded me within my fort , that , i have scarce one little sally-port whereby i may have egress to offend my foes , or to give ingress to a friend . thy ragged regiment of poverty , ( and they which by restraint of liberty , ) commanded are ) enclose me so about with double trenches , that , here can to nought for my relief , admittance now be given , except it comes immediately from heaven : moreover , at the four winds , raised high , are four mounts , whereupon thy batteries lie so diligently man'd by major slander ( an old and well experienced commander in such like services ) that , several wayes his great artillery upon me playes . at me perpetually his tongue-shot flies , and his whole culverings charg'd full with lies , send poysoned bullets , which i often hear , making loud cracks , or whizzing by mine ear . but , i , at last , shall rout all this brigade , quite frustrate those attempts which thou hast made and raise again thy seige , or do as well by dying nobly in my citadel , and , that it will to thee ( when batter'd down ) prove like the house by sampson overthrown . then , those things , plainly will to thee appear , which thou at present , wilt not see nor hear ; and i shall be the same to thee and thine , which thou hast lately been to me and mine ; for , then , my ghost , arrayed in white sheets shall haunt thy houses , walk about thy streets , and fright thee day and night with repetition of what is hasting on , for thy perdition , and will descend upon thee at those times wherein thou fill'st the measure of thy crimes . mean while , to comfort others , and prevent the tediousness of my beleagurement , i le draw a map , wherein i le so express the vanity of thy maliciousness , that , they who list shall know how much i slight thy triple-forces , and contemn thy spight ; and i to thee , their weaknesses apart will so declare , that , unless blind thou art thou shalt perceive , i cannot be destroy'd , by those whom thou against me hast employ'd although in one united : for , these three slander , imprisonment and poverty , to fall upon me , all at once began before , thou didst repute me for a man ; and though they charge me all at once agen , grown weaker by old age , than i was then , my helper is the same ; and suffring long hath by his grace , now made my power more strong . i know thy pride this confidence contemns : for , faith and hope , are now thought but the dreams of those men , whom thou dost phanaticks call : but , whatsoev'r thou thinkst , proceed i shall . and , if thou heedst what follows , thou shalt hear how little , either thee , or thine i fear . with that part of thy forces i le begin which , with the first trench hath now shut me in . thou knowst , what outwardly , thou hast bereft ; now , thou shalt know , what is within me left but , never shalt attain to apprehend how far my hidden store-house doth extend . confinement is more advantageous than liberty . restraint , which is an engine , right or wrong , made use of , ( first , or last , short time or long ) by most oppressors , hath been oft my lot ; and , at this present , i escape it not : for , ( though not in the ordinary way it seemeth now inflicted ) i might say , i am imprisoned , and so confin'd that , i am no way free , except in mind . of most enjoyments i am quite depriv'd which from external things may be deriv'd , yet thereby not undone ; for i possess my whole essential freedome neretheless . my toyes are lost , but by their deprivations i furnish'd am with real consolations , which , though they to the world-ward make no shows yield sweeter comforts than the things i lose , and make my hidden freedoms to be more than those the world vouchsafed heretofore : for , to her freedoms , when respect i gave i was then only free to be a slave , whereas , this , doth from nothing me restrain , which , to true liberty , doth appertain . that , which gives most content to flesh and blood i finde to be the basest servitude ; and that we nothing have whereof to boast till what the world calls liberty is lost . what freedom want i , save what being had makes many free-men slaves , and wise men mad ? none , have upon themselves , and others , brought more plagues than they have done , who would be thought the freest men : for freedoms mis-imploy'd have lately all our liberties destroy'd ; and , most , whom we much reverence as our betters are but our fellow-slaves in golden fetters . what liberty had i , whereof to vaunt by those infranchisements i seem to want ? i was at liberty to rowle in dust , to prosecute my fancies and my lust ; and therein joy'd , when i could walk abroad ; but , now , i finde the services of god are perfectst freedom . that , i am debarr'd of nothing , which deserveth my regard ; and , that the liberty i did possess , was not true freedom , but licentiousness ; at which experiment i am arriv'd , by losing that whereof i am depriv'd . this ( though fore-seen it was ) to me befell before i for it was prepared well , and , i confess , at first it made a change within me , and without , that seemed strange : but , not long after , at the second sight , that , which appear'd the wrong-side , prov'd the right ; and i am well contented therewithall : for , i could see gods mercies through the wall ; discern'd , when inwardly , i turn'd mine eyes , much more of heaven , than when i saw the skies . and , that , from very little i was barr'd , which i have reason greatly to regard . what can i see abroad , which hath not been by me before , almost to loathing seen , or , heard not so describ'd , that being shown it will not seem a thing already known ? both changes and rechanges i have view'd ; seen new things old become , old things renew'd ; princes petitioning disdainful grooms great kings dethron'd , & peasants in their rooms ; laws out-law'd , out-laws raised to be judges of laws , lives , goods , and of our priviledges , by law and conscience ; loyaltie made treason , and treason loyaltie ; non-sense for reason allow'd , and reason thought irrational : yea , meteors i have seen rise , and stars fall ; foundations that immoveable appear'd thrown down , and castles in the air uprear'd . i have seen heads and feet exchange their places , wealth make men poor , and honour bring disgraces ; beauties , which ravished beholders eyes wax more deformed than anatomies , or , no more lovely to be lookt upon , than rawridge , mumble-crust , or bloody-bone , but , truth to say , they who most lovely be , now , no more pleasureful appear to me than pictures , nor so much as ugly faces whose hearts are beautifi'd with inward graces , although to beauty very few were more a servant , than i have been heretofore , and if that please not , which i once lik'd best , what pleasure is there to behold the rest ? that , at this present , and all other sights afford so little which my heart delights , that , all the earth , and one poor little room are so equivalent to me become , that i know nothing any other where more to be priz'd than my enjoyments here ; and , that which makes me so indifferent nor melancholy is , nor discontent . confinement , in a house of strength doth dwell , a homely , and sometimes a nasty cell , in furnitures , and in attendance poor , a cerberus lies alwayes at the door fawning a little , when we entring are but ever snarls while we continue there : yet , i so quickly had found out his diet , that , i knew either how to keep him quiet , or order so my self , that when i please , i can lye down and sleep in little-ease ; enlarge within , that which without hath bound , contrive conveniences , where none i found ; and , every whit as much content receive in what i have not , as in what i have . i view not here the pleasures of the fields or what a garden , grove , or meddow yields which were of late my daily recreation , but , i have visions by my contemplation , which hither , during my confinement brings not only sights of more essential things but an assurance of enjoyments too , whereof i doubted more a while ago . i could not be at that solemnization which honoured my soveraigns coronation , nor saw his royal train in their late marches through london , under their triumphant arches ; yet in my solitariness , alone , what they were doing , i did think upon , with what should else be done , that 's not done yet and , which i wish we may not quite forget , nor so long , that there , may at length be lost much real honour , and no little cost ; and which , perhaps , to bring now into mind by this expression , i am thus confin'd ; for providence , did neither me restrain at this time , nor infuse these thoughts in vain . ionick , dorick , and corinthians works , in which , an architectors cunning lurks apart , or inter-wove ( with that apply'd whereby it may be richly beautifi'd ) i can conceive , as if i saw it made , and all which paintings thereunto can add . i know , as well as they who did behold that costly show , what silver , silk and gold , pearls , diamonds , and precious rubies , can contribute to adorn a horse or man. i have seen all materials which were thither , to make up that great triumph , brought together . princes and dukes , and marquesses and earls , plebeians , men and women , boyes and girls , as many thousands as then present were i did as well imagine to be there as if i them had seen ; and can suppose not only what is acted at such shows , but also , more than was at any one since first the roman triumphs were begun , and fancy by my self such glorious things as would quite beggar emperors and kings to represent them . so , by being there i had but seen a meaner show than here my fancy could have made ; and what had i been then , i pray , advantaged thereby ? what had i gained then , by sitting long and paying , to be crowded in a throng ? what great contentment could i have deriv'd from what mechanick artists had contriv'd , compar'd to that which my imagination contriv'd in honour of that coronation ? at which the trophies cost , at most , no more than would have made some needy persons poor ? i seldom took , at any time much pleasure in shows , which ev'ry vulgar eye can measure ; and time and cost require to make them gay , yet in a moment vanish quite away , behinde them leaving nothing that conduces to pious , moral , or to civil uses . what though i did not see the king that day ? i did in my confinement , for him pray as heartily as any person there , and , god , perhaps , assoon the same will hear , although my tongue was not then heard among those acclamations of the vulgar throng , which did salute his ear ; my silent voice wing'd with devotion ( though it made no noise ) ascended heav'n , and may bring blessings down , which will conduce to setling of his crown , if he unfix it not by mis-endeavour , or , valuing of the gift more than the giver . i do presume his duties on that day he did discharge ; and ( wishing others may perform their dues to him ) do not envy the glory of that day's solemnity to him , for whom 't was purpos'd , nor the sight , thereof , to those who took therein delight ; but wish'd , both might be perfectly contented in what was at that present represented ; and hope , nought was to him ascribed then , which rather appertains to god than men : for , when to hereds eloquent orations the people gave blasphemous acclamations , and he that honour to himself apply'd , whereby , god ought to have been glorifi'd , the doom , which that offence did on him bring , made him a lifeless , and a louzie king. of these things my confinement did produce some thoughts , which are perhaps of some good use . i , likewise exercis'd my meditation , that day , on other things which have relation to what was then in act ; and mus'd upon that , which occasion gave of things then done , on some now past , and upon other some which probably will be in time to come . i mus'd upon the changes , and the chances , the publick troubles , and deliverances which i have seen . i seriously did ponder gods , and mens actions joyntly and asunder ; our foolish projects , his wise providences , both in their progress , and their consequences . i thought both on the people and the king , what good or evil possibly might spring from their deportments towards one another now by gods mercy they are brought together . on those too , in particular , i thought whom , god into his power hath lately brought : how great , erewhile , his wants and sufferings were , what , his enjoyments at this present are ; and , on some other matters , not a few , which these , to my consideration drew , and which perhaps , that day had been by none mus'd on , so much , had i not been alone . moreover it occasion'd thoughts of that which to a nobler object doth relate ; even to that kingdom , king , and coronation , that should be thought on with more veneration than all the monarchs in their greatest glory , who now live , or are memoriz'd in story . my contemplation , with as much content , as others had , to me did represent that day wherein christ through ierusalem rode meekly on an ass , whilst after him the people throng'd or laqued by his side , and voluntarily hosanna cry'd , yet afterward pursuing him with scorns cry'd crucifie , and crowned him with thorns ; and this , me thought , was so considerable , that it made all our pomp seem despicable . for , then my muses drew me by degrees , to meditate on what my soul fore-sees concerning them , who , whilst they do pretend christ's kingdom , do pursue another end ; and that , which for his glory was bestown , make use of , for advancement of their own . not seldom , likewise , i then thought upon those many thousand families undone , who sit and weep through want of what that day was wastfully and vainly , thrown away , at such a time , wherein both man and god , proceedings lookt for in another mode , and when , our publick hazards and distress , requir'd another way of thankfulness . upon that solemn day , ( not without wonder ) i saw and heard , the lightning , rain , and thunder wherewith god seem'd to answer and out-vy our guns and fire-works , ( though i was not nigh ) and such-resemblance had the works of art , to nature's , that they could not be apart distinguish'd ; but that , to prevent our error , the last was loudest , and infus'd more terrour . this , i observed well ; and furthermore took special heed , that nigh two moneths before , and likewise ever since , from rainy weather we were not oft free , one whole day together , until that royal triumph was begun , nor till that moment wherein it was done : yet , durst i not be so prophane , to say ( as one hath writ ) it dar'd not rain that day . nor at that time , flaminian like , durst i conjecture by a heathenish augurie what god thereby intended : but , with awe consider'd upon what i heard and saw : and i confess , the lightning , rain , and thunder at this our seed-time , caused me to ponder on that , which sumuel prayed god to send in harvest-time , and what that did portend ; which i conceive to be a meditation not then improper , for my contemplation . and , though some peradventure may suspect that these expressions , may some way reflect on what concerns them , it concerns him more whose cause and honour i prefer before all earthly things ; and can be not afraid , who ere shall be displeas'd with what i 've said ; for , i was barr'd from seeing what is done by men ; that , gods works might be mused on . such things , although we then much mind them not , should not amidst our triumphs be forgot ; and , that , ( which then by me was thought upon ) much more effectually , perhaps , was done in this condition which i now am in , than could in that state , wherein i have been : forgot therefore , by others , if it be it will seem no great wonderment to me ; for , who remember iosephs in their sports , or in the jollities at princes courts ? confinement ( which i once a damage thought ) to me , hath other priviledges brought . it manifests apparently to me who are my kinsmen , who my neighbours be ; and whether he who passeth by me than , be levite , priest , or a samaritan : for , neighbourhood and kindred , he best tryes that 's robbed , wounded , or imprison'd lyes . in liberty , i sometimes doubted whether they , who then came to visit me , were either my friends or foes , for , i found other while they whom i trusted most , did most beguile . but , few or none my visitants now are save they , whose visitations are sincere ; the friends i got , when i did walk abroad i gain'd my self : these , are made mine by god. these were acquired without pains or cost ; not won by merit , nor by small faults lost . the first , were for prosperity decreed , the latter , for my help , in time of need , and sought my body out , unknown before because , they heard it was distrest , and poor ; which hath to me , confinement sweeter made , than all the freedoms which i lately had ; and , me , with that communion of the saints , experimentally , it now acquaints , which , in this life enjoyed is , by all , who , in the life to come , enjoy it shall , a prison , cannot dreadful seem to me , for , there i first was taught my a , b , c , in sufferings : there , when i had scarcely past mine nonage , to be schooled i was place't . and , so long as the providence of god , was pleas'd , that , to instruct me with that rod , i should continue my abiding there , princes , my tutors , and correctors were . a prison , is that house of discipline , wherein the martyrs usually begin to be probationers ; it is the colledge of saints , wherein experimental knowledge is first acquired by a carnal sense of that , which tries their christian patience . prisons , to them , are sanctified temples , wherein , they by their meekness and examples preach to the world by deeds ( a powerful way ) what , many other do but meerly say . and , as our prelates , in each cathedral have several places , which they please to call more or less holy : so , there likewise be imprisonments of differing degree : the outer-ward , an entertainment gives most commonly to murtherers and thieves , or , such like malefactors , who displease the world sometimes , and interrupt her ease , for which they are confin'd , till their just guerdon they shall receive , or bribe her for a pardon ; and whereto she gives all advantages that may in prisons granted be to these . but , all her prisoners are not confin'd to wards , and receptacles of one kind . the inner-wards , which do to me appear the same that chancels unto churches are , are not made use of ( except now and then ) but for most holy and religious men . the deepest dungeons be reserv'd for those who dare our vices , or her lusts oppose ; or , things repugnant to our ends profess , ( when mov'd thereto by conscientiousness ) and , whosoere presumes to plead their cases , as innocents , doth hazard in like places his own restraint ; or else unto suspects , which peradventure may have worse effects . yet , freedom yields to none so much content , as these enjoy , by such imprisonment . for , they with inward comforts are delighted , whilst they with outward darkness are benighted : and sweet refreshments , in amongst them come when they are throng'd up in a nasty room . when , they of their familiars are depriv'd , they are by those , who knew them not , reliev'd ; when they from earthly men , fast lockt have been , celestial angels have sometime broke in ; knockt off their chains ; the gates and doors unbar'd the prison shook ; the sturdy iaylor scarr'd and made him ( falling down before them too ) cry , men and brethren , say , what shall we do ? a prison is the best retiring room that can be got ; the best museolum for him , wherein to contemplate , that would those objects without fallacy behold , which most concern him ; or would notions have of what he ought to do , hope or believe ; for , most of those things , which abroad he spies , either delude his ears , or blind his eyes , pervert his iudgement , or withdraw his mind from that , wherein his welfare he might find . a prison is a place ; which he that can make use of , as becomes a prudent man , findes there , more lasting , and more perfect solace than in the greatest earthly princes pallace , and , when he knows what priviledges are in this condition , will scorn all that 's there . in prison , quickly , understand he shall the worst that can to him , at last , befall . there , he may notice take , how most men pother themselves ; what plagues they are unto each other . how , causelesly men terrified are by those , to whom they dreadful would appear ; and , peradventure , if they patient be that , they pursued by their foes will see , by which their self-destruction shall be wrought , and those freed , whom , they into bondage brought . there , they may learn , that to make black or white , one hair , or add one straws-breadth to their height care nought avails ; and in that poor estate to laugh at all the worlds despight and hate : for , over them , no power then left she hath , except of prosecuting them to death , which them ten thousand fold will happier make than all , that she can either give or take . these are such benefits as i enjoy , by what , now seems my freedom to destroy . in prison , too , this priviledge i have , that , living , i descend into my grave , and by my contemplation can fore-see what my condition in that place will be . i search it to the bottom , by that spark of light , which shineth brightest in the dark . the terrours of that dungeon i fore-stall , i , ( as it were ) pre-act my funeral , and in a manner also , see and hear what will be said and done , when i am there ; which are advantages not to be known , whilst in the world i flutter up and down . in prison also , when least room i have , and close am kept , i , far beyond the grave do prospects view ; and can see pretty well what may concern men , both in heaven and hell ; whereof , if here i should my knowledge speak them , for phanatick dreams , the world would take ; and not believe the things i could declare , because , she knows that i was never there ; and , therefore , i le proceed again to show what , my experiments are here below . restraint , from me , hath totally shut out that frivelous , and that offensive rout , which interrupts my musings with discourse that 's either wholly vain , or somewhat worse : for , to nought else , it for the most part tends but fruitless complements , or graceless ends ; and , what among us , is at meetings blown , wrongs other mens affairs , or else our own , whereas , our words whilst here we are together , tend to the edifying of each other , in faith or manners ; or else , to improve that hope , that meekness , constancy and love which may enable , patiently to bear those burthens , wherewith we oppressed are : and , when our bodies are asunder gone , we never leave each other quite alone ; for , we ( ev'n when corporeally apart ) are present , both in spirit and in heart . though this fraternity did often minde me , till my imprisonment they could not finde me , nor did i know their persons . thou , therefore oh foolish world , to my content add'st more by my restraint , than if to me were given all carnal freedoms on this side of heaven ; and , if this be the great'st harms thou canst do , prethee , let every spight thou dost be two . but , all the comforts which best friends afford , ( as they are men ) may prove like ionah's gourd , for , as next morning , that , did wither quite which god did cause to spring up in one night , so , when the sun burns , or a sharp wind blows , this may as quickly fade , as it arose : for , death or injuries , do every day take those mens lives , or , their estates away who are most charitable , and , of bread they may have need , by whom i have been fed , for , unto all men underneath the sun that may betide which doth befall to one . not therefore , upon those things which god sends , but , on himself alone , my soul depends : here , all my confidence , vain world , is place't , or else i might be ruined at last ; and all my present hopes , as vain would be , as if i had repos'd my trust in thee . by this restriction , not a few temptations will be repelled ; many deviations of mine prevented ; duties better done ; things which have been forgot , more thought upon ; it peradventure may prepare me too , for what i 'm yet to suffer and to do , much better than that freedom did , or could , which , by the common tenure i did hold : and who knows , but some corporal mis-hap i may or did by this restraint escape , which might have else befell me when together the people throng'd and trod upon each other . which , though no more but shunning so much harm , as breaking of a neck , a legg , or arm , were considerable , and ten to one such mis-adventures daily fall upon some persons unconfin'd , when they least dread them , because , where dangers are , they little heed them . scap'd i no more here , than that slavish load of complementings , wherewithall abroad men tire themselves , and others ; that , alone sufficient were , if well consider'd on , to make amends for all the sufferings which my confinement now upon me brings . for , as to pay this life , i am a debter to nature , and then hope to have a better , my wants , restraints , and poverty do less afflict my body , by all that distress now laid upon it , than my soul hath been to hear and see , what i have heard and seen , whilest i had liberty abroad to go , and hear and see , what many say and do : with what dissembling complements , caresses , affected speeches , flattering addresses , and false pretendings , men of ev'ry sort do cheat , fool , claw , and one another court , as if they did realities intend when , in meer nullities , at last they end . how , letters , promises , vows , declarations , orders , oaths , covenants , and protestations annihilated are , and turn to smoak or stinks , which rather poison us , and choak than truly nourish ; and how they go on in acting still , such things as they have done who are destroyed ; and yet , nere the less , dream they pursue the waies of happiness . i am , as well pleas'd , with my sad condition , as others , with what they have in fruition , and , if desire a longer life i could , for nothing else the same desire i should , except it were that i might live to see what god will do , and what their end will be . frequent i cannot , with conveniency ( as lately , when i had my liberty , i might have done ) the publick congregation ; but , i , upon god's word , by meditation , ( to exercise my self ) may set apart the time they dedicate ; and both my heart and my best faculties , employ that day , in preaching somewhat to the world my way which will advance god's glory , and improve my brethren in good life , hope , faith , and love : or , that prepare , which thereunto may tend , when daies and times , with me will have an end : and , god ( i know ) confines not saving graces to ordinary means , forms , times , or places , nor is displeased when his services endeavour'd are , without contentiousness , as we are able , and with upright heart , though of our duties we may fail in part . some other notions , which in this estate are apprehended , i might now relate , which further may illustrate those mis-haps that man by an imprisonment escapes but , they are trifles to what i possess , in my constrained solitariness . for , though it be not what i might have chose ( had i been left unto mine own dispose ) it proves much better : and for that respect what i most naturally do affect i dare not absolutely to request , ( much less make choice of ) but to him that best knows what 's best for me , wholly have resign'd both mine own self , and things of ev'ry kind . 't is he , who hath assign'd this lot , and all what ere it be , which thereby doth befall ; and , this restraint , not only makes him dearer to me , but also , to him , draws me nearer , so that the more my troubles do increase , the nearer unto him is my access . he , fortifies my confidence in him , and heartens me , the world thus to contemn , as boldly as if doubtless cause there were for her to fear me , more than i fear her . i have my fears , but they are nothing else save what perdues and scouts , and centinels are to an army : they do not dis-heart a valiant souldier ; though they make him start at first alarm ; but cause him to prepare for those assaults , which nigh approaching are . when i am judged , in an undone-case , because , confin'd , in wants , and in distress ; when all my outward comforters are gone , and , i lie musing on my bed alone of what i knew before , or heard that day ; of what my friends fear , and my foes do say ; what men they are , who seem with me offended , what is already done , and what intended ; sometimes a little shuddring doth begin , as if a panick-fear were breaking in , which he marks , ere to me it doth appear forthwith , steps down betwixt me and that fear supplies defects , expelleth doubts and sadness , replenisheth my heart with sober gladness , about me sets his angels , watch to keep , and ( as to his beloved ) gives me sleep . these things considered , prisons and restraints ( which have been long , the portion of the saints ) are not alone things little to be fear'd , but also many times to be preferr'd before those liberties , and all those things that can be found in palaces of kings ; what ere their flatterers are pleas'd to say , by fruitless hopes , to drive their fears away . for , more are there endanger'd , more destroy'd : there , many times , is less content enjoy'd , less outward safety , and a great deal less of what conduceth to true happiness , than in a prison : and who ere well heeds what , there is done , and what thereon succeeds will finde cause , their condition to bewail sometimes , much more , than his that 's in a gaol . for , errors flowing from prosperity indanger more , because unseen they lie . men may by their afflictions be prepar'd for whatsoere can follow afterward , and are oft fitted by a lingring grief , for future happiness in death or life : but , while corrupted by excessive treasures , befool'd with honours , and bewitch'd with pleasures , the cause of self-destruction still they nourish ; they grow as brutish as the beasts that perish ; and , daily so besotted , by degrees that , sense of their humanity they leese ; so long dream , they are god's ( or somewhat greater , till they are devils , or but little better ; and suddenly , when they think all goes well , sink from supposed happiness to hell . most men , ( yea very many of the best ) their talents , till they palm-like down are prest , improve not ; nor their duties truly do , till by afflictions they are whipt thereto . a prison , was long time the school , wherein chast ioseph those progressions did begin , which , him forth from obscurity did bring to be the second person to a king. ionas was not obedient to god's call till he , both by a storm , and by a whale , was disciplin'd : and , if i had a thought my duties were performed as they ought in any thing , affirmed it should be that , thereto my afflictions fitted me : for , such like simples , as i am , require to make them yield forth oyl , the press , or fire , my flinty-nature gives not out one spark to light my self , or others in the dark , till knockt with steel . this knowledge i have gain'd of mine own temper , and it is unfain'd . to be imprison'd , slander'd , or made poor , shall therefore , henceforth , frighten me no more , nor make me , whilst i live asham'd of either of those three lots , nor of them altogether . priests , prophets , kings and saints , yea ( whilst abode he made on earth ) the glorious son of god was pleased to submit to all of them ( but to the latter two in an extream ) and , with such company , i le undergo my share , and think , i 'm thereby honour'd too . to this effect , much more might here be said , but , this will be sufficient , if well weigh'd , which , i suspect ; for , very few men heed , or mind , long , what they hear , or what they read . slander is more beneficiall than praise . who , can express the pain of being stung with such a fiery serpent as the tongue ? or , what can cure it , but his being ey'd , whom , once , the brazen serpent typifi'd ? 't is far more sharp than arrows , darts or spears ; down to the heart , it pierces through the ears ; not only wounds , but frighteth also more than murthring canons , when they loudest roar ; afflicteth us , whilst here we draw our breath , and , gangreeve-like , so spreadeth after death ( ev'n to posterity upon our names ) that it destroys the life of honest fames . this sury slander , hath been quarter'd long , in rotten-row , and hart-street , at the tongue ; her magazeens and forges are all there , the shop at which she vents them , is the ear , in ev'ry town and city ; and no places or persons , her aspersions and disgraces can long avoid : for , ev'ry where she scatters that shot wherewith the forts of fame she batters . so venemous it is , that every touch proves mortal , or indangers very much , and nothing shooteth more impoysoned pellets , except it be the flatteries of prelates . i must confess , that many years ago i therewith have been often wounded so that , very well , content i could have been to lye down , where i might no more be seen ; and , my stupidity is not , yet , such as not to feel indignities as much as any man : but , i have learned how to change my sicknesses to physick , now : and when the world intendeth me a shame by retroversion to convert the same to that , which from be spattrings purifies , and makes me both her blame and praise despise , no more displeas'd , or pleased therewithall than if a whibling cur , should fawn or bawl . for , unto those oppressions , heretofore and now lay'd on me , whatsoever more the world shall add ; though they a while oppress , will , shortly , make them , not alone much less but , also none at all ; and wheel about upon her self , as soon as my turn's out . praise , is a pleasing thing , to flesh and blood , yet , often doth it much more harm than good ; puffs up with pride , ore-weening and vain glory , or , with affection to things transitory beyond a safe mean ; and makes men suppose themselves to be , what ev'ry neighbour knows they are not ; yea , what they themselves do see they neither are , nor possibly can be . whereas , to be without a cause despis'd , disprais'd , reproach'd , scoft , jeer'd and scandaliz'd , an undue self-opinion doth remove true meekness and humility improve ; brings constancy and patience to their tryal , and , at the last , to such a self-denial , as in the close will more contentment give us than all , whereof a slander can deprive us . the flatteries of his lords , made joash stumble , reviling speeches , made king david humble , good men , by praises , oft , are evil made , but , by reproaches harm they never had . the world , which best is pleas'd with her own baubles for that false titulary honor scrabbles , which is compos'd of aiery attributes , or , which opinion only constitutes : and , all her happiness , dependant seems on vulgar approbations and esteems , which are , indeed , her portion : but , to those , who can look both beyond , and through the shows , that such toies make , nought therein doth appear to merit their desire , love , hate or fear : and , therefore , they respect them , ( come , or go ) as reason them obliges thereunto , or , as things , which ( if grace divine be granted ) them , indifferently , may be possest or wanted ; make such use as they serve to , whilst they have and yield them , when resum'd , to those who gave them . for , had external honours in this place , been truly more essential than disgrace , to happiness eternal ; christ had waved the scandals of the cross ; we had been saved and sanctifi'd should be without those troubles , scorns and reproaches , which the world now doubles and may redouble : yea , in vain had he a promise made , that they should blessed be who in his sufferings do with him partake , and are reproach'd and slander'd for his sake . these things consider'd , i am at full rest ; slanders infringe not my chief interest . good or ill words will me no more concern when i am dead , than when i was unborn . and , whilst i live , ( as is inferr'd before ) they harm a little , and they profit more . if scandals neither mend nor mar my health , increase not troubles , nor decrease my wealth , save in opinion onely ; all those lostes are cur'd , if my vote , that opinion crosses . and ( prare who list ) i will as merry bee as is a pye upon a cherry-tree . praise , or dispraises , if so be my heart assures , that neither of them by desert to mee belongs , my own phanatick brain is cause of all , where of i do complain , or take delight in : praise , blame , bless , or curse , i am no whit the better , or the worse ; and , all men are as much concern'd as i in what 's then spoken be it truth , or lye. if of a hundred crimes i guilty were , all which , as evidently did appear , as in a cloudless day , the sun at noon ; the world , but as the spots within the moon , would look upon them , if , for my defence i have a face well braz'd with impudence ; an oily tongue , a crocodiles moist eye , can finde great friends , bribe , flatter , fawn and lye , ore-awe my neighbours , or , my self express a friend to them , in their licentiousnesse . but , were i , both in words and deeds , as free from just reproof , as mortal man may be , had i , but one great neighbour , who envies all men suppos'd more honest , or more wise , than hee is thought ; therewith a neighbourhood , which takes delight in nothing that is good ; abhorring all , as their injurious foes , who , them , in their unrighteous waies oppose ; or , if i be constrained to have dealing , with such , by some relation , or nigh dwelling , who think , there 's nothing rational or just , but , what tends to their profit , or their lust ; it is impossible to scape the wrongs of wicked hands , or of malicious tongues : and , therefore , he , with whom it thus doth fare must study patience , how his lot to bear ; and in this case , can look for no defence but from gods justice , and his innocence , which is sufficient unto them that know what consolations from those fountains flow . what , is there to be fear'd in slandrous tales , whether , they shall be either true or false ? a false report more mischieves those who spread it , than harmeth me . if it impairs my credit , i may recover it again ere long , and also peradventure , by that wrong improve some vertue , or abate some pride , within my self till that time , unespy'd . although hard words , give harder knocks than stones , and crack our credits , yet , they break no bones ; and , if unjustly thrown , by spightful fingers , they prove most mischievous unto their flingers . one fault which conscience findes , afflicts me more than twenty slanders , yea than twenty score : so long as that lyes quietly in me , i shall not care who my accusers be ; and , when that shall accuse me ( as sometime it doth ) i sue out an appeal to him who straight acquits me ; else i must confess i should as much fear mine own righteousness as all my sins ; for , i esteem them both alike impure , and as a menstruous cloath . if i am justly blam'd for things misdone , or , for faults wherein i am going on , it doth by bringing on me shame of face , repentance bring , and to that , state of grace from which i falling was ; and stay the course which might have drawn me on from bad to worse , until , that by habituated sin , endless impenitency had broke in : much more , therefore , to these i am a debter who speak ill , than to those men who speak better than i deserve : and , though that in their ends they differ , they may be as useful friends who speak of me opprobriously , sometimes , as they , who praise me , or excuse my crimes . for , i have long observ'd that all relations , nigh or far off ( what ever obligations have nearly joyned them , or whatsoere their quarrels , bonds , or disobligements are ) be ( for the most part ) either friends or foes , but , as a prosp'rous , or a cross wind blows ; or , as their inter'st or expectancy may be secur'd , or doth at hazzard lye . the love or hatred , which i finde in them , differs but in the measure , or the time , or , in th' occasions , which have them inclin'd , to friendliness , or else to be unkinde . they frown or smile they praise , or they disgrace , destroy and save , and stab , or else imbrace , even as the fit which comes upon them , takes them , and either pleased , or displeased makes them . such will their words and deeds be then to thee , what ere thou art to them , or they to thee . as bitter language , i have heard 'twixt those that were dear lovers , as 'twixt greatest foes , yea , and more bitter too , in some respects considering their causes and effects . a foes revilings very sharp appear , but , when our friends exasperated are with , or without cause given of offence , there is between them greater difference ( or at the least , but very little less ) than tasted is between the bitterness of unpeel'd wallnut-kernels , and strong gall , vvhen with our tongues distinguish them we shall . moreover , i have sometimes also seen that , they , who have unto each other been most mischievous , so reconcil'd together ( though little vertue hath appear'd in either ) so kind in words and deeds , for outward ends , and , so ingaged mutually as friends in their concernments , as if they had never at variance been ; but , hearty friends for ever . vvhich , when i mind , i neither pleasure have in praises , nor do slanders me bereave of much content , from whom soe're they come , so long as i finde innocence at home ; nor , in my own respect at any time , so griev'd am i , as otherwhile for them vvho have mis-censur'd me ; because i know from what distempers usually they flow ; and that the sob'rest and the wisest men have some deliriums on them now and then . exception is not alwayes to be took by what shall by a friend or foe be spoke : for , men in passion , whether they appear . pleas'd or displeas'd , speak few things as they are , nor alwayes as they think , but , rather say that , which the passion bearing then chief sway transports them to ; although a wound it give to their own souls , which pains them whilst they live . but , friends and foes , both good and ill report , and , all terrestrial things of every sort , vvill shortly have an end ( with me at least . ) the worst , as well as that whereof the best esteem i had , will into nothing fly : my slanders , and my slanderers will dye . at present , therefore them no more i dread than if i saw they were already dead ; and , that which dead or living , shall to me befall , will equally forgotten be . by living , i , their scandals may out-live , and good proofs of my innocency give . vvhen i am dead , what ever men shall please to speak or do , it cannot me disease : and , they who after death do men defame , or shall expose their bodies unto shame , bring that dishonour which they did intend to others , on themselves , at latter end : yea , make some question , and suspect their merits ; repute them persons of ignoble spirits ; and , what they hoped should confirm their peace , their terrours and their dangers will increase . slanders ( though poyson in themselves ) have been to me a precious antidote for sin , preventing , not a few times more than one , that , wherein else perhaps i had mis-done , ( and i , thereby , effects like his have found who had a sickness cured by a wound ) whereas , contrariwise , a vain applause of sins or follies , are a frequent cause . i well remember , that , when i was young ( and in both kinds an object of the tongue , as now i am ) i reaped , many wayes , by slanders , much more profit than by praise . for , praises made me sometimes over-ween , and ( as if no defects in me had been ) neglect the means , that , supplements might add to what , i more in show , than substance had . it , likewise , me to envy did expose , from which great disadvantages arose , and scandals , without cause : but grace divine cross'd thereby , what the devil did design : for , defamation , so soon was begun , that , what it charg'd me with , was never done . that , sin prevented was , and many more by sending of the scandal forth before the crime was acted ; so , into a blessing a curse was turn'd , which merits this confessing ; and also , me obliges , all my dayes , on all occasions , to give god the praise ; for , if , perhaps it had over-flowed then , the stream had never kept his bounds again . the scoffs and jeers , cast on me by the rimes of some reputed poets in these times have been my great advantage : for , th' esteem which in my youthful dayes i had of them had else perhaps , from my simplicity drawn me , by their familiarity to those affected vanities with which they have infected fools , and claw'd their itch . were i but as ambitious of that name a poet , as they are , and think i am , it might a little vex me , when i hear how often , in their pamphlets me they jear , because , truth seasonably i convey to such as need it , in a homely way , best pleasing unto those who do not care to crack hard shells in which no kernels are ; or for strong lines , in which is little found , save an affected phrase , and empty sound . but , i do read them with a smiling pitty to finde them to be wicked , who are witty . at their detractions , i do not repine ; their poems i esteem as they do mine : their censures , i with sleighting overpass , who , like words without sense , wit without grace ; and , better am contented , without cause to hear their mis-reports , than their applause . as also , that , they should by pantaloons admired be , and honour'd by buffoons . yea , as iob said , should they a book compile against me ( as they may , and did erewhile ) i would receive it , on my shoulders bear it , and as a crown , upon my head would wear it . my fearleness of slanders doth not flow from ignorance , which hinders me to know how , i am scandaliz'd : for it appears in print and i have heard it through both ears . i daily hear what ignominious lyes detraction , to defame me doth devise . i know , whence they proceed ; whereto they tend , in what likewise they possibly may end : and it would stagger and affright me too , unless i knew the worst , all this could do for , they , who idolize the prelacy impute to me no less than blasphemy , and sacriledge : and , i may well expect that , when their hopes have taken full effect , though they with me at present , do but dandle , they then will curse me with bell , book and candle . how ever , for their persons i will pray : for , malice hath not mov'd me to gain-say their prelacy ; nor hope to get again what they usurp , and doth to me pertain : but , meerly conscientiousness of that which in my place i vow'd to vindicate . some , call me traytor too ; but well i wot , they do not so beleeve , or know me not . i never did betray my trust to any , though i my self have been betray'd by many . with traytors i have numbred beenf or one , and serv'd their ends , yet i my self was none : for , if like absolone they did pretend to sacrifice , and had another end , i went on in simplicity of heart , and did not from my principles depart . if they intended , or committed treason , i wronged not my conscience , or my reason . by ought mis-done , except it were , perchance , through over-sight , or else through ignorance ; for which , the plagues now epidemical , to me , as unto other men befall . i never was in any factious plot , nor likely seems it , by what i have got , that , with them in their actings , i was one vvho , thriv'd by those designs they carried on , though being subject to the present law , i now do suffer , like jack fletchers daw. but , howsoere , i seem to merit blame none , to the king , are truer than i am . yet , if in fame , we credit may repose , i am designed to be one of those , vvho shall not be vouchsaf'd that common grace , vvhich at his coronation granted was . god's will be done : perhaps , the king well knows i need not , what on others he bestows ; or , to me , singly , will his favour show , that i his magnanimity may know ; and , that he will more gracious be to those vvho , him did not maliciously oppose , than they , whom i did serve , were to their friends , because they did not serve them , to their ends . but , if report hath not divulg'd a lye , vvhat , can i lose , or others get thereby ? my whole estate , already is bereft , and , what will there be found , where's nothing left ? my life , you 'l say ; alas ! that 's little worth , it hath been wasting , ever since my birth ; and ( when it was at best ) too poor a thing , to satisfie the vengeance of a king. it will to most men seem ridiculous , to hear a lion rampant , kill'd a mouse , or , see an eagle stoop down from on high , to trusse a titmouse , or a butterfly . the dread of such a loss will not come neer me , for , age will shortly kill me , though he spare me ; and , when there 's no conveniency of living , life , neither is worth asking or the giving . but god's intentions , and the hearts of kings , are such inscrutable and hidden things , that , none can search their bottomes ; then much less can they be fathom'd by maliciousness . their wayes of working their own pleasures out , are , many times , by wheeling round about , by cross and counter-actings , and by those which seem'd their own designments to oppose . the faithfull'st men , they do expose oft-times to hazzards ; or wirh such as are for crimes condemn'd , they number them ; or , prove them by desertions , dis-respects , and poverty ; and , frequently , do fit them for those places wherein they best may serve them , by disgraces ; but principally , at those times , wherein , hypocrisie , becomes the reigning-sin . more things i might insert , which have relations in this kinde , to my own prevarications , and , to th' improvements , which have oft ensu'd by scandals , which i then would have eschew'd . but , my experiments will work on none , vvho cannot by their own , be wrought upon . consider therefore all ye unto whom this writing , by god's providence doth come , vvhat , in your selves and others , you have heeded , vvhich hath from slanders , and from praise proceeded ; and , you shall finde more by the last undone than by the former , at least , ten to one . according to our proverb , the bell clinketh just so , as in his fancy , the fool thinketh and , they who flattring praises love to hear , immediately , such to themselves appear , as represented by their parasite , though no more like than black-swans are to white . such panegyricks i have sometime seen that , hard to be resolved , it had been , by him , whose judgement you therein should crave , whether , the panegyrist were more knave than he was fool , for whom , the same was made : but , of their equal impudence i had no doubt at all , when wistly i had heeded what one gave , tother took , and what succeeded . for , i have oftentimes observ'd , thereby , good men deprav'd ; great men , to tyranny incouraged ; that , which is due to men by natures law , at first , they seize and then those attributes , at last , intrude upon that ought to be ascrib'd to god alone . which evidences , that , immodest praise is worse than slander , and a ground-work layes , whereon a superstructure may be built , to sink the builders , down to shame and guilt . slanders , and persecutions of the tongue a portion likewise is , which doth belong unto the saints ; and sanctifi'd they are by him , with whom , an individual share each must expect ; we , do but only sup at brim , he drunk the bottome of the cup : we altogether merited the blame , he underwent the sorrow and the shame . false witnesses against him were suborn'd ; his glory was to his dishonour turn'd ; his nearest friends forsook him , and forswore him , his foes preferr'd a murtherer before him ; his innocency not alone reproaching , but , likewise most injuriously incroaching : upon his righteous person , him pursu'd till by a shameful death , he death subdu'd , and breaking from the grave , to heav'n ascended , by angels to immortal life attended ; where , now inthron'd , he thrones prepared hath for all , who follow him in that rough path ; and every slander , scorn , reproach and shame , he suffr'd here , adds glory to his name . this is the way , and hath been ever since , through which all men must pass , who go from hence to that eternity , where shall be worn the robes of honour , when the rags of scorn shall off be thrown . on him i fix mine eyes , and , that , will me enable to despise terrestrial shame and honour : that , makes all my troubles , when at greatest , seem but small . that , makes me , whilst my body is confin'd , take pleasure , in the freedomes of the minde ; not dreading present , or ensuing wrongs , of wicked hands , or of malicious tongues . this paradox , it helps me to maintain , that , where the grace of god is not in vain , more profit , bitterest reproach affords , than all the worlds applauses , and fair words . poverty is more profitable than riches . another black-guard hath beleagur'd me , that , seems to be the worst of all the three for , therewith , whosoever hath to do , still is in danger of these other two , imprisonment and slander , who attend on poverty unto her latter end . yet , whatsoever in her self she seem , she merits not a total dis-esteem : for , 't is an instrument of good and evil , oft-times imploy'd against us by the devil , and , oft by god himself , to such effects as may prevent the mischief he projects , by tempting to those manifold abuses which riches being mis-employ'd produces . there are two sorts of poverty , that spring from diffring roots ; effects they likewise bring both diffring and alike : for , providence maugre all humane wit and diligence , makes many poor , and all their industries rendreth successeless by contingencies , vvhich no man can fore-see , or wholly shun vvho shall be thereby outwardly undone . this poverty , afflicts , at first , as much as any , but , disparages not such as bear it well ; and though it grieveth many , ( except by their own fault ) destroyes not any . the other sort , is sordid , vile , and base , yet , draws her pedigree , from such a race , as doth in country , city , and in court still bear an extraordinary port : for , by the fathers , or the mothers side , it sprung from prodigality or pride , or , from improvidence or idleness , and , is indeed , near kin to all excess , though her alliance , these , now scorn and wave , because , that she is ragged , and they brave . she , at this present time , both against me and others is employ'd : but , though she be made use of by the world ; yet , i well know the world it self abhors her as a foe , and , with a slavish dreadfulness doth fear her , on whatsoere occasion , shee comes near her . yea , till this bug-bear , was more known to mee , i , dreaded her almost as much as shee , and , did the best i could , to keep her from that nearness whereunto she now is come . for , he that would disgrace , and bring us to that state , which questionless might us undo , let him but justly say that wee are poor , and , to destroy us , hee need say no more . vvhereas disgrac'd thereby we shall be much if , we continue to be very rich , of whatsoever crime or crimes , we stand convicted by the known laws , of this land. for , vvealth cannot alone our pardons buy and blot out every former infamy ; but , in a short time also , make us capable of trusts or places that be honourable ; yea though they be those places which dispence to all the people , law and conscience ; and marry ladies ( neither nor poor , nor painted ) as if our bloods had with no crimes been tainted . but , to be poor , implieth every whit , as if we had nor honesty , nor wit , and , every thing , which since our lives begun , vvee honestly , nor prudently have done , shall so traduced be as if that nought had e're by us , been well done , spoke , or thought . there , where we have been kindly entertain'd , a civil usage , hardly shall be daign'd . there , where we have been honour'd in times past , neighbours and kinsmen will their doors make fast ; our old familiars will our persons shun , like rats , our servants from the house will run , which , then , will be a place of desolation , and few thenceforth approach our habitation , but , serjeants , shreeves , or bayliffs ( beasts of prey ) that little , which is left , to fetch a way : and , when there doth remain nor sticks nor stones , dead or alive , they 'l take our flesh and bones . if all i should expresse , that might be said in this kind , you would think mee still afraid of poverty ; and , that which i should speak , in some , perhaps , would such impressions make that , they with difficulty would beleeve what benefits i now thereby receive : forbearing therefore , that which i might add i 'le tell what profits may thereby be had ; that , others ( who can think i do not lye ) may be no more afraid thereof than i : that , also , they who thereby grieved are , may in my consolations have a share , to bear those burchens without discontent , which are now on them , or seem imminent : for , little i will mention which was brought by reading , or by hearsay to my thought ; but , that philosophy , which reason teaches , ( experience hath confirm'd , and god's grace unto my heart ; that , it may sympathize with their hearts , who the same shall not despise : preaches which , though exprest in language rude and plain , will , peradventure , to good use remain , when they , who of their elegancies boast , are , with their kickshaws , in oblivion lost . when most are also , quite forgot , whom they now dream , shall by their poems , live for aye ; and , when , that , which they despicable deem , vvith wise and honest men , shall finde esteem . in my restraint , i therefore , do not whine ; at my reproaches , i do not repine , nor murmure at my losses ; nor want sense of that is in them , which may give offence . my seeming-friends , i must confess , are fewer , but , they whom now god gives mee are much truer ; for , these that now i have , i finde more willing to give a pound , than those to pay a shilling . yet , some of these are so poor , that , i 'm fain them , from their free donations to restrain , because , that of my sufferings they are grown more sensible , than they are of their own . and this , an evidence of that doth give , vvhich pleaseth better than what i receive ; since it demonstrates , god , hath in this nation a people , capable of his compassion . i am not ignorant how much disgrace is thrown on poverty , nor in what base account they are , who , thereby are constrain'd meerly , by charity , to bee maintain'd : yet nought ashamed am of that estate vvhich most so scorn , and so abominate . for without loss of honour , men of merit , this portion very many times inherit . great consuls , and renowned generals ( in such an exigent as oft befalls to very many thousands in this nation ) have had relief without dis-reputation by common charity : and , antient story hath kept memorials of it to their glory . but , i refer that which i might express ( to take this blur off ) to another place . to have subsistance by meer charity is , to subsist by god , immediately , and , they are wicked , or , vain fools , at least , by whom those exhibitions are disgrac't . for , very many of god's favourites have been oft , thereby , from the worlds despights preserv'd : yea , to the world , it would appear if shee would heed it , that , her minions are expos'd to such a lot , and ( without shame ) have been by alms preserved as i am : and , not in those necessities alone , vvhich by mis-accidents are undergone , are they reliev'd ; but , very many be thereby likewise upheld , in that degree , vvhich much is honour'd ; yea , ev'n to excesse , in outward splendor , and vain pompousnesse . for , this way , not alone are monks and friers maintained , with their abbots and their priors , but , even the great prelates , all their lives , by charities abused donatives ; and , yet as loftily advance their crest as if they had been barons born , at least , precedency usurping above those , by whom , they from obscurity arose . by most men , poverty is thought so base , that , they repute it for the great'st disgrace vvhich can betide them , by what way soever it comes ; or howsoere they shall indeavour to keep it off ; and think it not their least dishonour , when enforced to subsist by charity , although it shall be used vvith thankfulness , and in no wise abused . and , many seek to turn it to my shame that i now brought to this condition am . yet , what 's to mee befallen worse or more than to good , wise , and great men heretofore ? renowned princes in preceding ages , have sought , and had supplies and patronages . from forein kings and states , in their distresses vvithout reproach : yea , he that now possesses these three great kingdomes was by indigence constrained ( not a very long time since ) by charity , to be both cloath'd and fed ; to slake his hunger with a poor mans bread , and , to accept it , not alone from those who were his friends , but also from his soes , ( whose gifts were baits , whose table was a snare , and , of whom , if hee do not well beware , more mischief , and , dishonour will be done him than by the poverty then brought upon him . ) some other persons also , of great birth , from place to place have wandr'd through the earth maintain'd by the charity alone , sometime by many , and sometimes by one ; and other while , have seem'd so left by all , that they into great poverty did fall . yet n'eretheless , whilst they have preservation retain still in the world some reputation . they are meer fools , or worse , who do beleeve that , more disgrace , than these i can receive from such an in-come : for ( by what i gather from thence ) it is a real honour rather , that , god supplieth ( as it were ) from heaven , when earthly wealth and honours are bereaven . when israel had been captiv'd sev'nty year , hee made , even those , by whom inslav'd they were them , from their tedious thraldome to redeem , vvhen there was none to help or pity them . it was their honour , that their preservation should be vouchsafed , so to admiration , that nations all , might in all times to come , by heeding it , consider well , from whom they must in such like cases aid expect ; and , that , though by a long delay'd effect they seem forgot , and outward hopes quite past , there will bee a deliverer at last , by whom , those wants for which they have been scorn'd shall , to their honour , certainly be turn'd . what is it more to my dis-reputation that god provideth for my preservation by charity , than 't is disgrace to those who their estates by fire or water lose and , thereupon the state vouchsafes a breef , whereby to ask , and to receive releef ? nay , what supply can be so honourable as that , which from hearts , by hands charitable is raised and conferr'd , ( unaskt , unsought ) by them , of whom i never heard , or thought ? this way ( which without shame i do confess ) god hath vouchsaf'd releef in my distress , to mee , as hee to men in like estate , hath done in former times , and now of late . e're while at piedmont in their persecutions our brethren hee reliev'd by contributions ; and , should i think it my disgrace can be that , hee doth for my family and mee provide , as for a nation ? i beleeve it blame deserv'd , if so i should conceive . though i had ask'd ; what without asking came , none could impute it justly to my blame all things consider'd : for , a publick score , demonstrates , that this nation owes mee more than food and rayment ; and that , in the fine my want , will more be their disgrace than mine . my beggarly condition , is a portion more noble , than wealth gotten by extortion , bribes , projects , and those cheats whereby some bee advanced to great wealth , and high degree , thought honourable : yea benevolences , and forced loans , which otherwhile by princes exacted be , much more disgraceful are than what my benefactors do confer ; for , at my need , it giveth mee releef , and , to the givers , is no wrong or grief . i hear that is disgracefully objected vvhich by my poverty is now effected : my house , they say , is desolate become , and , i confin'd am to a single room ; my wife is of her dowry quite despoil'd ; i cannot give the portion of a childe to son or daughter , which a while ago i offred , and was able to bestow : and , that , where lately we had good respect scoffs , flouts and jeers , are added to neglect ; and , though these hardships possibly i may vvith patience bear , yet , certainly , say they , these his relations cannot : yes , they can and have done , ever since the storm began : for , we fore-saw it , and we did prepare a stock of patience , those events to bear . my spouse is christ's spouse , by a law divine , more his , than she by humane law is mine . our children ( though the world usurps a power o're them ) are likewise , much more his than our ; and , of her scorn , though she an object makes them he neither helpless leaves them , or forsakes them . he made this globe , with all that therein is ; all things that are in heav'n and earth are his ; vve know it , and therefore do not despair that here on earth ; our loss hee will repair , or , give us better portions , where , they never shall be impair'd , but injoy'd for ever . yea , i am confident , that , if it may but add unto god's glory any way , or , make for their advancement in that path vvhich , to eternity , a tendance hath , he 'l either keep them virgins to attend the lamb , when he brings babel to an end , or , marry them ere long , without my cost , and , give them better portions than they lost , or , at the worst , they shall content be made vvith ( be it more or less ) what may be had . this , without wavering , beleeve i do , and , others will perhaps , beleeve it too , vvhen they consider marriages in heaven by god himself are made , and portions given , in love and vertue , without prepossessing of any other medium , but his blessing . wealth , in itself , is neither good nor bad , nor poverty , nor takes from , nor doth add to happiness essential , but , as they are sanctifi'd , and as our games wee play : and , of the two , in that , least danger lies , vvhich we most seek to shun , and most despise . wealth , makes men wasteful , dissolute and lazy , in manners rude , in mind and body crazy ; makes bold-men cowards , free-men doth inslave ; many , to lose themselves , their wealth to save . it so befools them , that asse-like , some bear their golden-load , till , meat for worms they are , enjoying no more profit by their treasure , save meerly , an imaginary pleasure vvhilst here they live ; and , as if hope it gave it would be useful to them in the grave they hugg it , hoard it , and do lock it fast , ( as long as living breath in them doth last ) not sensible of any detriment vvhich they do thereby cause , or might prevent . and , i beleeve , three families , for one , that thereby thrive , by riches are undone , through those debauchments whereto they allure , till , soul or bodies ruine , they procure . contrariwise , despised poverty , incites to courage , and to industry , breaks thraldoms yoaks ; cures often , those diseases vvhich luxury ingenders , or increases ; for , 't is an antidote against the gout , and helps to purge all those ill humours out , that , send men to their graves , by an excess either in gluttony , or drunkenness . exorbitant desires it doth restrain , an empty belly makes a witful brain : a crosseless purse , to him small danger brings vvho bears it ; for , before the theef hee sings . and , when he dies , that which makes those men sad , vvho , whilst they liv'd , things in abundance had , afflicts not him that 's poor ; for he 's depriv'd of nought , but what opprest him whilst he liv'd . a very poor man also , scapes their fates , vvho are belov'd , or hang'd for their estates , and , some at this time , ( i beleeve ) will judge the last of these , to be a priviledge . though many , not a little do rejoyce in that rude , loud , and everlasting noise vvhich , in most rich mens houses you shall hear , vvhere every room is made a thorow-fare ; or , where , so many servants help to do their works , as make one bus'ness , more than two ; vvhere , for each man who faithfully obeyes him , the master feeds another , who betrayes him and , thrice as many , who , by night or day do steal , perhaps , or spoil , or waste away more ( oftentimes ) than would the charges bear of paying twice their wages , for that year : though many like this ; 't is to me an ease that poverty hath freed me quite from these . i , now , finde much more joy , than in much pelf , that , i have learned how to serve my self ; to brush my cloak , my garments to unloose , put on and off , my stockings and my shooes , and , that , without my servants , i can bee as well content , as they are without mee ; i know both how to want , and to abound ; and much more pleasure , i , in this have found , than in choyce meats , that in a time of need , on bread alone , i savourly can seed , or ; on as scanty , and as homely fare ( in my old age ) as men that poorest are : yet , be both more in health , and no lesse able , than when god gave a fully furnish'd table , with meat so well cook't , that it did invite at every meal , a double-appetite . and , i , whose worst apparel us'd to be as good as any mans of my degree , can in those garments , without shame , appear which , i , but lately was asham'd to wear ; unto which confidence , till want had brought mee , philosophy , that lesson never taught mee . i , must likewise , ingenuously confess that , my distractions have been ten times less since i had nothing left , than whil'st i had vvhat , in opinion , mee a rich man made : and , this is gain'd by losing what is gone , that , now , 'twixt having wealth , and having none , i know the difference to be so small , that , upon neither of them , dote i shall : for , as much certainty , i do perceive in that uncertainty , at which i live as is in any temporal estate of goods or lands ( especially of late ) now , therefore , i desire not to be rich , or to be poor , because ( not knowing which will best advantage mee ) i to his pleasure have left it , who , knows what estate , and measure of wealth and poverty , best fit mee shall to do that , whereto hee vouchsafes a call. i neither wealth nor poverty will chuse ; nor , which soere he gives will i refuse . but , most men would have somewhat of their own , as if supplies by charity bestown , would sooner fail them ; yea , although their father well cloaths and feeds them , they desire much rather to finger their whole portion , that they might pursue their own desires , out of his sight . some other , altogether do rely on their own prudence , and self-industry , and , of contingencies , are so afraid that , thus within themselves their hearts have said ; we possibly , into such wants may fall , and , so deserted likewise be of all by whom we have been harbour'd , cloath'd and sed , ( some of them being ruin'd , and some dead ) that , unless wee can some reserve provide , whereby , what e're haps , wee may be supply'd , wee may become exceeding miserable ; especially , if us to dis-enable , old age , restraint , and sickness should increase , and , to necessities , add helplesness . should this befall ( as possibly it may ) our poverty would be too great , they 'l say , vvith patience to be born : alas ! poor men , i 'le grant all this may happen : but , what then ? did ever you yet know , or see , or hear , that lands or goods freed any from this fear ? if not , how can you hope to bring to pass that , which by no man , yet effected was ? have you not still a god ? and , is not hee , a refuge , though all other failing be ? your trust was never plac'd on him alone , if him , you cannot trust , when all is gone . vvhile somewhat 's left , whereby subsist we may , as david said , wee boast of him all day , but , bee assur'd , that e're from hence yee go , hee 'l make proof , whether it be thus or no. him , and our own cause , wee do much mistake , vvhen 't is at best , the same at worst , wee make , and , so much on his gifts our hearts are set , that , him , who did bestow them , we forget . to god , be therefore , praise , who , by this trial gives mee both proof and means of self-denial . i , am as worthless as the worst of you , i , nothing know by mine own merits due , but , that which now i suffer , and much worse , ( the wages of an everlasting curse ) my frailties are as great , my sins as many as yours ; worse than my self i know not any , though some so seem : and , yet , god's promises make way through all these disadvantages , so well to know him , that i do beleeve my trust in him , hee never will deceive ; and , that it would for my advantage be if all that may be fear'd , should fall on mee . vvere that condition ( as it may bee ) mine , i , then , should have no more cause to repine than any other man , who to the doom of death submitteth , when his time is come : for , he who feels this day nor want nor sorrow , may be in worse estate than i to morrow . so long , as i , have any work to do , i shall have what is needfull thereunto . and when 't is at an end , no matter whether the stroke of death shall be received , either by axe or halter , ( so i merit not , what is by law the malefactors lot. ) or , starving , or , by one of those diseases which , ordinarily , the body ceizes . for , that shame , which men fear , whilst they have breath by suffring , what they count a shameful death is shar'd among mankind , and every one bears part thereof with mee , when i am gone . and , whilst i live , what e're can suffred be , may fall as well to any , as to mee . upon my death-bed , or , upon a rack , when flesh and bones , and all my sinews crack , i may be therewithall , as blithe and frolick , as , when a burning feaver , or , the collick age , or consumptions , or the pestilence shall be the means to carry mee from hence . the pains of these , are oftentimes as strong , they do continue ev'ry whit , as long ; and , at a rich mans door , a lazar dies sometimes as easily , as he that lyes upon a bed of down , and who till death all necessaries in abundance hath . this , being well observ'd , it may appear that , we are fooled with false hope , or fear , when we shall dream to be secured more from all events , by being rich , than poor , or , that , there any state on earth can be , vvhich may not have the same catastrophe . vvhen god vouchsafes to make mens poverties to glorifie him , he doth send supplies , ev'n by unlikely means ; and makes that nourish vvhereby , they , who are fed with dainties perish . them , on whom tyrants no compassion have , he , in the fiery furnaces can save ; when they are cast into a lions den , he maketh beasts more merciful than men . he , ( when to manifest his power divine it pleaseth him ) turns water into wine which , at a poor mans wedding once was done more to his honour , than when conduits run with sack and claret ; which magnificence adds honour to the marriage of a prince . he , when men hungring after righteousness wait on him in a hungry wilderness , feeds thousands with a few loaves , and two fishes , as full , as if they had ten thousand dishes . the bottome of a barrel , and a cruse shall meal and oyl sufficiently produce , to keep a family in time of dearth , until he sends a plenty upon earth . he , when the creditor , for payment asks ( with rigor ) doth fill many empty casks , out of one pot of oyle , until there be a competence , to set the debter free , and , for his livelihood , in time to come . yea , by devourers , he doth nourish some : for , daily , that elias might be fed the ravens brought unto him flesh and bread . this hath been ; and some things i can aver of this kind , in mine own particular . once , twice , nay , oftner i have been distrest as , i now am ; and three times at the least , have had repair vouchsafed mee by god , in such an extraordinary mode , that , many did admire , at my supply ; as very well they might ; for , so did i. and , when it seasonably may be shown , the manner of it will perhaps be known . at , this time , that , which many did suppose would mee , ere now , have ruin'd ; on my foes hath cast a bridle , and will keep mee from what they intend , until my hour is come ; and , peradventure , then , restrain them too , from acting all , that they intend to do . that , which both my estate and reputation should have destroyed , is my preservation another away ; and an advantage brings , in better and more profitable things . for , slanders , gain mee credit ; that , doth glad mee which was intended to deject and sad mee ; that , which pursued , is , to make mee poor makes my wants less , and my contentments more . and , as if god had purpos'd to bestow a sign upon mee , plainly to fore-show that , those afflictions , and abhorred places , which add to others , torments and disgraces , should comfort mee , when common comforts fail , new gate , suppos'd an ignomineous jaile to mee , hath ( as it were a patroness ) contributed releef in my distress , perhaps , from some of them , whose pressures were either as great , or greater , than , mine are : which ( as i am obliged ) to god's praise i do , and shall acknowledge all my daies to be an action , which doth signifie a greater mercy , than that bare supply ; for , it informs , and well assureth mee a prison , shall no dammage bring to mee , and , that those places , which , make many poor , will make mee richer than i was before . these things , i thus express , that others may perswaded be , i do not write or say what i have read or heard , or whereof i have no more in mee , save the theory ; and , knowing , this , which into words i spin flows forth from what is really , within , and , by experience learn'd , it might effect that operation which i do expect . most men , suppose them signs they are beloved of god , and all their waies by him approved , ( how negligent soe're of his commands ) when outward things do prosper in their hands . they count them marks of his especial grace if their cows casts not calf ; if he doth bless their oxen ; if their flocks of sheep increase ; if none doth in their persons them oppress ; if their new-purchas'd titles be made good ; if , by their trades and rents , they to their brood may leave great portions ; if , they may at court finde favour ; and , if blessings of this sort be multiply'd upon them , they suppose god is their friend , and foe unto their foes . indeed , these , blessings are ; but signs to mee of god's especial grace , these , rather be ; that , when of land and goods i am bereft , and , no external comfort seemeth left , i can depend on him , and be more glad , in his love , than in all that e're i had : that , i am freely justifi'd by him in that , for which the world doth mee condemn : that , i perceive , he deigneth mee releef , by that , which usually augmenteth grief ; and , that , when most inrag'd oppressors are , of their displeasure , i am least in fear : that , things which threaten troubles to prolong ( till they are helpless ) make my faith more strong , my fear as little , whilst the fight doth last , as at the triumph , when all danger 's past ; and , that , their waies , who do most malice mee , neither the waies of god , or good men be . these things , are of god's love a truer sign than an increase of corn , of oyl and wine , and , i do smile to think , how like poor slaves they will e're long , sneak down into their graves , who , make false boast of god , when they with shame shall know , that , by their spight i better'd am . and , when my country hears the next age tell how , mee they us'd , who alwaies lov'd it well ; what , better men have suffer'd ; what , in vain was said ; what done , undone , and done again ; how , truth 's bely'd ; how lies upheld for truth ; how much the heart dissented from the mouth ; their deeds from what they seem to think and say ; and , how , at fast and loose , we now do play ; it will be thought , perhaps , this generation had lost faith , reason , iustice , and compassion , and , they , who shall by strict examination , search out the cause of this prevarication will finde an hypocritical devotion sprung from the love of riches and promotion , ( dis-robing piety of her plain dresse , to be dis-figur'd with that pompousness which is affected by the man of sin ) of all that is amiss , chief cause hath been . i must not scribble all that might be pend upon this subject , lest i more offend than profit , or , lest , for want of speed , be hindred , in my purpose to proceed . but , one more argument , i 'le therefore add whereby , it out of question may be made , that , to be very rich , indangers more a real happiness , than to be poor ; and , prov'd it shall be by a demonstration , that , will admit no future confutation . because , it shews that wealth hath not alone more hurt to many single persons done than poverty , but , also to the race of all mankind ; and unto god's free-grace injurious been ; dishonour brought to christ , and , set up his opposers interest . observe it , for , i , nothing will alledge but , that , whereof , the meanest wit may judge . i need not tell you , wee more easily may drive a camel through a needles eye , or , thread it with a cable , than , to heaven rich men ascend , or thither may be driven . for , most have heard , he spake to that effect whose judgement none have reason to suspect ; yet , i will shew to you what way he went , and how , by his example to prevent that difficulty ; for , he did not say , one thing to us , and walk another way as many do , and did , who would be thought to follow him , and teach us what he taught . in plain expression i will let you see who , those impostors and apostates be who speak sometimes his words , and do profess his truth , yet are in practice nothing less . christ , knowing well , that , avarice , ambition , wealth and preferments ripen to perdition , and , that , they so insensibly deprave the best and wisest men , if way they give to their allurements ; that , although he were the son of god , and needed not to fear the frailties of his flesh , he , to the law conformed , and preserved it in awe by true obedience ; mortifi'd that nature which he assumed from the humane-creature . both by an unconstrain'd humility , and , by a voluntary poverty : and , did for our example , and our sake forbear , of things indifferent to partake , lest , we , who know not how aright to use our liberty , things lawful might abuse by taking that for food , which was provided for physick rather , when a cure we needed . when , first , from heav'n he came ( though lord of all in heav'n and earth he was ) within a stall he took up his first lodging ; passed on throughout his childe-hood , as he had begun ; and , to the world , no better did appear than son to joseph , a poor carpenter . when to mans age he came ( for ought we know ) he liv'd by labour , as such poor men do . and , when he did begin to manifest himself to be the saviour jesus christ , his royalty was furnish'd out no more with earthly riches , than it was before ; he had nor lands , nor goods , to finde him bread , nor any house , wherein to rest his head . he had , for what was needful , no supplies but , pious men and womens charities . poor despicable fisher-men ( or such ) and , those , who neither noble were , nor rich he those for his disciples ; and when these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abroad on his ambassages , they were forbidden either to take care wher● with they might be fed , or what to wear , or , m●●y to provide for their expence , but , le●ve those things unto god's providence . to them his gospel-principles he gave , and , taught them how themselves they should behave in their discipleship , both where neglect they found , and also where they had respect . 〈◊〉 them injoyned , to be meek and humble , 〈…〉 likeli'st block to make them stumble 〈…〉 , to precedency , not to aspire , 〈…〉 lordly attributes desire : 〈…〉 disciples in their low'st condition began to be infected with ambition . the sons of zebede , when they were poor , were tainted therewithall ; and , how much more it doth deprave men when they wealthy grow christ did fore-see , and we have liv'd to know by that , wherein the prelacy hath varied from his example ; and , by him who carried the bag in his time , we have learned too , what avarice may make a bishop do . moreover , when by publick acclamation christ had a visible inauguration into that kingdome , whereto he was born , no rich or royal robes by him were worn ; nor sought he to be honour'd with such things as are affected by terrestrial kings , but , meekly , through jerusalem did pass not on a barbed steed , but , on an asse , ( which none had backt before ) & which nor pad , nor saddle , trappings , or a foot-cloth had , save what the people on his back had thrown , and , to that purpose taken from their own . when he was crown'd , no golden crown he wore lin'd with soft fur , but , one much worse than poor : a wreath of thorns , he wore upon his head ; he , had no better scepter than a reed ; a purple robe , was cast on him in scorn , to be at that sad coronation worn . for him , there was prepar'd no other throne , except a cross , to be advanc'd upon . nor fun'ral rites , nor monument , nor grave , had he when dead , but , what some lent or gave . thus , poorly was his kingdome here begun ; thus , his affairs of state were carried on . so long , as he a life on earth retaind , like no terrestriall monarch , here he reign'd ; but , glorifi'd his kingdom in this mode : and , when that he ascended up to god , hee , by his holy spirit , so did minde , ( and so inspire those whom he left behinde ) to propagate the same , that they pursu'd the discipline and paterne , which he shew'd . from satans kingdoms , to distinguish it , he added whatsoever did befit a righteous government , in every thing which might advance the throne of such a king , without those baubles which do more oppress their subjects , than promote the common peace . to this end , and preserve with purity the church and saints in their integrity , they left behinde them precepts , counsels , cautions , and , many ( not ambiguous ) declarations , both to inform us of the mind of christ , and , of the wiles of that great antichrist which was to come , and should foundationslay to set a kingdome up , another way ; that , might ( if possible ) be thought to be christ's kingdome , as now thousands live to see the world reputes what they erected have , and , with her ornaments , made rich and brave . moreover , that christ's vineyard and cornfield , might fruits both nourishing and pleasant yeeld , no needful diligence , at first was wanting , in digging , dressing , sowing , or in planting ; or , so to beautifie it , that none might despise it , or not therein take delight . and , that , none should by pride , or avarice intrude upon their brethrens legacies , they , truly , his last tstament recorded ; the same into a gospel-law they worded , which hath sufficiency , without additions by humane policies , or new traditions , to constitute his kingdome , and prevent prevarications , by mis-government . to bar out innovations , they by deed confirmed , what they had in words decreed . from no true principles of faith they swerved , devotions reverence they well preserved , with ut new-sangles , and those trincketings , that superstition to adorn it brings . the sacrament ( by which the death of christ should be remembred ) they made not the test of things , no way relating to that end , for which , that mystery he did intend , or , rendring , what should be by his intention , the band of love , a means to breed dissention : nor was the bread or wine , then idoliz'd ; but , that love-feast , was duly solemniz'd , in decency , without vain pomp of state ; altars , court-cubbord like , beset with plate ; waxe-lights at noon , in silver-candlesticks , or , any other of those needless tricks , which were first introduced , in those daies when wooden-priests , got silver chalices . they us'd no superstitious adorations , cringings , ridiculous gesticulations , or mimick actions : nor these , or those , postures of body ; neither places , times , or vestures , were so essential made , or necessary to holy duties , that , none ought to vary from those formalities : nor , painted walls , nor pictures had they , supplices , nor palls , chimers , hoods , rochets , nor rich copes , nor tippets , nor was their service cut out into sippets , for , such toyes ( then unknown ) did not begin till ancichrist arose and brought them in ; and , till with wealth and dignities inricht the presbyters , and bishops were bewitcht . to have prevented this ( as i have said ) a good foundation christ himself had laid , and , at the first , that structure was begun , which , he intended should be built thereon . such as were then , by sacred ordination , call'd bishops , watchful were , and took occasion from ev'ry slip , to travel , preach , and write , that , errours and mis-deeds prevent they might . as soon as demas and diotrephes , with such like , were observed in their daies to innovate , and labour to begin that prelacy which , afterward crept in , they so oppos'd it , that , till from his chain , the devil ( then confin'd ) was loos'd again , none could setup what a faction begun , though many were then working thereupon ; for , christ's apostles , and their true successors ( in spight of innovators , of oppressors and hereticks ) by that simplicity of truth , which was profest in poverty , did so distinguish it , from what by those advanc'd would be , when antichrist arose , that , they inviolate maintaind thereby her honour , and her native purity , without that carnal pomp , and costly pride with wch , the strumpet , now seems glorifi'd . and wherewith , shee hath half the world inchanted , since heathenish deities , were first supplanted . that miracle , was wrought by god , through them whose poverty the world did then contemn : ev'n when their worshippers were in full power , and , when inrag'd at height , sought to devour their scorn'd opposers , they withall that odds were not then able to support their gods. but , when the saints were as distrest and poor , as they , who seek their bread from door to door , when , they broke through a tenfold persecution , to put their masters will in execution ; when in despised habits through each nation they preach'd the blessed means of our salvation ; were counted fools , and as much dis-esteem'd as any , who are now phanaticks deem'd ; when , they had neither academick halls , schools , colledges , or sumptuous cathedrals , nor universities , nor deans , nor doctors , prebends , archdeacons , chancellours or proctors , nor rents , nor tythes , nor pensions , nor oblations , excepting onely good mens free-donations ; when they , nor bishops had , nor presbyters , save , such as holy scripture characters , ( who claimed no precedence , or submission , from those , authoriz'd by the same commission ; when , they were meek and lowly , in their places , poor in their temporalties , and rich in graces ; when , they ( as necessary to salvation ) on no man , did impose an observation of daies , times , forms , or ceremonious rite , but , as to edifying , tend it might ; and , left them to be practis'd , or omitted , as , either they might , or might not be fitted to holy duties , without just offences , to other mens , or their own consciences : ( in which case , none that hath sobriety , will bar another of his liberty . ) when pastors medled not at all , or little , with soveraigns , whether they themselves , or title were good or bad ; excepting in those cases which did concern the duties of their places ; but , in the fear of god , obedient were to that power , which did visibly appear impowered to protect them ( whilst it stood with that obedience , which they owe to god ; and , did by suffring , render satisfaction , for what they dared not perform in action . ) when , emperours nor kings did them esteem , nor flatter'd were , or fawn'd upon , by them ; ev'n then by these , mens doctrines and examples , were all the gentiles great and glorious temples throughout the world destroy'd : their superstitions ( from which new rome retrived her traditions ) were then by those expell'd : their oracles , then silenc'd were ; their jugling miracles were prov'd impostures : then , the sophistries of those whom former ages thought most wise , were found but fallacies ; their wisdome folly ; unsound their manners , their beleef unholy ; their books of curious arts , whereby great fame they had acquir'd , were cast into the flame ; and , then , their flamins , and archflamins too , ( who domineered as the prelates do ) were ( as these , in the time appointed shall ) brought to those dooms , which on impostors fall . the worship also , wherewithall the jews , the worlds credulity sought to abuse , as well as her philosophy , was foil'd at their own weapons ; of that glory spoil'd whereof they boasted ; and all this was done , without the outward pomp , now doted on . and , if the prelates , can with all the glory , which they have gotten by things transitory , and , by the help of all the kings on earth , to such another miracle give birth , i le think , that they as great impostors are , as jannes , and as jambres long since , were ; yet , still beleeve , that , maugre all their power , the rods of these , will their charm'd rods devour . that , which the prelates take to be a sign of sanctity , the most becoming shrine of sacred piety , and true devotion , i mean , that pomp , whereby ( for self promotion ) they seek to trim and paint it , forth hath brought ( compar'd to this ) not any thing worth ought but meer contempt : for , by the zeal of those , who , made such poor , and despicable shows , more honour to the church of christ is done , than all their wealth and honours , have thereon conferr'd , in more than fifteen hundred years , by all their great and potent favourers . they , whom the churches poverty brought forth , though poor externally , had inward worth ; good life was practis'd , sacred truth profest religion , with sincerity imbrac't , in her poor driss , by many an humble saint , without the fucus of a whorish paint ; and , till men leaving their plain sober way , sought by external wealth , to make her gay , the church , in piety , did still increase though outward persecutions did not cease . but , what hath followed since her poverties , are chang'd for temporal wealth and dignities ? since princely prelates sought for carnal things , had learn'd to flatter emperours and kings , and , cheat them with a seeming loyalty , made credible by fained piety ? since they , an ambodexters part could play , had got two masters , and a double pay , topt wreathes imperial with a triple crown , made rebels martyrs , trod allegiance down and , had on so much wealth and honour ceas'd , that they could turn the scale wch way they pleas'd , what , hath er'e since that time , proceeded thence but , products of destructive consequence ? and those confusions , for which ( without shame ) some , to the saints of god , impute the blame , as heretofore , the heathen tyrants did to them , whose blood they innocently shed ? and , though that in their publick declamations , ( as also , in their private exultation . ) the prelates , to a joy transported seem , like ( as they say themselves ) men in a dream , to see that wealth , and pomp restor'd again , whereof , small hope they did erewhile retain ; though , of a golden hierarchie dreaming , they ( still the poverty of christ blaspheming ) do think , the angels are as glad as they of that , wherein they triumph at this day ; and , say ( which i conceive to be a lye ) that , they , could well content have been to dye , the next day after they restor'd had been to that condition , which they now are in ; yet , i beleeve , it will not , in the cloze , make them so happy , as they now suppose ; or , give much cause unto this generation , to be well pleased in their restauration . for , to these nations , or unto our king , what , can i think , these golden calves will bring save , at the last , what followed upon that , which ieroboams policy of state produc'd in isr'el , when he ( as it were inspight of god ) set golden calves up there ? and , his successors walkt on in that way , vvhat er'e those prophets , from thenceforth , could say vvhom god , in justice , or in mercy , sent their threatned desolation to prevent ? vvhat , is more likely , if th' abominations of , almost ev'ry good-man , in these nations shall be indulg'd ? ( and , though it ever since it first begun , produc'd nought but offence ? ) for , observation daily finds it plain , that , fear of losses , or the hope of gain , or , of promotion , will root out apace the seeds and plants , of piety and grace . and , since , already , it so multiplies apostates , and augments hypocrisies , what can be thought , but , that , those daies , we see wherein , th' elect shall hardly saved be , unless god shorten them for , whatsoere men say , or do , they fall into a snare ; and , those deceivers , whereof last i spoke , to blinde mens eyes , have raised such a smoak , that , few , know which way safely turn they may ; or , what to think , beleeve , hope , do , or say . such histories , as are approv'd by those , who never did the prelacy oppose , affirm , that when the churches augmentation of wealth and honour , by the free donation of constantine , was first on them conferr'd , a voice , was in the air distinctly heard , which did these words , articulately say , into the church is poison pour'd this day : and , thereupon , that , quickly did ensue , which , manifests the saying to he true : for , they , who read historical relations , of what hath been in former generations , ( as also , in their times ) discreetly heeding what , their experience addeth to their reading , will finde , that , here , and , almost ev'ry where , the prelates cause of many mischieves were . yea , that the greatest troubles on the earth , sprung indirectly , or directly , forth from their ambition , avarice and pride . when gold and silver they had multipli'd . how many troubles , have been here of late , occasion'd by what they did innovate ? how many thousand families undone in these three kingdomes are , since they begun , those whimzies , which the prime occasion were of all the civil wars and discords here ? and , what more will ensue , god only knows , for , wee , already see ill boding shows . their avarice , and matchless greediness , of hoarding treasure up , to an excess at such a time as this , wherein the state is straitned ; ( and when much it doth abate that , trading , whereby , our necessities publick , and private , should have their supplies ) produceth ill effects ; and how by these both in their civil peace , and consciences , men may disturbed be , there 's cause of fear , by what in their deportments doth appear . and , i observ'd this ( which ile now record ) that , when they first begun to be restor'd , with them , return'd , ( god grant there come no may-poles , maid-marian , & the hobby-horse , ( worse ) beside , some other heathenish prophanations , maugre the kings late pious proclamations . it would fill many volumes to collect what prelacy did heretofore effect ; how troublesome in other common-weals , and kingdomes , it hath to god's israels , and , other people been : how oft have they endeavoured their soveraigns to betray , unto the see of rome ? how oft , to bring the people into bondage to their king , that , when their purpose they had wrought on him both king and people , might be slaves to them ? how insolent and impudent a power , was then usurped when an emperour did hold the stirrup ? when an english king they to so great a slavery did bring , ( and foolery to boot ) as to decline his royal person , at tom beckets shrine ? do pennance there , and be so much befoold , that , school-boy-like , he was with rods there school'd , by canterbury monks ? when , he , that trod upon his leige lords neck ( blaspheming god ) that piece of scripture , to himself applide which could in none , but christ , be verifide ? intolerable was his arrogance , but , such are oft effects of their advance ; and , thus , have kings and emperors been rewarded , who , their lean gammons , had with fat inlarded . these , are the blessed and the holy fruits , of their great wealth , and lordly attributes ; yet , these are not the worst ; for kings and princes , were not alone by prelates insolencies , abus'd like other men , in what relates unto their lives , their honours and estates ; but , god , is also , thrust out of his throne : ev'n his peculiars are usurp'd upon ; and , such intrusions are now made , by these upon mens faiths , and on their consciences , that , they make many prostites for the devil , expose them to an everlasting evil , and , causes are of mischiefs and offence , vvhich all the world can never recompence : for , bonds they lay , where god doth none impose ; unbinde , from what he never will unlose ; and , whatsoere he speaks , his words , by these , are made to mean , what ever they shall please . but , let the saints in patience persevere ; for , though these arrogantly domineer , and in their hopes grow every day more strong , their time of standing , will not now be long : the kings , who with the cup of fornications have been made drunk , for many generations , will at the last grow sober , or else mad , to see what power on them , these juglers had , and , help to bring that fatal iudgement on , which must reward them for what they have done : great babylon it self , will shortly fall , and , they shall have their portion therewithall . to do us harm , they had not been so able , if in those principles , men had been stable which constitute christ's church ; nor to assist as they have done , the throne of antichrist . had these been still content to seek no more ( as bishops were in ages heretofore ) than might supply things needful in their place , for nature to promote the works of grace , ( nor stretched their precedency ought further , than did conduce to decency , and order ) it had not such ill consequents produc'd : and , could they but , yet , timely be reduc'd , to that bound ; discords , would ere long be ended , and , much , that is amiss would be amended . ( god bless the king , and open so his eyes , that , he may see in what his safetie lies ; and prosper mee , as i desire hee may walke and continue , in that blessed way , which truly to his glory doth redound ; whom he so kind , and merciful hath found . my prayers are , that god would make him strong against the charms of every glosing tongue ; in grace and vertues , daily so improve him , that , god and men , for ever more may love him : and , that , i may finde favour in his sight , according as i am in heart , upright : for , whatsoever , hee shall bee to mee ; to him , i 'm true , and so will ever be . god , pardon all that i have done amiss , and , so , i finish this parenthesis . ) here , i have shown you , by plain demonstration , which ( as i said ) admits no confutation , that , poverty ( though much despis'd ) is better than riches ; and , that , i thereto am debter much more , for what concerns my happiness , than , by what can be got by an excess in wealth and honour : and , what 's here rehearst , will bee approv'd , when synods have reverst their votes ; and be by wisest men upheld vvhen acts of parliament shall be repeal'd , that , were confirm'd , by commons , lords & king , vvhen , god , shall to effect , his purpose bring , and , those men to their wits , who , little heeded , vvhat , would ensue that , wherein they proceeded . now i have done . if this you can beleeve , and , god , his blessing thereunto shall give , i have what , i desired for my paine ; and , what 's here writ , shall not be writ in vain : for , all that 's in my words , is in my heart , in every circumstance , and every part . perhaps , this despicable barly-cake , may tumble , till a fatal breach it make into the tents of midian : but , thereon vvhat ere else follows , let god's will be done . though no man living , should the same regard , a good work , to it self gives full reward ; and , there is nothing , that can make it less , than what it is , or , bar it from increase : for , though such accidents , may oft befall , as , that , it will not so appear to all , nor poverty , imprisonment , disgrace , life , death , good , bad condition , time nor place , praises , privations , nor ought that hath name , makes real vertue , not to be the same . glory be to god. a word on the behalf of mr. zachary crofton prisoner in the tower. whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you , do ye the same unto them ; for this is the law and the prophets , matth. . . since all men erre , and one way , or another , occasion what mis-happens to each other , i cannot but be sensible of that , which may bee mine , and ev'ry mans estate . crofton's a prisoner , and , some say , must dye ; yet , i , from none , can learn the reason why . if his declaring for the covenant , be all his crime , a reason i shall want , to satisfie mee , by what law wee shall conclude that his offence is capital ; or , how , that can imputed be for sin , which , by no law , hath yet forbidden been . god , bless the king and state ; and so mens reason preserve , that , we may once know truth from treason , lest we at last be brought into a snare , and , be uncertain , when we traitors are : for , though it safely might bee justifi'd that , rather than god , men should be obey'd ; such , may not be their own friends , who condemn that man , who pleaded both for god , and them , and , to the hazzard of his life persists , in vindicating their joynt-interests , to no mans disadvantage , except those , who , are to god and men , apparent foes . mee thinks , it is great pity , that , a man who , to god , king and church , both may , and can be serviceable ; and , who doth profess his judgement , in meer conscientiousness without design'd contempt , unto the state , or , purposing a mutinous debate , and , never gave just cause to be suspected , he was to either of them disaffected , ( but , unto both of them , good service did , when they of faithful servants had most need ; and , hath but done his duty , to oppose those harpies , which to all good men are foes ) should by mistake , or , by mis-information , as one , who had deserved no compassion , a sufferer with malefactors be because , hee sees not , what he cannot see ; or , else , because he cannot credit give to what , he findes no reason to beleeve ; for , who will care for life , where prelacy attains to such a height of tyranny , that , it inslaves both soul and body too ? and , where , of what we should beleeve and do , no certainty , can by their light be known , nor leave obtain'd , to make use of our own , though voluntarily the king ingag'd to let the conscience be so priviledg'd ; and , mercy , in some other things , did show whereof , the prelacy will not allow , whether the covenant , by right , or wrong , were made , or burnt , it doth not now belong to private men to question : for , when dooms are past in parliament , the case then comes before god's judgement-seat ; and , woe to them , who , that , which hee approves of , shall condemn . till , therefore , he , thence answers their appeal wise men , their private thinkings will conceal , and , him implore , to whom referr'd it is , to right what 's wrong , and pardon what 's amiss . what , fame reports by crofton to be done i , singly and sincerely musing on , do finde , by that ; whereof inform'd i am , that , hee more merited reward than blame , unless , that , wherein other men have err'd ( without his fault ) may be to him transferr'd . the covenant hee took , but did not make it ; nor forced any one to take , or break it ; but , in his place alone , the same maintain'd ( to his own hazzard ) as it appertain'd unto the honour , peace , and preservation both of the royal persons , and the nation , as he thought it oblig'd ; and as it stood in force , relating to the will of god and , no jot further ; unless , wee suppose hee err'd , in pressing it , to bar out those who , have been , still are , and will be agen , foes unto god , to kings , and common men , as soon as they themselves enabled finde , to do the work , for which they were design'd . for , that , which crofton most insisted on , ( as purpos'd by the covenant to be done ) is an exploding of the hierarchy brought in , by antichristian-prelacy , ( to whose support , his oath cannot extend who , christ's faith , is obliged to defend . ) and , if that , be a fault , god , mee forgive , for , therein , i resolve , to dye , and live . the stress of his case , as appears to mee , lies there ; if , hee of ought else guilty bee , i , leave him to excuse himself ; for , never saw i his face , nor shall perhaps for ever . but , hee 's in durance , and i fain would do as , in his case , i would bee done unto ; and , peradventure , it will needful bee that , some , ere long , should do as much for mee . there are , besides those actings , which do fall within the duties of our common-call , some , having so peculiar relation , to god's designments in our generation , that , they not onely do the force abate of what is call'd , the reason of the state , but , of those precepts also , at sometimes , whose violations are most hainous crimes , in any other case ; as may appear , by many proofs , which i will now forbear . god , doth a generation-work design ; for , ev'ry man : these , are a part of mine , and , i had rather dye ten deaths for one than take ten lives , to let it bee undone . till that is done , mee , lord vouchsafe to keep ; and , david - like , then , let mee fall asleep . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e act. . . to the honourable the knights, citizens, and burgesses in this present parliament assembled the humble petition of clement vvalker, and william prynne, esquires. walker, clement, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (thomason .f. [ ]). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing w thomason .f. [ ] estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; : f [ ]) to the honourable the knights, citizens, and burgesses in this present parliament assembled the humble petition of clement vvalker, and william prynne, esquires. walker, clement, - . prynne, william, - . sheet ([ ] p.) s.n., [london : ] praying for protection against slanderous reports concerning their conduct of the case against col. fiennes in a council of war. reproduction of the original in the british library. eng fiennes, nathaniel, or - -- early works to . libel and slander -- great britain -- early works to . great britain -- history -- civil war, - -- early works to . a r (thomason .f. [ ]). civilwar no to the honourable the knights, citizens, and burgesses in this present parliament assembled. the humble petition of clement vvalker, and wil walker, clement a this text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion to the honourable the knights , citizens , and burgesses in this present parliament assembled . the humble petition of clement walker , and william prynne , esquires . sheweth , that your petitioners , by publike proclamations ( posted up at westminster , and the exchange , ) and by private summons , were involuntarily ingaged by colonell nathaniel fiennes ( who by severall orders of this house , upon his owne spontanious motions , put himselfe upon the triall of a councell of warre , declining the parliament , though a member of it ) to exhibit articles of impeachment against him , not out of any private interests , but onely in the kingdoms behalfe ; that he , contrary to his trust , duty , and sundry promises , to defend the city and castle of bristoll ( of which he was governour ) to the uttermost extremity , to dispute every foot , yea , inch thereof with the enemy , to lay his bones therein , and to make his flag of truce his winding-sheet ; did most cowardly and traiterously surrender the same , with all the ammunition , canon , armes , magazines , provisions , prisoners therein , and the very colours too , into the hands of prince rupert , and other common enemies of the kingdome , upon the entring of not above one hundred and fifty enemies within the line , at a place worst fortified and guarded ( who all gave themselves for dead men , and might have easily beene cut off at first ; ) and that before any one of the out-forts taken , the walls of the city or castle once battered , assaulted , or the siege thereof continued three whole dayes ( though he wanted neither men , ammunition , nor victuals to have defended the same for three moneths space or more , against all the enemies power , ) to the irreparable dammage of the republike , the losse of the westerne parts , the hazard of the whole realme , and infinite inriching , strengthning , advantaging of the common enemy both by land and sea , &c. upon which articles , after a full and honourable hearing for nine dayes space , before a councell of warre at saint albanes , the said colonell the , of december last was found guilty , and judgement pronounced against him , that his head should be cut off . yet notwithstanding some friends of his , to blemish your petitioners , and that honourable councels just proceedings , have confidently reported in london , westminster , and elsewhere : that your petitoners did retract all , and could not prove any of their articles ; that they cried peccavi , asked the colonel forgivenes ; who made such a brave defence , and came of with such honour as never any man did before him ; that he was absolutely acquitted from all cowardize and treachery , and condemned onely for not firing that famous city , which his conscience would not permit , nor the parliament in honour could not have suffered him to doe ; that his guard continued upon him but two daies after sentence , that he is already set at liberty , pardoned , ( though we humbly conceive no person can * pardon his judgement in this common case , without speciall order of both houses , ) and shall shortly sit in the house againe . by reason of which false reports your petitioners , for their cost and paines in this publique prosecution , have been much defamed ; his excellencies , and the honourable councell of warres proceedings insufferably traduced , truth disguised , the well affected party discontented , malignants mouthes opened to complaine of partiality , the honour and justice of the high court of parliament principally interressed in this tryall ( directed by severall orders of this house ) blemished , and a high way prepared in these perilous times ( which daily produce new monstrous plots to undermine us ) to betray all forts , and cities yet remaining in your power , through treachery or cowardize , if this signall leading president of grandest publique concernment , shall be thus openly traduced , and the execution of it so suddenly , so sleightly passed over as is reported ; especially since the condemned delinquent , hath both in speeches and printed relations justified this his unworthy action to the utmost before this honourable house , the councell of war , world , not yet making the least acknowledgement of , submission or satisfaction for the same , and denied at the tryall that colonel essex was ever governour of bristol , or that he did apprehend or remove him , or that himselfe was ever governour of this city or castle , or undertooke to defend the same , or had any commission to keepe it , but onely to keepe his souldiers in order ; the contrary to all which appeared by his owne evidence , and that he hath twice sent for , received , accepted an independent commission by all possible waies and meanes to provide for the defence and security of the same city against all enemies and opposition whatsoever . and when his sentence was pronounced , he appealed from it to the parliament , which he had formerly declined , arraigned his judges after sentence , by demanding the reasons of their judgement , ( which he said he little expected , ) and what witnesses they allowed or disallowed ? and most injuriously attributed the losse of bristol and the west , with our prosecution of this cause , ( proceeding meerely from his owne sollicitation ) to an honourable member of this house now imployed in great command , with happy successe ; most falsely averring to the councell , that he was thus eagerly prosecuted by your petitioners , at sir william wallers instigation , onely for the great affection which he and his father did beare , and the good service they had done to my lord generall and his army . in tender consideration whereof , they humbly supplicate this honourable house to take the premises into your just and serious examination , that so the authors of these false reports may receive such exemplary punishments , as may deterre others from like slanders ; your petitioners , and others defamed by them , such just reparation in their honours , as may encourage them to doe your honours and kingdome further service ; and the delinquent such impartiall execution , as shall most redound to the parliaments , republikes future security , and prevention of offenders of this nature , without which no safety can be expected . and your petitioners shall ever pray , &c. clement walker . william prynne . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- * the king himselfe cannot pardon an offence or injury against the common-wealth , without the parliament ; nor any offence , where any private person shall have a particular interest , as our law-books resolve . advertisement by dr. monro presbyter of the church of scotland. monro, alexander, d. ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing m a estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) advertisement by dr. monro presbyter of the church of scotland. monro, alexander, d. ? johnston, andrew. sheet ([ ] p.) s.n., [edinburgh : ] "declaration by mr. andrew johnston, december d. ."--middle of page. place of publication suggested by wing. reproduction of original in: dr. williams's library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng ridpath, george, d. . -- scots episcopal innocence, or, the juggling of that party with the late king, his present majesty, the church of england, and the church of scotland demonstrated. church of scotland -- establishment and disestablishment. scots episcopal innocence, or, the juggling of that party with the late king, his present majesty, the church of england, and the church of scotland demonstrated. libel and slander -- scotland -- early works to . broadsides -- england -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - elspeth healey sampled and proofread - elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion advertisement by dr. monro presbyter of the church of scotland . i find my name abused in a late pamphlet ( i suppose written by one mr. george ridpath ) as if i had sent , or commissioned , or ordered mr. andrew johnston to counterfit the name of one mitchell , to a certificate without his consent . what past between mr. johnston and mr. mitchell i only know by relation ; mr. mitchell and mr. johnston may reason this affair betwixt themselves as they see convenient . let my country men read the following declaration and then determine by the rules of honour and equitie , how far i am concerned in this calumny . declaration by mr. andrew johnston , december , d . . whereas it is said in a scandalous pamphlet , entituled the scots episcopal innocence , that i forged the hand of thomas mitchell lately , in cornhill , and affixed it to a certificate , bearing that johnston of lockerby was excommunicated for adultery , which certificate was inserted in a book , entituled , the spirit of calumny and slander . the said mr. andrew johnston declaire that i am ready to take my solemn oath before any of the judges in england , that tho. mitchell signed freely at my desire the said certificate as i offered it , and as it was inserted in the said book : and that i know no other certificate different f●om the former signed by him . and whereas it is most villanously said of me in the pamphlet , entituled the scots episcopal innocence , that i was put upon this pretended forgery by some of the scots clergy ; i do declare before god , and by my hopes of heaven , that never any one of the scots clergy directed or advised me to procure any certificate , but what might be freely had ; particularly that dr. monro , neither directly nor indirectly by any order of his , or the least insinuation prompted me to do any thing as is scandalously reported , and this i do again repeat , as i hope for any benefit by the merits of our blessed saviour . sic subscribitur andrew johnston . signed at mr. watson's coffee-house , at the lower end of the hay-market , in presence of alex. mccutosh , clerk. pat. dujon , student in divinity . john murdoch , clerk. james cunningham , student in divinity . james white , student in physick the case of mr. wynne, against capell, swaine and price, petitioners. wynne, mr. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). b wing c b estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. b ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the case of mr. wynne, against capell, swaine and price, petitioners. wynne, mr. capell, john. swaine, robert. price, john. sheet ([ ] p.) s.n., [london? : ?] date and place of publication suggested by wing. reproduction of original in: llyfrgell genedlaethol cymru/national library of wales. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng libel and slander -- england -- early works to . broadsides -- england -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the case of mr. wynne , against capell , swaine and price petitioners . , john capell . the th of march / , he delivered me at hampton-court , an information of his own hand-writing ; which i delivered the same day to the right honourable the earl of shrewsbury . some days after , capell ask'd me for some money , to defray his charges back to windsor : but i not complying with his desire , he hath ever since published , that i had suppressed treasonable informations , calling me , traytor , &c. whereupon i was advised to take my remedy at law against him ; and complaining to the bench of justices of the peace in middlesex , for being scandalized in my office , obtain'd a bench-warrant against the said capell , upon the th of august . being taken in november , he appeared according to his recognizance at hicks-hall , on the th of december , being the last day of the sessions . i desired he might be continued till the next sessions , for that i had fresh and further informations against him ; and objecting against his bail , viz. john temple , and john price , as being reputed common informers , and insolvent , the said capell was committed for want of bail , and not for the reasons suggested to the honourable house of commons , as by the votes of the th of december . robert swaine he and another , brought before me ( in august ) one white , alias grey , a suspected popish priest ; white alledged , he was a minister of the church of england , but could not produce to me his letters of ordination . i told him , that i must then commit him to jail ; he replied , he had been taken up already by the same warrant , ( and by the same persons ) about a month before , and stood bound over to the next sessions , before two other justices of the peace , ( as by the recognizance will appear ; ) so that i directed them , to apply to the same justices again , if they had any thing further to say against him . swaine has ever since published , . that i had discharg'd a popish priest . . that i was a rogue , and ryscal , and held correspondence with the late king james . . that he had told the king's majesty , how that i had betrayed his majesty , and the nation , by discovering the counsels to the late king james , &c. . that before he and others would have done with me , they would have me in newgate , and used as a traytor ; that in the mean time , he had got me turn'd out of the secretary of state 's office , &c. as doth appear by several informations upon oath , numb . , , , . upon which , i was also advised , to bring my action at law against the said swaine , which is now depending . john price one of the three petitioners , i know not , and never had any discourse with him ; only in the abovesaid informations upon oath , the names of capell , swaine , and price , ( with some other english , and irish men , ) are mentioned to be a gang , that drive on the trade of common informers , and such as conspir'd together to do me mischief . that capell is such , appears by his having followed no other trade since march last ; and being committed the th of december , for want of bail , declared , it would be a job worth to him l. as by affidavit upon oath , numb . . that he lodged at a papists house , and protected papists , by pretending to be one of the kings messengers ; and took money of papists , to excuse them from being taken up , numb . . . swaine that he took money of people he seized upon pretence of high treason , without shewing any warrant , or using any legal officer , as by affidavits upon oath , numb . , , , , . that he prosecuted one , some years ago , for speaking seditious words against the late king james ; and offer'd to compound for a treat , and some money ; and , for a guinea to get the indictment found ignoramus , numb . . price that he often pass'd for one of the kings messengers , appears by the abovesaid affidavits upon oath , ( numb . , , , . ) which are against him , and swaine , jointly . and that he and his gang , pretending they were the kings officers , riffled houses , without either warrant or constable , taking away several books , and other things , numb . . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div b -e that capell , swaine , and price , are common informers . the great wickedness, and mischievous effects of slandering, represented in a sermon preached at st. giles without cripplegate, on sunday nov. , by edward fowler, d.d. ; together with a preface and conclusion in his own vindication. fowler, edward, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing f estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the great wickedness, and mischievous effects of slandering, represented in a sermon preached at st. giles without cripplegate, on sunday nov. , by edward fowler, d.d. ; together with a preface and conclusion in his own vindication. fowler, edward, - . [ ], p. printed for brabazon aylmer ..., london : . reproduction of original in cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng libel and slander -- sermons. sermons, english -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion imprimatur , c. alston , r. p. d. hen. episc. lond a sacris dornest . . nov. . the great wickedness , and mischievous effects of slandering , represented in a sermon preached at st. giles without cripplegate , on sunday nov. . . by edward fowler , d. d. together with a preface and conclusion in his own vindication . thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour . they are grievous revolters walking with slanders , jer. . . london , printed for brabazon aylmer , at the three pidgeons against the royal-exchange in cornhill . . the preface . if the readers of the following sermon knew how very little time i had for the composing of it , they would not be offended with its plainness : nor those that are ingenuous , critical in observing faults or over-sights . the conclusion of the sermon , which contains the occasion of my penning and preaching it , i have here publisht with some small additions , which i think fit to mention , because those of whose humanity i have had such plentiful experience , will be forward enough , i presume , to give out , upon their finding any passages they did not hear from the pulpit , that i have lyed in the title-page . the design of this preface is to vindicate my self from a great slander of theirs ( and i am prepared to do the like , as to all the other i have heard of ) which notwithstanding my endeavours , both by word of mouth and letters , to clear my self of , doth ( as i understood the last week ) still stick upon me : and 't is this , that i should give , about a year and three quarters since , to a certain fanatick , a knavish certificate , to bring him off , in a court of iustice , from an indictment of so scandalous a crime , as the depraving of the common-prayers . and in short , that i certified him to be a good church-man , whereas he never came to the communion but once , in order to his being qualified for the office of common-council-man . and if i ever gave to any such person such a certificate , i will freely acknowledge , i was a knave indeed . but before i proceed farther , i will say this , that i know not that i ever repented of any certificate i gave in my life , except of one that two of my greatest enemies , before they discovered their malice towards me , did unawares draw me into ; which was to this effect , and , to the best of my remembrance , in these very words , that for ought i know , they were men of peaceable and christian spirits ; which certificate was of their own penning . i must confess , i then shrewdly suspected that they were not men of such spirits , but because i had no certain knowledge of the contrary , upon a little deliberation i subscribed it . but within a few dayes . i was made sensible what a trapan this was , being informed , that these very men had represented me , at white-hall , as an encourager of fanaticks in our freedom-vestry . this was told me by a person of honour , who had it from mr. secretary ienkins . but i appeal to the present recorder of london , and to the alderman of our ward , whether , in their presence , i did not abundantly clear my innocence , as to this charge . the latter of these gentlemen , meeting me in , or near , cornhill , some dayes after the hearing which we had in the recorders chamber , desired me to pardon the chief man of them ; and the recorder , at the conclusion of the hearing , i think before most of the vestry-men were gone out ( for there was a full appearance of them too ) was pleased to declare ( my self standing by him , and divers others ) that he would justify my honesty ( that was , with respect to my proceedings in the vestry ) on any ground in england . my adversaries thus failing of their design , they , with one or two more , have , almost ever since that time to this , turned every stone to ruine me : and london rings of their carriage towards me . nor hath it satisfied them to abuse me in the grossest manner , but they have put an intolerable abuse upon a great-man or two ; for when they have been expostulated with , for making my life so vneasy , they have endeavoured to remove all blame from themselves , by pretending that what they had done , was in meer obedience to their commands . and when it was replyed ( as once it was by my self , to this effect ) you first instigate great persons by your wretched stories , and then hypocritically pretend that my troubles originally proceed from them ; there was no answer , but perfect silence . it might make a competent volume , to give an account what slanders they have devised , and methods they have taken , from time to time , to do me mischief . i have a narrative by me of the molestations they have given me , to about half a year since , which i intended then to publish , but upon second thoughts i judged it more prudent to hold my hand for some time longer . but to return to this knavish certificate ; the person i certified for , was one mr. r. w. who is one of my nearest neighbours . the occasion of the certificate was this , two of these three or four men , who have so long been my adversaries , accused this man to me before his face ( which fair play they rarely use ) of having called the common-prayers an innovation , upon a motion to have them read , at the meeting of their quest , in the quest-house . mr. w. professed that he only called the reading of them upon that occasion so , for that never any such thing had been done before , that ever he heard of in this parish : and that he opposed the bringing up of such a custome , for the poors sake , because he presumed they would pay the reader out of the purse , that at that meeting annually was made for them. but he told me he declared to them , that if they would pay the reader out of their own purses , they might have the prayers in the church with all his heart ; and acknowledged then that he gave them a proverbial saying , which they made a mighty business of , that signified no more than that every body might have his liberty , either to go , or to stay away ; which , though it might be decently enough used in most cases not relating to religious affaires , yet i told him it was irreverendly done of him to use it in this case ; and though i could not impute it to his disaffection to the prayers ( he having ever since i came to this parish , and i understand , for some years before was a constant attender on them upon sundayes ) but to meer rashness and inconsideration , they being then in the heat of passion ; yet at that time , and more then once since , i rebuked him for it with severity enough . and i further reproved him before these men , for not being as forward as any to so good a motion ; though it was evident enough , that the motion was not made from so good a principle , as that of true love to the worship of god , but upon a design that was very obvious . i farther added , that to encourage the reading of the prayers , at this yearly meeting , i would my self first read them at their meeting again the next year , and so for the future , which accordingly i did the last christmas . they had another story of a most indecent scoff at our church musick , but this he utterly denied , and persists in doing so ; and the truth is i never believed it , but now , for a reason i won't mention , i disbelieve it . after all the passionate fending and proving was over , and i had , as i said , smartly enough reproved mr. w. i told them 't was evident , he did not call the prayers an innovation , but only the reading them in the quest-house , or upon that occasion , and then exhorted them to more christian behaviour towards one another , and to be friends again ; having heard that there was an elder grudg between one or both of these men , and this mr. w. and that the difference did not begin now : although one of them had been sometime before his great intimate , and he constantly gave mr. w. the title of his master . hereupon they drank to each other , more than once , and shook hands . but the next news i heard of them , which surprized me much , was , that they had made a complaint of him to mr. recorder , and that the constable had carried him away to guild-hall , and that there he was bound over to answer for his depraving the common-prayer ; upon these mens oaths , at the kings bench barr. whereupon this mr. w. signified to me , that the lord mayor had advised him , to get a good petition drawn up to my lord chief iustice , and as good a certificate as his minister and other creditable people of the parish , could give him ; and that his lordship promised him to present both with his own hand , and accordingly he performed that promise . hereupon i again reproved him , and told him i hoped this would be for the future a warning to him ; and finding him much dejected , i said i would willingly certifie for him whatsoever i knew to be true of him . and the certificate i gave him was this , that he was a constant attender on the prayers of the church , a frequenter of the holy communion , in the way of the church of england , and a forward man to publick good works in the parish , and particularly at that time , to the repairing of our church and steeple . and in the close , i expressed how far i was from going about to excuse his fault ; but in what words i did this , i don't now remember . this is the plain and naked truth of this matter , and i am yet to learn where lay my fault . nay i am still fully satisfied in my conscience , that i did nothing but what i might lawfully do , nay nor any thing but what i was bound in common iustice to do . for i never knew him other , than a constant attender on the prayers of the church , nor than a frequenter of the holy communion , i mean upon his knees and at the rayles . and , whatsoever faults he may have been guilty of , i have found no one parishioner more publick spirited , both in reference to the church and parish . and he was one of the best church-wardens ( i finding him in that office when i first came hither ) that i believe the parish ever knew . it hath been objected to me , that he behaved himself disloyally at the election of sheriffs , and therefore this certificate was taken the worse at my hands . but i need make no other reply , than that this was more than i knew . i have but little acquaintance in this parish to this day , and had less then , so that i might very well be a stranger to his behaviour at that election . for my part , i never perceived any disloyalty in him , but the contrary , when he hath come to me , which he does very rarely , but when business brings him , though he lives close by me . and had he discovered disaffection to the government , either in church or state to me , what is commendable in him should not have made with me an atonement for it . but there is no end of these my obliging friends stories ; i hope though , for the future they 'l be more innocent ones ; i mean , that their tongues will be no slander . the worst thing i knew of this man was , that he would be too easily provoked , but as soon ( that i 'le say for him too ) pacified . but why should i better know what this w. was , than what these men were ? i was i confess often told what two of them were , but i would not believe it , till they did me the kindness to make me understand them whether i would or no ; and since i have been sufficiently upbraided with my charitable incredulity . but in order to the more blackening of me , one or more of my good friends have reported , that he was upon the scaffold when the king was murthered . i never heard of this till this very day , but i concluded 't was a wicked lye , before i sent for him to ask him the question . his reply was , that he was then but a boy about sixteen years old , ( as any one may believe that knows him ) and that he was at that time fourscore miles from london . in short , mr. attorney general had a full hearing of the forementioned cause , was fully satisfied of the baseness of it , and gave mr. w. a noli prosequi . my enemies after this , made an article against me of this certificate , at doctors commons , and it was thrown out again with contempt enough . and yet , it is still made a hainous crime in me , and if it must be so for the future , after this pains i have taken to clear my self of being faulty therein , so let it . pervicaciae nullum opposuit remedium deus . but i declare farther , that if i had refused to certifie what i knew to be true of this man , i had not only been vnjust , but highly dis-ingenuous . for at my first coming to this parish , though he was a meer stranger to me ; and i never once heard of him before ; he highly obliged me by standing up for my right to houses that were built on the church-yard ground , and which i recovered without going to law , and by no mans assistance more than by his . and so much for that . i am accused too of this very whiggish trick , and in my mind a more knavish one , than the pretended certificate , viz. that the lord mayor , or some great man ( no body knows who ) sending to me to give my iudgment of persons fit to be chosen common-council-men , and to do my best towards procuring the choyce of loyal persons , i recommended fanaticks , or at least whigs , and stickled for them . but the reader shan't need to be scared with the fears of another tedious tale , for a word or two will do this business , viz. i solemnly profess both upon the word of a christian and a divine , that i never concerned my self , either directly or indirectly , in that affair , nor ever was defired by any mortal to meddle in it . but yet this goodly complaint of me , was told me by no less a man than a lord , this last week . and i am not to seek to understand , why just at this nick of time , ( i mean within this week or fortnight ) there are such strenuous but secret endeavours used by these men , to make me all that 's naught to our governovrs . it may be expected i should here clear my self of discouraging my church-wardens from presenting dissenters , which they made an article of , but i need to say no more than this to it , that as they could make nothing like a proof of it in the court , so the contrary appeared there , by the deposition of the principal of their own witnesses . and i had full evidence ready to prove , that i only charged them to present impartially , and not to gratify any ones revengeful piques , but it was not produced because 't was needless . and i had , after a full hearing , ten pounds costs given me against them . and now my hand is in , a word or two to their grand article , that i gave the communion to two of my church-wardens together , who were excommunicated in the court , near a year and half since . but as i had leave to defer the publishing of that excommunication , so the sacrament was given them before 't was publisht ; and i had then great assurance , that excommunications can take no effect till they are publisht ; and what i did , was done upon the best advice i was capable of having , and i relyed upon the authority of more than one ecclesiastical iudge ; and the same article had been exhibited against many other divines besides my self , had they been so unhappy as to have had in their parishes any people of such venomous spirits , as those few i am infested with . so that , if this were a fault in me , it was a fault of most excuseable , if i may not say invincible , ignorance . i no way consulted mine own interest in doing this thing , and i abominate the breaking of any order of the church to gratify any person whatsoever . there is one thing more which i ought not to omit , viz. that whereas i might say ( but that it may be replied , i live far from neighbours ) that no man could live more peaceably than i have done in this place , nor have been more forward to oblige all men , i have wondred sometimes , and so have others too who know my conversation , how i should happen to have in my parish such bitter enemies , though , i thank god , i have but a very few that i know of . but i have been for some time satisfied , that my impartiality in preaching hath netled some , and particularly my frequent exposing certain vices of some among us , who value themselves mightily upon their loyalty and conformity , whom i have plainly told , that they are a disgrace both to the king and the church ; and it may be i have but seldom dealt severely with the fanaticks , and men of factious , seditious , and rebellious principles , but i have had a bout with them too . now this is a fault i will not make the least excuse for , and if it be a fault , i believe most of the good service i have done here to the king and church , hath been principally owing to it . a second cause of my troubles i am too sure ( and i question whether i can name a third ) is , my refusing to part with mr. s. after all endeavours that have been used to set me against him . and for my great aversness to gratify his enemies herein , i will exercise my readers patience with this short apology . viz. that , besides one personal pique , i soon perceiv'd , the bottom of the emnity against him , to be some sermons he preached of the absolute necessity of restitution , that grievously galled some , who were too well known , to have wronged the poor , together with his declaring his mind else-where with some severity , against several unjust practices , before i had any relation to this parish . and it would have lain heavy upon my conscience , while i had a day to live , should i have joyned with those against him , who , i was satisfied , did set themselves in opposition to him , for the zeal he had expressed upon so highly commendable an account , as that of endeavouring to do right to those who are not in a capacity of righting themselves . besides , should i have dismissed mr. s. i could not but expect the curses of hundreds of needy families , for , excepting two noted citizens , i know not his fellow for bestirring himself , to get relief for poor people . i am confident , that never was a parish so obliged to a curate , as this parish hath been , for many years , to him , as ill as he hath now , for a long time by some few , been requited for it . and , to speak my conscience , i am certain this parish could very much better spare my self , than it can him. i confess , at my first coming , there was some misunderstanding between him and me , which some hoped would have ended in a settled enmity like to theirs : but in a very short time , we came to know each other better , and then immediately all that vanished , and hath never been in the least revived to this day . and , as to his preaching up loyalty , and conformity to the church , i know not a divine in london that is , or , ever since i came hither , hath been more zealous ; as many hundreds , i may say some thousands , can bear me witness . i will make no other apology for troubling the reader with this long scribble , than this very short one , viz. meer necessity hath , sorely against my inclination , compell'd me to it . but , for all that , i expect to have the old lame distick flung in my dish , viz. hoc mihi pro certo est , quòd si cum sterc●re certo , vinco , seu vincor , certè ego maculor . and if i have this wipe , i 'le take it patiently , though of all gibes , i confess , i most hate true ones . st. giles cripplegate , nov. . ( . ) the great wickedness , and mischievous effects of slandering represented . psalm . . . whoso privily slandereth his neighbour , him will i cut off . i shall not detein you with any thing of preface , but fall immediately upon the business i designed in the choice of these words , for my present subject . the just and pious king , who was the pen-man , spends this short psalm in declaring to his people , how he was resolved to mannage himself , in reference to the encouragement of piety and virtue among them ; and the discouragement of vice and wickedness . and among other particular vices which he tells them should by no means escape punishment , that of slandering their neighbours comes in , in the words of my text. nor is here any one vice which he expresseth so great an abhorrence of , or so severely threatens , as this of slandering . for , whereas he saith , a froward heart shall depart from me : i will not know a wicked person : and him that hath a high look , and a proud heart will not i suffer : and he that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house : and he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight ; he makes slandering their neighbours , a capital crime , and declareth that whoso slandereth his neighbour , him would he cut off. first , i will endeavour to shew , what is here meant by slandering ones neighbour . secondly , upon what accounts we may presume this good king did thus threaten those that should be guilty of this practice . i. what is here meant by slandering ones neighbour . thus to do , is either to devise a tale of another and then tell it ; that is , such a tale , as tends to the bringing of a blot upon the person of whom 't is invented and told : or to tell a false story from other hands as true , and with a design to have it believed without sufficient evidence of the truth of it . now although this latter way of slandering be a very great sin , as proceeding from great want of charity , and being perfectly opposite to that golden rule of our saviour , what you would that men should do to you , do you even the same to them , ( than which no maxim in morals is more plainly taught by the law of nature , i. e. right reason unassisted by divine revelation , and which a pagan prince gives us in negative terms , viz. quod tibi fieri non vis , alteri ne feceris . whatsoever thou wouldst not have done to thy self , do not offer to do to another : i say , as this latter way of slandering is for these reasons a very great sin , and consequently will meet with , where it is not timely repented of , very sore punishment from gods hands ) yet the former way , viz. slandering by inventing of stories to the blemishing of any ones good-name , is a greater sin , ( as is evident at first hearing ) and therefore deserves greater punishment . and the more the tale blackens his reputation of whom it is told , and the greater , or more useful the person is in the world who is defamed , as also the greater the injury is that is designed him in telling it of him , the greater still is this exceedingly great sin. now the slanderers that king david must needs mean here in the text , and whom he threatneth with being cut off , are such as shall devise and invent lies to the injuring of their neighbours , i. e. of any persons , be their rank and quality what it will ; which the word neighbour doth import . and they are only such slanderers as these which must be here thus threatned , because the other sort ( viz. such as do not invent , but only rashly give credit to and report lies of their neighbours ) though they are great sinners too , yet we cannot think that the king would doom them to so great a punishment . for in all places , there are too many of these offenders to be made obnoxious to so severe a sentence . and besides , it is not so easy a matter for the magistrate to find evidence sufficient in such a case as this , to found such a sentence as that of death upon it . ii. i come to shew upon what accounts this good king did thus threaten such as privily slandered their neighbours . there is very great reason for his being thus incensed against them . first , because inventers of slanders are in the number of the most injurious and mischievous people in the world. . they are most mischievous to those persons who are the objects of their slanders ; none are more so , except those instruments of satan , who by drawing others to sin destroy their souls . after the divine graces and virtues , which are necessary to qualify for the heavenly happiness , a man's good-name is the most highly valuable . it is not only better than precious oyntment , and rather to be chosen than silver and gold ( as the wise man saith ) but 't is to be prefer'd before all temporal enjoyments whatsoever , not excepting life it self . for who can take any comfort in his life , ( unless he be devested of all humanity , and strangely sunk into the brutish nature ) that is sensible of having out-liv'd his good-name ? and as for those that are so sunk , it would be much better for themselves as well as for the world , if they were out of being . and as it is natural to those men who have any thing of generousnes and ingenuity in their tempers , above all things to covet a good-name ; so there is this great reason why they should , namely , because it is the chief thing that makes men useful in the world ; and there are no such unprofitable or insignificant creatures upon god's earth , as those are who have lost their reputation , or had never any to lose . i mean by a good-name and reputation , that of a good-man : of a man that hath imbibed good principles , and is true to them : of a man revering the great god , and fearing to break wilfully any of his laws . that which either in the sacred writings , or in the books of the philosophers is called a good-name , is wholly founded upon good morals . a large understanding , shrewdness of wit and parts , high titles of honour , &c. have , 't is confessed , acquired to their owners great names , but these alone never made any man the possessor of a good-name . now so far as any man's reputation , in reference to his morals , is eclipsed , so much the less capable doth he immediately become of being serviceable in his generation . the less of a good-name any one hath , the fewer opportunities and advantages will he have , of being beneficial to his fellow-creatures , either in their temporal or spiritual concerns , but especially in their spiritual . and as it is cheifly upon this account that a good-name ought to be so highly esteemed ; so to esteem it upon any other account , separate from this , is nothing better than a gratification of animality or fond fancy . but this consideration makes it highly reasonable to prize a good-name above rubies , and above the wealth of both the indies , and to reckon our sufferings herein in the number of the greatest worldly sufferings . so , it is manifest , king david did , by divers passages in his psalms : as particularly in psal. . , . saith he , false witnesses did rise up against me , they laid to my charge things which i knew not ( or which i was altogether guiltless of ) they rewarded me evil for good ( or this evil of slander for all the good services i have done them ) to the spoiling , or ( as 't is in our old translation ) to the great discomfort of my soul. and psal. . , . he thus complaints ; thou hast known my reproach and my shame and my dishonour , mine adversaries are all before thee , reproach hath broken my heart and i am full of heaviness . so that a slanderer being a robber of that which is deservedly so precious , or at least he alwayes being so in his endeavour , there was great reason why this holy king should so abominate him , as we find by our text he did : but , . as the slanderer is thus highly injurious to those who are the objects of his slanders , so is he the most pestilent creature to the community of which he is a member . those who invent slanders , are the greatest pests and plagues to a body politique . they are continually stirring up strife and contention , animosities and emulation : and where these are , st. iames tells us , there is confusion , and every evil work. one of these is sufficient to set a whole neighbourhood together by the ears , and a few of them are enough to enflame a whole city , nay a whole kingdom . king solomon saith , prov. . . an ungodly man diggeth up evil , and in his lips there is a burning fire . and st. paul , cor. . . brings in swellings and tumults immediately after backbitings and whisperings . which he had good reason to do , since those are the natural consequents and effects of these . for they not only sow seeds of division among the people , but beget a mutual mis-understanding between them and their governours . these backbitings and whisperings render governours jealous of their people , and the people as jealous of their governours . princes see with other mens eyes , as they act by other mens hands ; and therefore 't is the most difficult thing , and even next to impossible for them , ordinarily to discern between calumnies and true stories . they have greater matters alwayes to mind , than to have leisure to dive to the bottom of those reports that are brought to them . and therefore , no wonder if they are frequently abused and imposed upon ; and so , perswaded to take some for their worst , who are in the number of their best subjects ; and others for their best , who are really their worst . and while the slanderers are as cunning and dextrous as they are wicked and malicious , what can alwayes prevent this , and the horrible mischiefs occasioned thereby , but such a degree of wisdom and knowledg , as no where resides but in god himself ? now king david had great reason to resolve upon doing his utmost towards the rooting out of his kingdom such people as these , when he knew them to be the great instruments of their father the devil , in making his subjects uneasy to himself , and to one another , and himself too as uneasy unto them : when he knew that all good order and government , was inconsistent with the encouragement , or toleration of such a crew of vile miscreants . when he was so well aware , that let such pretend to what loyalty they pleased , 't was impossible for him to have naughtier subjects than these are . let us consider what st. iames saith of a slandering tongue , ch. . v. . the tongue is a little member , and boasteth great things ; behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth ! and the tongue is a fire , a vvorld of iniquity . so is the tongue ( or a calumniating backbiting tongue ) among our members , that it defileth the whole body , and it is set on fire of hell. secondly , as inventers of slanders are the most mischievous and destructive sort of people ; so , whilst they are neglected and let alone , they are the most successful in their wicked designs . they are so successful , that what our proverb saith of a flayl , is much truer of a slandering tongue , that , there is no fence against it . if any thing be a sure protection from it , one would think the most spotless innocence , and the most exemplary virtue needs must , but the example of our blessed saviour assures us of the contrary . no man ever arrived to his innocence or vertue ; but for all that , never was any one so strangely wronged in his good-name as he. though no man more practised or taught loyalty , yet was he represented as an enemy to caesar. though never had the devil such an enemy , yet was he calumniated as a great wizzard , in league with beelzebub the prince of the devils . though never was the breast of any one so possessed with divine love , nor any man's mind with so great a reverence and veneration of the divine majesty , yet was he stigmatized with the blackest of all marks and characters , viz. that of a blasphemer . and as the most horrid slanders were invented and published to the world of him , so were they generally believed too . there is nothing we are owners of that 's so exposed to the mercy of others , as are our good-names . whosoever hath a tongue in his head , if he be but wicked enough , and not universally known to be a wicked man , can , when he pleaseth , do our names a mischief . the wise man saith , prov. . . that a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour , is a maul , and a sword , and a sharp-arrow . that is , he is made up and compounded of all fatal mischiefs . a maul cannot give greater bruises , nor more effectually fell to the ground , than this sort of weapon : nor a sword pierce deeper , or cut and slash more cruelly : nor a sharp arrow wound at a greater distance , no nor at nothing so great a distance ; for there is no getting out of the reach of a slandering tongue ; nor is there any where to be found security against it : i mean , besides the special and extraordinary providence of god. st. iames tells us in the fore-mentioned chapter , ver . . &c. that every kind of beasts , and of birds , and of serpents , and things in the sea , is tamed , and hath been tamed of man-kind ; but the tongue ( viz. the tongue of a slanderer , as is plain by ver . . ) can no man tame , it is an unruly evil , ( such an evil as there is no dealing with it ) full of deadly poison : such as is too strong for the most sovereign antidote . many ( saith the son of syrack ) have fallen by the edge of the sword , but not so many as have fallen by the tongue : well is he that is defended from it , and hath not passed through the venome thereof . who hath not drawn the yoke thereof , nor hath been bound in its bands ? for the yoke thereof is as a yoke of iron , and the bands thereof as bands of brass . the death thereof is an evil death , the grave were better than it . so that the slanderer being an enemy , against whose assaults the greatest human power , policy or wisdom , cannot wholly defend us ; well might king david conceive so high a displeasure against him , as he here expresseth . and the like displeasure doth he declare against him , psalm . . , , . deliver my soul , o lord , from lying lips , and from a deceitful tongue . what shall be given unto thee , or what shall be done unto thee thou false tongue ? sharp arrows of the mighty , with coals of iuniper . or , with hot burning coles , according to the other translation . i proceed now to make some application of what hath been said ; and it shall be this. first , this little we have discoursed on this argument , is abundantly enough to render the sin of slandering our neighbour most abominable in our eyes . i mean , . the sin of devising and inventing defamations and slanders . this indeed is such a wickedness as one would think it should be needless to caution those against it , i will not say , who profess christianity , but who have not bid adien to all humanity . it is such a black , such a hellish sin , as that the devil hath both his chief names and characters from it . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. this name devil , signifies the slanderer . satan signifies the spiteful enemy . the chief characters we meet with in scripture of the devil , are these two , the father of lies , and the accuser of the brethren . and therefore nothing can denominate us more perfectly like the devil , than this forging of lies and calumnies against our brethren . and we see , psalm . . , &c. with what severity the great god expresseth himself against those that dare to commit this sin. saith he , thou givest thy mouth to evil , and thy tongue frameth deceit . thou sittest and speakest against thy brother , thou slanderest thine own mothers son. these things hast thou done , and i kept silence ; thou thoughtest that i was altogether such an one as thy self : but i will reprove thee , and set them in order before thine eyes . and v. . he asks such as these , what they had to do to declare his statutes , or that they should take his covenant into their mouths : or to make profession of his religion , or indeed of any religion . and v. . he threatens them that he would tear them in pieces , and there should be none to deliver , if they would not consider what he now had said , and lay it to heart . king solomon putteth this practice of slandering , in the number of those sins , which god abominates in a more especial manner . prov. . . &c. these six thing doth the lord hate , yea seven are an abomination to him . a proud look , a lying tongue , and hands that shed innocent blood : an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations : feet that be swift in running to mischief : a false witness that speaketh lies : and he that soweth discord among brethren . and indeed all these seven things , except the first , are such as make the proper character of this sort of slanderers i am now exposing . and rev. . . whosoever loveth and maketh a lie , is reckoned with dogs and sorcerers , and whoremongers , and murtherers , and idolaters ; who are to have their portion in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone . . let us no less hate the practice of taking up evil reports against any , that that of inventing them . we learn from psal. . . that this also will exclude us the kingdom of heaven ; in that 't is here said , that among those that shall abide in gods tabernacle , and dwell in his holy hill , he is one that backbiteth not with his tongue , nor doth evil to his neighbour , nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour : or doth not without good evidence give credit to it , and much less spread and propagate it . the wise man maketh him a vvicked doer , who giveth heed to false lips ; and a lyar , who giveth ear to a naughty tongue . prov. . . this is as much a transgression of the forementioned golden rule , of doing as we would be done unto , as is devising and forging slanders . i doubt there is not much less malice in this practice , but i am sure it savours of every whit as little charity , as that other practice doth . i can have no charity for that man , against whom i am forward to believe and report whatsoever of evil i chance to hear of him . nay , vvhisperers and backbiters , as well as inventers of evil things , are reckoned by saint paul , among those obdurate sinners , of whom he pronounceth , that god had given them over 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to a reprobate mind , rom. . , . hasty believers and spreaders of false reports , are the tools and instruments of those that invent them , for the doing of the mischief they design by them . and it is almost wholly long of these , that those wicked people are in a capacity of doing any mischief by their forgeries . we are bound therefore by the strictest bonds , by the bonds of charity , of iustice , and of self-preservation , to be extremely cautious of lending our ear to tale-bearers , lest we be involved in their guilt , and so brought to share with them in their dreadful punishment . since this is an express law of god , thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people , lev. . . surely 't is as much a law of his , that we should not give incouragement to those whom we know to be tale-bearers , by listning to their tales . nay , we are obliged to be so far from believing a report against our neighbour , meerly from the information of any one or a few persons , of whose integrity , and of 〈◊〉 certain knowledge of the truth thereof , 〈◊〉 have not great assurance , that we may not ne●●ther conclude any man guilty , from his being accused by the generality . there is indeed a common saying , vox-populi est vox dei , the voice of the people is the voice of god. and in a certain sence it may well pass for a true proverb . but as it is vulgarly understood , the voice of the people is not the voice of god , as we of this city and kingdom have often found by sad experience . all wise and honest men cannot be , at this time of day , to seek for conviction , what great sufferers , even our governours themselves have been wrongfully made to be , by the voice of the people . and i dare affirm , that he who now takes the common vogue for unquestionable evidence , had he lived in the dayes of our blessed saviour , would have been made one among that wicked crew , who applauded the sentence pronounc'd against him. and there is this weighty reason , why common fame it self is not to be confided in , viz. for ought we can tell this fame might first arise from but one man , and that man a liar too ; and this we certainly know , that the generality are so void of charity , as hastily to catch at scandalous stories , and are much more easily perswaded to think and report evil things upon very slight grounds , than good and commendable things , upon the most evident and apparent ones . and none have so sad experience of the truth of this , as those of whose reputation we are obliged to be the most tender . i mean our governours in church and state. but suppose we have certain assurance , that such an ill report did take its first rise from not a few , yet we may not be sure but that these might be united in one common interest and design ; but in this case , the report of many carryes no whit stronger evidence with it , than if it came but from one mouth . and this was the very case of our blessed lord : they were many who first divulged vile slanders of him , but they were all acted by one and the same principle , viz. that of malice ; and by the same design , viz. that of disgracing him among the people , and incencing of king herod and pontius pilate against him. but lastly , suppose we could be certain , that the many ' first reporters of bad stories were not linked together by one common tye , yet even in this case too we are bound to use caution and deliberation , before we give them undoubted credit . especially if those stories relate to words or actions that are capable of a two-fold interpretation . the same actions may be faulty or commendable , according to the circumstances wherewith they are attended . and the same words may be so too , according to the occasion or connexion of them . but people are generally , even those who have no malicious intention , rash , and heady in judging of actions without weighing circumstances ; and in running away with half sentences ; or with whole ones , without considering , what went before , or followed after . so that , i say , as we would not fall under the guilt of that sin , the exceeding heinousness of which i have been representing , look we to it , that we be not hasty in taking up evill reports of any body , let them come to us from never so many . if this be warrantable , as i have already intimated , the joyning with those who ran down our saviour , and at last nailed him to the cross , had been very excuseable , not to say defensible . and let us believe as well as , without offering violence to our reason , we can of all men ; and chuse much rather in our judging , and in our reports of men , to offend on the right than on the left hand . i am certain , thus much is implied in those two precepts of our lord , viz. iudg not that ye be not iudged ; for with what iudgment ye iudge ye shall be iudged , and with what measure ye mete , it shall be meted to you again . matth. . , . and iudge not according to the appearance , but judg righteous iudgment , john . . . ought the slandering of our neighbour to be so detested by us , then what an abominable thing is it , to slander , and injure the good-name and reputation of the kings majesty , and of those that under him have authority over us ! 't is an express law of god , exod. . . & repeated by st. paul , viz. thou shalt not revile the gods , nor curse ( or speak evil of ) the ruler of thy people . and as to the king , 't is so great a wickedness to defame him , or say any thing to the lessening of his honour , that the wise man thus chargeth us , eccles. . . curse not the king , no not in thy thought . and 't is as much the peoples interest , as it is the kings , that he be not slandered ▪ or spoken evil of . for seditious and rebellious practices do usually arise from mens first taking this wicked liberty ; as we have all known by very woeful experience . and we know by the like experience , that the king suffers not more by those leud practices , than the people necessarily must . it was a good saying , as i remember , of aristotle , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , vvhosoever defames the prince , is injurious to the common-vvealth ; or mischiefs his subjects . and as for those that take liberty to invent or tell stories reflecting upon their ecclesiastical governours , pastors , or teachers , they are in a special manner injurious to the souls of men. for nothing so tends to the prejudicing of their people against their doctrine , as their having an evil opinion of their persons . and for this reason , i think none are so much concerned to keep their good-names as unspotted as they can , and to clear themselves of whatsoever aspersions are cast upon them , as they are . the conclusion . and now i will take this occasion to inform you , that some having greatly concerned themselves of late , to carry tales of scandalous passages which they pretend to have heard from the pulpits of divers of my brethren in this city , there are others who have very lately done the like good office for my self . i am too well aware who they are , i will tell you who they are not ; i am very confident , they are not papists , at least not professed ones . but you of this parish may have a shrewd guess within a very few ; for you must needs know some to have long expressed as bitter and implacable enmity against me , as if we had been of two churches and contrary religions : and that without the least provocation on my part . and i doubt not there are many of the roman religion , from whom i should have had much more iust , fair , and christian treatment . as silent as i have been hitherto , this is not the first nor second time neither , that i have been in the self-same manner most vilely abused by these people , as in due time , i trust in god will be made manifest . my last accusation was this , ( or at least the last i have heard of ) that i vented in this pulpit , on all-saints-day , viz. this day fortnight , a bitter curse against the papists , together with all those ( for which i trust to the memory of an extraordinary person ) who give them encouragement . and the curse i understand was worded to this effect ; i wish their names and memories may rot eternally . whatsoever the express words were , i hear they perfectly agreed in the self-same , which is so far from evidence of their telling truth of me , that 't is a much stronger argument of their being conspirators against me . but may this curse , instead of falling upon the papists , or those that encourage them , light upon my own name and memory , if i either pronounced it , or any curse like it against either the one or the other , or any curse at all against either . and as i solemnly appeal to god almighty , so i appeal to you my auditors , whether there were the least appearance or shadow of an occasion given by me , for such an information as this against me . i appeal to you also , whether you can think it possible , that such an accusation as this could arise from meer mistake . i am confident , that all who minded my sermon , will pronounce , that neither this charge , nor any charge that hath the least likeness to it , be it worded how it will , must be nothing better than pure invention ; which we have shewn is the most horrible way of slandering . i prevailed with a most worthy prelate to hear that sermon read out of my notes word for word , and i cannot call to mind my having said above three or four words more than are in my notes , and those i acquainted his lordship with , meerly that i might truly say , that he had nothing of the sermon concealed from him. and after it was read , not one bit of a sentence could be fixed upon , that might put my enemies in mind to invent such a slander as this of me , unless it were this , viz. if we do not justify to all the world ( meaning , as before was expressed , we divines of the church of england ) the representations we have made of that religion ( viz. the roman ) to our people , let our names stink , and our memories be covered with eternal shame . and these words next follow , 't is a most wicked thing to slander a particular person , and much more to slander and be-lye a whole church , and that so excellent and famous a church , as that of rome once was . so that if i had been accused of curseing my self , or my brethren , instead of the papists , and those that encourage them , there had been a much more colourable pretence for such a calumny . i know i han't lived such a life as that after so solemn appeals as i have now made , my perfect innocence , as to this charge , should be in the least questioned by those , who have the least knowledge of me . bur as for those that are acquainted with me , i am certain they need no such appeals to satisfy them , that i could not be guilty of so un-christian a thing , as the cursing of any man , upon any account ; and much less , as the cursing of any sort of men , upon the account of their being of a different religion from my self . for as to all such , i have very rarely been blamed for any defect of charity towards them ; but i have often been censured as being in the other extreme , viz. of the excess of charity , which i have alwayes concluded to be much the safest . good lord , that any , who profess themselves christians , should be so depraved , as to attend our preaching god's holy word , with no better a design , than to be spyes upon us , and to catch at all advantages ( and when they can find none , to make them ) for the ruining of us and our families ; nay , and which is worse , if worse can be , that such should dare to receive the holy communion , and that at their hands too , against whom they are alwayes contriving of mischief . god grant that such people may at length seriously lay to heart , the wretched state they are in , and consider what a severe reckoning , they shall one day be called to for such practices . and that , if timely repentance prevent it not , there will most certainly be bitterness in the latter end. i have sometimes e'ne trembled to think , what horrid crimes the devil in time may draw such into , who are so forsaken of the divine grace , as to be able to do such things as these . i have long remembred my adversaries particularly in my daily prayers , that god would be pleased to give them true repentance for the many great injuries they have done me , and for their other sins , that their souls may be saved in the day of the lord iesus . i am under a greater necessity than you are aware of , thus to clear my innocence ; and what i have now done , hath not been without the best advice . thanks be to god , his majesty is so just and gracious a prince , as instead of readily crediting ill stories of us , to give us opportunities for the clearing of our innocence : and very willingly condescends , audire alteram partem , to the hearing of our vindications . nor is his majesty less forward to the receiving of satisfaction concerning our innocence , than patient in hearing complaints against us . which grace of his lays a farther obligation upon us , to pray for his majesties long and happy reign over us . i will now conclude , with that most christian petition of our church in the litany . we beseech thee good lord , that it may please thee to forgive our enemies , persecutors and slanderers , and to turn their hearts . and with the intercession of our blessed saviour upon the cross , for his bloody enemies : father forgive them , for they know not what they do . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e tertul. the lybeller carracterizd [sic], or a hue and cry sent after him. some of his works made publick: with observations thereupon key, leonard. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the lybeller carracterizd [sic], or a hue and cry sent after him. some of his works made publick: with observations thereupon key, leonard. coale, benjamin. aut p. s.n., [london : ] text signed on p. : benj. coales. signed at end: leonard key. caption title. place of publication from wing; dated at end: d. of the d. month, . reproduction of the original in the friends' house library, london. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng quakers -- early works to . libel and slander -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - celeste ng sampled and proofread - celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the lybeller carracterizd , or a hue and cry sent after him. some of his works made publick : with observations thereupon . whereas some envious person , or persons in or about london ( as is supposed ) have of late abused several honest men in several countries , by sending great packets by the post ; and thereby not only putting them to considerable charges , but also abusing several with scurrilous language and falshood ; which have been born with until it became frequent ; and then several have refused to receive them ; so they have been returned upon the post-master again . the hand-writing being compared , seems much alike ; and the seal , sometimes the anchor , and sometimes the ship , &c. and printed books writ upon between the lines , and wrapt up in a blank piece of paper , charged , and d. for postage ; and some less : and inasmuch as such practice is very unjust , and a work of unrighteousness : it is the duty of all honest men fearing god , not only to disown , but publickly to testifie against such a practice . it was , and is at this day , a certain truth , that he that doth evil hates the light : neither will he bring his deeds to it , least it should reprove him . and doubtless , the nameless author of those packets loved darkness rather than the light , because he was afraid to put his name to what he hath writ : but his work discovers him to be a night wanderer : and though he would seem ( it may be ) to be religious ; yet how vain is it for him so to do , that hath not a bridle to his tongue ; but will accuse , and not prove , and ask questions to no purpose , except to slander and abuse men ; and is yet to learn that lesson which our saviour taught his followers , viz. whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you , that do unto them . this nameless author of the packets , seems as if he had authority ( or at least assumes it ) to judge of men's properties , and question the printing of books , that are not licensed by such nameless persons as himself : and in particular , he quarrels , and seems to be offended with a small book written concerning that honourable woman loveday hambly , deceased ; and several other books , that have been wrote by persons of good repute , men fearing god , and abhorring such idle practices as the author of the lybel is found in . in short , the author of those packets makes it his business to abuse honest men , and endeavours as much as in him lyes , to take away their good name , by bespattering them with bad names , and in particular , hath bent his arrows of envy and hatred against that servant of god j. s. deceased , and j. w. and others : but seeing he is such a night-wanderer , and will not tell his name , what he writes is the less taken notice of , or credited amongst men of understanding . now if this lybeller will come forth , and own his work , he shall have a fair hearing ; and if he be found guilty , let him repent and do so no more ; but if he doth persist in this wicked work to abuse and cheat men , as before mentioned ; which is little less than picking their pockets . this is to give notice , that whosoever can give certain intelligence of his name , and place of his residence or habitation , shall have reasonable satisfacton for their pains . written by a lover of truth and honesty , but a witness against the contrary . reading , the th . of st . mo. / . benj. coales . and have no fellowship with the vnfruitful works of darkness , but rather reprove them : for it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret . eph. . , . here is the work of a formal apostate manifested , and some observations and queries made publick , that was long since delivered to some of the formal preachers in reading , but no answer given to them ; or an hue and cry after a nameless author , that hath made it his business to send great packets by post , from london to reading , and to many other places in the nation , whereby honest men have been put to great charge , and much abused by one that would seem to be religious and very zealous , for the setting up of outward things , as may be seen by his own words , as they were sent to two persons in reading , set down verbatim : also a short postscript . first query . was not peoples going from the light and spirit in their own particulars many ages since , the cause why so many forms of prayers were made to be said by the church of england . dly . and did not their compelling and using violence to those that were otherwise minded , proceed from the spirit that made the form ? dly . did not the presbyterians with their church-faith and directory that they had made , do like the church of england , when they had power ; excommunicate and cast into prison , such as could not bow to their image , which they had set up ? thly . ' did not the baptists with their form which they did cry up , do like the former ? and hath not all the lo heres , and the lo there 's arisen , when the people in every generation have gone from the spirit 's teaching ? thly . ' and hath it not been so with all other sects , when they have erred from the spirit , which was given to be for a leader , and have run into the setting up of outward things ; which hath proved a snare in all ages ; read and see how it was with israel of old , when they forsook the lord ; how did their enemies prevail over them ? let it be a warning to all in our days . thly . and now it is come to the formal quakers turn ; and are not they , with all their strength and might they can get in most places , a setting up the form that they have made , and giving it higher names than any that hath gone before : and some hath had the confidence to say , and preach openly ( that what they had set up ) was to keep things sweet and clean ; notwithstanding many things have happened amongst them in many places , which is a stink and a shame to mention ; yet calling them holy orders , and such like n●m●s as they in their imaginary minds could think on ; too much like the golden image that was set up in the days of daniel , which the lord did and will confound . thly . and doth not many of the formal preachers sit with their hats on , when many of the lord's servants are moved to pray . thly . and doth not many others imitate them in that ungodly practice ; so that it may be said as it was in times past , like priest , like people : which is a trouble to many , and a stumbling block to the weak that beholds it ; and may it not be said now as in times past ; the teachers of the people have caused them to err . thly . and do not some of you , formal preachers , send great packets by the post , directed to honest men in the countrey without any name to them , on purpose to put them to charge , witness reading , where four were sent to two persons in eight days time , and charged s. d. to be paid by them they were sent to ; and many more have come to this town since , besides what have been sent to other places . thly . and are these the fruits of a christian spirit ? or from them that are apostatized from it ? let any that have any understanding of the things of god , judge . thly . and have not you , according to your power , been like them before mentioned , considering your standing , in giving bad names , both in your prayers , and also preaching ; calling such dark spirits ( that cou●d not joyn with you about your forms ) and that they were gone in the way of cain : and many such like expressions ; and have you not endeavoured to make the people believe it ; when you know in your consciences , that many that you so brand , are blameless , both in life , conversation , and doctrine . thly . and was it not the elders of israel in days that are past , that gave unrighteous judgment , and did condemn the innocent ? and hath it not been so in our days ? witness the paper that was signed by against their innocent brethren in the north ? and may not the same cry be sounded in this our day , as was then , in the ears of many , return , return to the place of judgment . even to that principle that was first preached , which was the first , and will be the last . thly . when david kept to the spirits teaching , did not he say , o lord , thou hast made me wiser than all my teachers , and thy word is a light to my feet , and lanthorn to my paths . and this teach't him to order his conversation aright : and it is the same at this day , and will remain for ever . thly . and is not the lord god , who hath an all-seeing eye , appeared , and made known himself in this our day , for this very end , according to his promise , to gather a people to himself , from all the lo-heres and the lo-theres , as hath appeared , and is bringing them to wait upon him ; who is feeding all that do truly hunger after him , with that bread that doth truly satisfie their longing souls , and all such , as they abide under his teaching , need go no more forth , blessed and praised be his everlasting name for ever . th . th . mo. . l. k. here follows the words of the nameless author written in the title page of the relation of loveday hambly , deceased , and sent to b. c. viz. ben. coale , here is a paper of thine , where thou applauds , with many frothy expressions , l. h. and saith , her table was plentifully spread . it is like so , makes thee so to applaud her : hath she not given thee some great legacy for thy funeral sermon ? hadst thou , or you authority to print m. d. & f. s's letters ? ye tell of her good works and charity , and is that the cause that ye do so so applaud her ? the papists will do the same : but are you in the spirit of good works and charity , or evil ? hast thou not cryed peace to such as put in thy mouth , and oppose such as stand against thy wilful , peevish spirit for want of charity ; but thou wouldst appear to be somebody , and to make a noise in print , with thy tinckling cymbals and sounding brass , as thou dost in meetings : why did not you print , how you shut the women's quarterly-meeting out of their meeting house , and shut the quarterly men's-meeting out of the house at blewberry , and they were fain to meet at an inn , and a. estmead nailed up their meeting-house door at calne , and they were fain to meet in the street , and the women fain to meet in a malt-house . is this your liberty of conscience , and works of charity , to keep people out of their property , or the persecuting spirit of the world cloakt with liberty ? hath j. s. and j. w. taught you this doctrine ? is this as it was in the beginning ? he that sitteth in heaven will break your bands in sunder , and laugh you to scorn , whose babel and folly is manifest to all men that know you , and will be rewarded according to your works . isai . . . i knew thee , that thou wouldst deal treacherously . observe , b. c. gave a short testimony with some others in print relating to the life and death of his old mistriss l h. and spake something of her praise , whom he knew to be worthy thereof , living a servant with her some years , as appears more at large in that paper given forth on her behalf ; which the reader may do well to see , and then may better take notice of the envy and mallice that hath appeared by the nameless author of the packets : he saith , here is a payer of thine , where thou applandest with many frothy expressions l. h. which is wrong in this formal apostate , so to say : and for b. c's saying , her table was plentifully spread ; he said no more than he knew ; see the paper , and judge : and if she had given him a legacy , as he scoffingly saith , he had better deserved it than some others that used to be frequent at her table ; and they can do no less but say , if they speak true ; as b. c. hath done ; although what he hath said , could not be for any great legacy , or for her funeral sermon , as the nameless author scoffingly saith , for he wrote nothing as i know of , till she was dead , a●● if she gave him any thing , it could not be for that , for she knew not 〈◊〉 observe , this lybeller seems to be offended , and saith , hadst 〈◊〉 or you authority to print m. d's and t. s's letters . answer there is no question to be made of that ; but the reader may observe , th●● what was printed , was not stamped by the second-days meeting ; and some may be so foolish as to say , it was out of the vnity ; and did not this make him to compare it with the papists : but i think many of them will hardly do as he hath done , in sending great packets by p●st , to put honest men to charge , and conceal their names , as he hath done his ; and must needs be talking of charity , and tells of tinkling cymbals and sounding brass : but what this formal apostate hath done , makes but a bad sound . and why did you not print ( saith he ) how you shut the women's meeting out of their meeting-house , and shut the quarterly mens-meeting out of the house at blewberry , and they were 〈◊〉 to meet at an inn. answer . if it were so , the friends at blewberry can give the best account why it was so . it is a sign they were a 〈◊〉 of such company that use to frequent such meetings of late days which made it their business to brawl and contend against honest men , 〈◊〉 had been , and are serviceable in their day : too much of this i have seen , and do not speak by hear-say . this nameless author saith 〈◊〉 estmead nailed up their meeting-house doors at calre ; but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was so or no , i shall have it , it being without the compass of my knowledge but do wish he had not as much ground for what he did , as they had at blewberry , if it be as is said , and what 's all that to b. c. observe . the nameless author saith , that the women were 〈◊〉 meet in a malt-house . i confess , that was hardly well taken by 〈◊〉 that came from londong , and other places , to help to settle the gov●●●m●nt of the women's meetings ; but he need not be so much offended with the malt-house , for is is no such inferiour place to sit in at 〈◊〉 and he further saith , is this your liberty of conscience . ans . surely the women in the malt-house in reading , there met and assembled together , might have brought forth as good an edict as they did that met at barbados . and saith the nameless author , hath j. s. & j. h. taught you this doctrine ? ans . i am sure they never taught any to do as he hath done and then conceal his name , they were men of more integrity , and did abhor such a practise as he is found in ; but his reward will be according to his work : how are the hidden things of esau searched out ! the nameless author cites isai . . . i knew thee that thou wouldst deal treacherously . ans . very proper for himself . and it may be said of him as once the prophet of the lord said concerning edom , the pride of thy heart hath deceived thee , thou that dwillest in the clefts of the rock , whose habitation is high ; that saith in his heart , who shall bring me down to the ground ? tho thou exalt thy self as the eagle , and tho thou set thy nest among the stars , thence will i bring thee down , saith the lord. here follows the words of the nameless author , to tho. curtis in one of the packets , viz. you may take your fawning , flattering funeral sermon home again , and spread not such things abroad least they be turned home again with shame ; had you not , nor do you not expect some great legacy for your work ? and is not this crying up one , as you did j. s. and crying down others , like carnal men , building of babel , whom god will confound ; and some of her neighbours reproved the madness and folly of such prophets , when they saw those flattering frothy expressions concerning l. h. which more manifests a puft up spirit than humility , but no better fruits can be expected . t. c. read it over again , and it may happen thou mayst better consider thy folly , if envy and passion hath not blinded thee ; and thou hast made a great boast what thou hast done in this book ; but the truth hath tryed it , and hath a sense of the work and spirit to be conceited and lofty , &c. there is no peace , saith the lord to the wicked . their liberty of conscience you may read , pet. . . isai . . . and in jude . the reader may take notice , that t. c. was one of them that gave a testimony forth concerning his old friend l. h. with whom he had been conversant , and made serviceable in the hand of the lord , as appears more at large , by what he hath wrote on her behalf ; and i know no reason why this nameless author should be so much offended at it as he is , except it was , because it was not sent to be approved of by the second , days meeting , as if he had power to bind and loose : he saith , the truth hath tryed it , and hath a sence of the work and spirit . observe . so many as have an eye to him , that are zealous for the form , and oftentimes sit with their hats on in time of prayer , will be ready to say , it is out of the vnity , as they used to do by that innocent man j. s. which the formal apostate cites : he talks of crying up one , and crying down others , like carnal men , building of babel . who will cry up thee , thou treacherous person , that art ashamed to put thy name to thy work ? what can be more like babel than what thou hast done . the lybeller saith , that some of her neighbours reproved the madness and folly of such prophets , &c. observe , they are as nameless as this author , and i may say to him as the psalmist once said , what shall be done unto thee , thou false tongue ? and doth not this manifest more a puft up spirit than humility , let his own words answer him ; but no better fruits can be expected from one that is ashamed of his name , obs . he saith flatteringly , read it over again , & it may happen thou mayst better consider thy folly , if envy & passion hath not blinded thee . ans . if envy , madness and folly had not blinded this formal apostate , he would never have done as he hath done , to put honest men to such unnecessary charge , as he did in eight days time , and concealing his name . surely none will own his work nor he , unless he give forth a paper of condemnation ; for such things go a great way in our days ; especially among such as are ready to pin their faith on other folks sleeves . observe . he saith , there is no peace to the wicked . ans . very true , therefore it will concern this person to look back and repent of this ungodly work that he hath been found in , and not like lucifer , think to make his nest amongst the stars , for the lord god in his own day and time will bring him down , and all that so do . the nameless author talkes of liberty of conscience , and cites pet. . . isai . . . and in jude . so the reader is desired to search the scriptures before cited , and compare what they say with his practice . it was said by the prophet , the remnant of israel shall not do iniquity , nor speak lyes , neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth . postscript . te nameless author before mentioned seems to be a person , by his own words , as if he had intelligence from many places in the countrey ; which may make many think he is one that frequents the second day's meeting , and doubtless , doth account himself one of the faithful , & would seem to have the care of the churches upon him , or , as if he had been some great instrument in setting up the women's meetings , separate from the men. so here is a short discription given of him , and it is left to some , that have made a great talk of their inward sense , to make a further discovery of this nameless author , that so honest men in the country may no longer be abused by him . reading d. of the d. month , . written by a lover of the truth , leonard key . the government of the tongue by the author of the whole duty of man, &c. allestree, richard, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing a estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : , : a) the government of the tongue by the author of the whole duty of man, &c. allestree, richard, - . fell, john, - . sterne, richard, ?- . pakington, dorothy coventry, lady, d. . henchman, humphrey, - . the fifth impression. [ ], p. at the theater, oxford : [i.e. ] attributed to richard allestree. cf. bm, dnb. variously ascribed also to john fell, richard sterne, lady dortohy pakington, humphrey henchman, and others. cf. dnb. table of contents: p. [ ] both wing and madan distinguish between two "editions" of [ ]: wing a (madan *), which is ", lacks a frontispiece, and has an upper case "f" in "fifth impression" on the t.p., and wing a (madan ), which is ", has a lower case "f" and includes the frontispiece. although the film identifies : as a , it is in fact identical to : with frontispiece, octavo binding, and an "f" on the t.p. reproduction of original in huntington library. item at : a with: the art of contentment / by the author of the whole duty of man, &c. [oxford] : at the theater in oxford, . created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng libel and slander -- early works to . conduct of life -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion imprimatur , rad. bathvrst . vice-cancel . oxon. januarii . . the government of the tongve the government of the tongue . by the author of the whole duty of man , &c. death and life are in the power of the tongue , prov. . . the fifth impression . at the theater in oxford . m. dc . lxvii . the preface the government of the tongue has ever bin justly reputed one of the most important parts of human regiment . the philosopher and the divine equally attest this ; and solomon ( who was both ) gives his suffrage also ; the perswasions to , and encomiums of it taking up a considerable part of his book of proverbs . i shall not therefore need to say any thing , to justifie my choice of this subject , which has so much better authorities to commend it : i rather wish that it had not the super addition of an accidental fitness grounded upon the universal neglect of it , it now seeming to be an art wholly out-dated . for tho some lineaments of it may be met with in books , yet there is scarce any footsteps of it in practice , where alone it can be significant . the attemt therefore of reviving it i am sure is seasonable , i wish it were half as easy . . indeed that skill was never very easy , it requiring the greatest vigilance and caution , and therefore not to be attain'd by loose trifling spirits . the tongue is so slippery , that it easy deceives a drousy or heedless guard . nature seems to have given it some unhappy advantage towards that . 't is in its frame the most ready for motion of any member , needs not so much as the flexure of a joint , and by access of humors acquires a glibness too , the more to facilitate its moving . and alas , we too much find the effect of this its easie frame : it often goes without giving us warning ; and as children , when they happen upon a rolling engine , can set it in such a carriere , as wiser people cannot on a sudden stop ; so the childish parts of us , our passions , our fancies , all our mere animal faculties , can thrust our tongues into such disorders , as our reason cannot easily rectify . the due managery therefore of this unruly member , may rightly be esteemed one of the greatest mysteries of wisdom and vertue . this is intimated by st. james , if any man offend not in word , the same is a perfect man , and able also to bridle the whole body , ja. . . 't is storied of bembo a primitive christian , that coming to a friend to teach him a psalm , he began to him the thirty ninth , i said i will look to my waies , that i offend not with my tongue ; upon hearing of which first verse , he stopt his tutor , saying , this is enough for me if i learn it as i ought ; and being after six months rebuk'd for not coming again , he replied , that he had not yet learn'd his first lesson : nay , after nineteen years he profest , that in that time he had scarce learn'd to fulfill that one line . i give not this instance to discourage , but rather to quicken men to the study , for a lesson that requires so much time to learn , had need be early begun with . . but especially in this age , wherein the contrary liberty has got such a prepossession , that men look on it as a part of their birth-right , nay do not only let their tongues loose , but studiously suggest inordinaces to them , and use the spur where they should the bridle . by this means conversation is so generally corrupted , that many have had cause to wish they had not been made sociable creatures . a man secluded from company can have but the devil and himself to temt him ; but he that converses , has almost as many snares as he has companions . men barter vices , and as if each had not enough of his own growth , transplant out of his neighbors soil , and that which was intended to cultivate and civilize the world , has turned it into a wild desert and wilderness . . this face of things , i confess , looks not very promising to one who is to solicite a reformation . but what ever the hopes are , i am sure the needs are great enough to justify the attemt . for as the disease is epidemic , so it is mortal also , utterly inconsistent with that pure religion , which leads to life . we may take james's word for it , if any man seem to be religious , and bridleth not his tongue , that mans religion is vain , james . . god knows we have not much religion among us : 't is great pity we should frustrate the little we have , render that utterly insignificant , which at the best amounts to so little . let therefore the difficulty and necessity of the task , prevail with us to take time before us , not to defer this so necessary a work till the night come ; or imagine that the tongue will be able to expiate its whole age of guilt by a feeble lord have mercy on me at the last . tho indeed if that were supposable , 't were but a broken reed to trust to , none knowing whether he shall have time or grace for that . he may be surpriz'd with an oath , a blasphemy , a detraction in his mouth : many have bin so . 't is sure there must be a dying moment ; and how can any man secure himself , it shall not be the same with that in which he utters those , and his expiring breath be so emploied ? sure they cannot think that those incantations ( tho hellish enough ) can make them shot-free , render them invulnerable to deaths darts ; and if they have not that , or some other as ridiculous reserves , 't is strange what should make them run such a mad adventure . . but i expect it should be objected , that this little despicable tract is not proportionable to the encounter to which it is brought , that besides that unskilful managing of those points it do's touch , it wholly omits many proper to the subject , there being faults of the tongue which it passes in silence . i confess there is color enough for this objection , but i believe if it were put to votes , more would resolve i had said too much , rather then too little . should i have enlarged to the utmost compass of this theme , i should have made the volume of so affrighting a bulk , that few would have attemted it ; and by saying much , i should have said nothing at all to those who most need it . mens stomacs are generally so queasie in these cases , that 't is not safe to over-load them . let them try how they can digest this ; if they can so as to turn it into kindly nurishment , they will be able to supply themselves with the remainder . for i think i may with some confidence affirm , that he that can confine his tongue within the limits here prescrib'd , may without much difficulty restrain its other excursions . all i shall beg of the reader , is but to come with sincere intentions , and then perhaps these few stones and sling used in the name , and with invocation of the lord of hosts , may countervail the massive armor of the uncircumcised philistin . and may that god , who loves to magnifie his power in weakness , give it the like success . the contents . sect. . of the use of speech . p. . sect. . of the manifold abuse of speech . sect. . of atheistical discourse . sect. . of detraction , sect. . of lying defamation . sect. . of vncharitable truth . sect. . of scoffing and derision . sect. . of flattery . sect. . of boasting . sect. . of querulousness . sect. . of positiveness . sect. . of obscene talk. the close . of the government of the tongue . sect . i. of the use of speech . . man , at his first creation , was substituted by god as his vicegerent , to receive the homage , and enjoy the services of all inferior beings : nay farther , was endowed with excellencies fit to maintain the port of so vast an empire . yet those very excellencies , as they qualified him for dominion , so they unfitted him for a satisfaction or acquiescence in those his vassals : the dignity of his nature set him above the society or converse of mere animals : so that in all the pomp of his roialty , amidst all the throng and variety of creatures , he still remain'd solitary . but god , who knew what an appetite of society he had implanted in him , judged this no agrecable state for him ; it is not meet that man should be alone , gen. . . and as in the universal frame of nature , he ingraffed such an abhorrence of vacuity , that all creatures do rather submit to a preternatural motion then admit it ; so , in this emty , this destitute condition of man , he relieved him by a miraculous expedient , divided him that he might unite him , and made one part of him an associate for the other . . neither did god take this care to provide him a companion , merely for the entercourses of sense : had that bin the sole aim , there needed no new productions , there were sensitive creatures enough : the design was to entertain his nobler principle , his reason , with a more equal converse , assign him an intimate , whose intellect as much corresponded with his , as did the outward form , whose heart , according to solomons resemblance , answered his , as in water face answers face , prov. . . with whom he might communicate minds , traffic and enterchange all the notions and sentiments of a reasonable soul. . but tho there were this sympathy in their sublimer part , which disposed them to the most intimate union ; yet there was a cloud of flesh in the way , which intercepted their mutual view , nay permitted no intelligence between them , other then by the mediation of some organ equally commensurate to soul and body . and to this purpose the infinite wisdom of god ordained speech ; which , as it is a sound resulting from the modulation of the air , has most affinity to the spirit , but as it is uttered by the tongue , has immediate cognation with the body , and so is the fittest instrument to manage a commerce between the rational yet invisible powers of human souls cloathed in flesh . . and as we have reason to admire the excellency of this contrivance , so have we to applaud the extensiveness of the benefit . from this it is we derive all the advantages of society : without this men of the nearest neighborhood would have signified no more to each other , then our antipodes now do to us . all our arts and sciences for the accommodation of this life , had remain'd only a rude chaos in their first matter , had not speech by a mutual comparing of notions ranged them into order . by this it is we can give one another notice of our wants , and sollicit relief ; by this we interchangably communicate advises , reproofs , consolations , all the necessary aids of human imbecillity . this is that which possesses us of the most valuable blessing of human life , i mean friendship , which could no more have bin contracted amongst dumb men , then it can between pictures and statues . nay farther , to this we owe in a great degree the interests even of our spiritual being , all the oral , yea and written revelations too of gods will : for had there bin no language there had bin no writing . and tho we must not pronounce how far god might have evidenced himself to mankind by immediate inspiration of every individual , yet we may safely rest in the apostles inference , rom. . . how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard , and how shall they hear without a preacher ? . from all these excellent uses of it in respect of man , we may collect another in relation to god , that is , the praising and manifying his goodness , as for all other effects of his bounty , so particularly that he hath given us language , and all the consequent advantages of it . this is the just inference of the son of syrach , ecclus. . . the lord hath given me a tongue , and i will praise them therewith . this is the sacrifice which god calls for so often by the prophets , the calves of our lips , which answers to all the oblations out of the herd , and which the apostle makes equivalent to those of the floor and wine-press also , heb. . . the fruit of our lips , giving thanks to his name . to this we frequently find the psalmist exciting both himself and others , awake up my glory , i will give thanks unto thee , o lord , among the people , and i will sing unto thee among the nations , psal. . , . and o p raise the lord with me , and let us magnify his name together , psal. . . and indeed whoever observes that excellent magazine of devotion , the book of psalms , shall find that the lands make up a very great part of it . . by what hath bin said , we may define what are the grand uses of speech , viz. the glorifying of god , and the benefiting of men . and this helps us to an infallible test by which to try our words . for since every thing is so far approvable as it answers the end of its being , what part soever of our discourses agrees not with the primitive ends of speech , will not hold weight in the balance of the sanctuary . it will therefore nearly concern us to enter upon this scrutiny , to bring our words to this touch-stone : for tho in our depraved estimate the eloquence of language is more regarded then the innocence , tho we think our words vanish with the breath that utters them , yet they become records in gods court , are laid up in his archives as witnesses either for , or against us : for he who is truth it self hath told us , that by thy words thou shalt be justified , and by thy words thou shalt be condemn'd , matth. . . sect . ii. of the manifold abuse of speech . . and now since the original designs of speaking are so noble , so advantageous , one would be apt to conclude no rational creature would be temted to pervert them , since 't is sure he can substitute none for them , that can equally conduce either to his honor or interest . . yet experience ( that great baffler of speculation ) assures us the thing is too possible , and brings in all ages matter of fact to confute our suppositions . so liable alas is speech to be depraved , that the scripture describes it as the source of all our other depravation . original sin came first out of the mouth by speaking , before it entred in by eating . the first use we find eve to have made of her language , was to enter parly with the temter , and from that to become a temter to her husband . and immediatly upon the fall , guilty adam frames his tongue to a frivolous excuse which was much less able to cover his sin , then the fig-leaves were his nakedness . and as in the infancy of the first world , the tongue had licked up the venem of the old serpent , so neither could the deluge wash it off in the second . no sooner was that small colony ( wherewith the depopulated earth was to be replanted ) come forth of the ark , but we meet with cham a delator to his own father , inviting his brethren to that execrable spectacle of their parents nakedness . . nor did this only run in the blood of that accursed person ; the holy seed was not totally free from its infection , even the patriarchs themselves were not exemt . abraham use a repeted collusion in the case of his wife , and exposed his own integrity to preserve her chastity . isaac the heir of his blessing , was son of his infirmity also , and acted over the same scene upon rebecca's account . jacob obtain'd his fathers blessing by a flat lie . simeon and levi spake not only falsly , but insidiously , nay hypocritically , abusing at once their proselytes , and their religion , for the effecting their cruel designs upon the sichemites . moses , tho a man of an unparellel'd meekness , yet spake unadvisedly with his lips , psal. . . david uttered a bloody vow against nabal , spake words smoother then oil to vriah , when he had don him one injury , and design'd him another . 't were endless to reckon up those several instances the old testament gives us of these lapses of the tongue : neither want there divers in the new ; tho there is one of so much horror , as supersedes the naming more , i mean that of st. peter in his reiterated abjuring his lord , a crime which ( abstracted from the intention ) seems worse then that of judas : that traitor owned his relation , cried master , master , even when he betraied him , so that had he bin mesured only by his tongue , he might have past for the better disciple . . these are sad instances , not recorded to patronize the sin , but to excite our caution . it was a politic inference of the elders of israel in the case of jehu , behold two kings stood not before him , how then shall we stand ? kings . and we may well apply it to this ; if persons of so circumspect a piety , have bin thus overtaken , what security can there be for our wretchless oscitancy ? if those who kept their mouths as it were with a bridle , psal. . . could not alwaies preserve them innocent , to what guilts may not our unrestrained licentious tongues hurry us ? those which , as the psalmist speaketh , psalm . . go thro the world , are in that unbounded range very likely to meet with him who walks the same round , job . . and by him be tuned and set to his key , be scrued and wrested from their proper use , and made subservient to his vilest designs . . and would god this were only a probable supposition ! but alas , experience supplants the use of conjecture in the point : we do not only presume it may be so , but actually find it is so . for amidst the universal depravation of our faculties , there is none more notorious then that of speech . whither shall we turn us to find it in its pristine integrity ? amidst that infinity of words in which we exhaust our breath , how few are there which do at all correspond with the original designation of speech ; nay , which do not flatly contradict it ? to what unholy , uncharitable purposes is that useful faculty perverted ? that which was meant to serve as the perfume of the tabernacle , to send up the incenses of praises and praiers , now exhales in impious vapors , to eclipse if it were possible the father of light , that which should be the store-house of relief and refreshment to our brethren , is become a magazine of all offensive weapons against them , spears , and arrows , and sharp swords , as the psalmist often phrases it . we do not only fall by the slipperiness of our tongues , but we deliberately dicipline and train them to mischief . we bend our tongues as our bows for lies , as the prophet speaks , jer. . . and in a word , what god affirmed in the old world in relation to thoughts , is too appliable to our words , they are evil , and that continually , gen. . . and that which was intended for the instrument , the aid of human society , is become the disturber , the pest of it . . i shall not attemt a particular discussion of all the vices of the tongue : it doth indeed pass all geography to draw an exact map of that world of iniquity , as st. james calls it . i shall only draw the greater lines , & distribute it into its principal and more eminent parts , which are distinguishable as they relate to god , our neighbor , and our selves ; in each of which l shall rather make an essay by way of instance , then attemt an exact enumeration or survey . sect . iii. of atheistical discourse . . i begin with those which relate to god ; this poor despicable member the tongue , being of such a gigantic insolence , tho not size , as even to make war with heaven . 't is true , every disordered speech doth remotely so , as it is a violation of gods law ; but i now speak only of those which as it were attaque his person , and immediatly fly in the face of omnipotency . in the higest rank of these we may well place all atheistical discourse , which is that bold sort of rebellion , which strikes not only at his authority , but himself . other blasphemies level some at one attribute , some another ; but this by a more compendious impiety , shoots at his very being , and as if it scorn'd those piece meal guilts , sets up a single monster big enough to devour them all : for all inferior profaneness is as much out-dared by atheism , as is religion it self . . time was , when the inveighing against this , would have bin thought a very impertinent subject in a christian nation , and men would have replied upon me as the spartan lady did , when she was ask'd what was the punishment for adulteresses , there are no such things here . nay even amongst the most barbarous people , it could have concerned but some few single persons ; no numbers , much less societies of men , having ever excluded the belief of a diety . and perhaps it may at this day concern them as little as ever ; for amidst the various deities and worships of those remoter nations , we have yet no account of any that renounce all . 't is only our light hath so blinded us : so that god may upbraid us as he did israel , hath a nation changed their gods which yet are no gods ? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit , jer. . . this madness is now the inclosure , the peculiarity of those who by their names & institutions should be christians : as if that natural aphorism , that when things are at a height they must fall again , had place here also , and our being of the most excellent , most elevated religion , were but the preparative to our being of none . . 't is indeed deplorable to see , how the professors of no god begin to vie numbers with all the differing perswasions in religion , so that atheism seems to be the gulph that finally swallows up all our sects . it has struck on a sudden into such a reputation , that it scorns any longer to sculk , but owns it self more publicly then most men dare do the contrary . 't is set down in the seat of the scorner , & since it cannot argue , resolves to laugh all piety out of countenance ; and having seized the mint , nothing shall pass for wit that hath not its stamp , and with it there is no metal of so base an alloy , but shall go current . every the dullest creature that can but stoutly disclaim his maker , has by it sufficiently secured its title to ingenuity ; and such mesures being once established , no wonder at its sholes of proselytes , when it gives on the one hand licence to all sensual inordinaces , permits them to be as much beasts as they will , or can ; and yet tells them on the other , that they are the more men for it . sure 't is not strange that a hook thus doubly baited should catch many . either of those allurements single , we see has force enough . the charms of sensuality are so fascinating , that even those who believe another world , and the severe revenges that will there attend their luxuries , yet chuse to take them in present with all the dismal reversions . and then sure it cannot but be very good news to such a one to be told , that that after-reckoning is but a false alarm ; and his great willingness to have it true , will easily incline him to believe it is so . and doubtless were atheism traced up to its first causes , this would be found the most operative ; 't is so convenient for a man that will have no god to controul or restrain him , to have none to punish him neither ; that that utility passes into argument , and he will rather put a cheat upon his understanding , by concluding there is no future account , then leave such a sting in his plesures , as the remembrance of it must needs prove . this seems to be the original and first rise of this impiety , it being impossible for any man that sees the whole , nay but the smallest part of the universe , to doubt of a first and supreme being , until from the consciousness of his provocations , it becomes his interest there should be none . . this is indeed , considering the depravation of the world , a pretty fast tenure for atheism to hold by ; yet it has of late twisted its cord , and got that other string to its bow we before mentioned . it s bold monopolizing of wit and reason compels , as the other invited men . this we may indeed call the devils press , by which he hath filled up his troops : men are afraid for being reproached for silly and irrational , in giving themselves up to a blind belief of what they do not see . and this bugbear frights them from their religion ; resolving they will be no fools for christs sake , cor. . . i dare appeal to the breasts of many in this age , whether this have not bin one of the most prevalent temtations with them to espouse the tenet : and tho perhaps they at first took it up , only in their own defence , for fear of being thought fools , yet that fear soon converts into ambition of being thought wits . they do not satisfie themselves with deserting their religion , unless they revile it also ; remembring how themselves were laught out of it , they essay to do the like by others . yea so zealous propugners are they of their negative creed , that they are importunately diligent to instruct men in it , and in all the little sophistries and colours for defending it : so that he that would mesure the opinions by their industry , and the remissness of believers , would certainly think that the great interest of eternity lay wholly on their side . yet i take not this for any argument of the confidence of this perswasion , but the contrary : for we know they are not the secure , but the desperate undertakings , wherein men are most desirous of partners , and there is somwhat of horror in an uncouth way , which makes men unwilling to travel it alone . . the truth is , tho these men speak big , and prescribe as positively to their pupils , as if they had some counter revelation to confute those of moses and christ ; yet were their secret thoughts laid open , there would scarce be found the like assurance there . i will not say to what reprobate sense some particular persons may have provoked god to deliver them , but in the generality , i believe one may affirm , that there is seldom an infidelity so sanguine as to exclude all fears . their most bold thesis , that there is no god , no judgment , no hell , is often met with an inward tremulous hypothesis , what if there be ? i dare in this remit me to themselves , and challenge ( not their consciences , who profess to have none , but ) their natural ingenuity to say , whether they have not somtimes such damps and shiverings within them . if they shall say , that these are but the reliques of prepossession and education , which their reason soon dissipates , let me then ask them farther , whether they would not give a considerable sum to be infallibly ascertained there were no such thing : now no sensible man would give a farthing to be secured from a thing which his reason tells him is impossible ; therefore if they would give any thing ( as i dare say they themselves cannot deny that they would ) 't is a tacite demonstration , that they are not so sure as they pretend to be . . i might here join issue upon the whole , and press them with the unreasonableness , the disingenuousness of embracing a profession to which their own hearts have an inward reluctance , nay the imprudence of governing their lives by that position , which for ought they know may be ( nay they actually fear is ) false , and if it be , must inevitably immerse them in endless ruin . but i must remember my design limits me only to the faults of the tongue , and therefore i must not follow this chase beyond those bounds . i shall only extend it to my proper subject , that of atheistical talk , wherein they make as mad an adventure as in any other of their enormous practices , nay perhaps in some respects a worse . . in the first place 't is to be considered , that if there be a god , he , as well as men , may be provoked by our words as well as deeds . secondly , 't is possible he may be more . our ill deeds may be don upon a vehement impulse of temtation ; some profit or pleasures may transport and hurry us ; and they may at least have this alleviation , that we did them to please or advantage our selves , not to spight god. but atheistical words cannot be so palliated : they are arrows directly shot against heaven , and can come out of no quiver but malice : for 't is certain there never was man that said , there was no god , but he wished it first . we know what an enhancement our injuries to each other receive from their being malicious : and sure they will do so much more to god , whose principal demand from us is , that we give him our heart . but thirdly , this implieth a malice of the highest sort . human spight is usually confined within some bounds , aims somtimes at the goods , somtimes at the fame , at most but at the life of our neighbor : but here is an accumulation of all those , back'd with the most prodigious insolence . 't is god only that has power of annihilation , and we ( vile worms ) seek here to steal that incommunicable right , and retort it upon himself , and by an anticreative power , would unmake him who has made us . nay lastly , by this we have not only the utmost guilt of single rebels , but we become ring-leaders also , draw in others to that accursed association : for 't is only this liberty of discourse that hath propagated atheism . the devil might perhaps by inward suggestions have drawn in here and there a single proselyte ; but he could never have had such numbers , had he not used some as decoies to ensnare others . . and now let the brisk atheist a little consider , what these aggravations will amount to . 't was good counsel was given to the athenians , to be very sure philip was dead , before they expressed their joy at his death , lest they might find him alive to revenge that hasty triumph . and the like i may give to these men , let them be very sure there is no god , before they presume thus to defy him , lest they find him at last assert his being in their destruction . certainly nothing less then a demonstration can justify the reasonableness of such a daring . and when they can produce that , they have so far outgon all the comprehensions of mankind , they may well challenge the liberty of their tongue , and say , they are their own , who is lord over them , psalm . . . but 'till this be don , 't were well they would soberly ballance the hazards of this liberty with the gains of it . the hazards are of the most dreadful kind , the gains of the slightest : the most is but a vain applause of wit , for an impious jest , or of reason for a deep considerer : and yet even for that they must incroach on the devils right too , who is commonly the promter , and therefore if there be any credit in it may justly challenge it . indeed 't is to be feared he will at last prove the master wit , when as for those little loans he makes them , he gets their souls in morgage . would god they would consider betimes , what a woful raillery that will be , which for ought they know may end in gnashing of teeth . . the next impiety of the tongue , is swearing , that foolish sin , which plaies the platonic to damnation , and courts it purely for it self ; without any of the appendant allurements which other sins have : a vice , which for its guilt , may justify the sharpest ; and for its customariness , the frequentest invectives which can be made against it . but it has bin assaulted so often by better pens , and has shewed it self so much proof against all homily , that it is as needless as di●couraging a task for me to attemt it . 't is indeed a thing taken up so perfectly without all sense , that 't is the less wonder to find it maintain its self upon the same principle 't is founded , and continue in the same defiance to reason wherein it began . . all therefore that i shall say concerning it , is to express my wonder , how it has made a shift to twist it self with the former sin of atheism , by which , according to all rules of reasoning it seems to be superseded : and yet we see none own god more in their oaths , then those that disavow him in their other discourse . nay , such men swear not only to swell their language , and make it sound more full and blustering , but even when they most desire to be believed . what an absurdity of wickedness is this ? is there a god to swear by , and is there none to believe in , none to pray to ? we call it frenzy to see a man fight with a shadow : but sure 't is more so , to invoke it . why then do these men of reason make such solemn appeals ( for such every oath is ) to a mere chimera and phantasm ? it would make one think they had some inward belief of a deity , which they upon surprizal thus blurt out : if it argue not this , it does somthing worse , and becomes an evidence how much the appearance of a sin recommends it to them , that they thus catch at it , without examining how it will consist with another they like better . these are indeed wholesale chapmen to satan , that do not truck and barter one crime for another , but take the whole herd : and tho by reason of their disagreeing kinds they are apt to gore and worry each other , yet he still keeps up his old policy , and will not let one devil cast out another . a league shall be made between the most discordant sins , and there shall be god , or there shall be none , according as opportunity serves to provoke him : so assuming to himself a power which even omnipotence disclaims , the reconciling contradictions . and he succeeds it in as far as his concerns reaches : for tho he cannot solve the repugnancies in reason , yet as long as he can unite the sins in mens practice , he has his design ; nay , has at once the gain and the sport of fooling these great pretenders to ratiocination . . a third sort of impious discourse there is , which yet is bottom'd on the most sacred , i mean those profane paraphrases that are usually made upon the holy text , many making it the subject of their cavils , and others of their mirth . some do it out of the former atheistical principle , and i cannot but confess they act consonantly to themselves in it , for 't is but a needful artifice for men to disparage those testimonies , which they fear may be brought against them . but there are others who not only profess a god , but also own the sacred scripture for his word , and yet use it as coursly as the others . and these i confess , are riddles of profaneness , that hang , as some have pictured solomon between heaven and hell , borrow the christian faith , and the atheists drollery upon it : and 't is hard to say in which they are more in earnest . it is indeed scandalous to see , to what despicable uses those holy oracles are put : such as should a heathen observe , he would little suspect them to be own'd by us as the rule of our religion , and could never think they were ever meant for any thing beyond a whet-stone for wit. one tries his logic upon them , and objects to the sense ; another his rhetoric , and quarrels at the phrase ; a third his contrivance , and thinks he could have woven the parts with a better contexture : never considering , that unless they could confute the divinity of their original , all these accusations are nothing else but direct blasphemy , the making god such a one as themselves , psal. . . and charging him with those defects which are indeed their own . they want learning or industry to sound the depth of those sacred tresures , and therefore they decry the scripture as mean and poor ; and to justify their own wisdom , dispute gods. this is as if the mole should complain the sun is dark , because he dwells under ground , and sees not his splendor . men are indeed in all instances apt to speak ill of all things they understand not , but in none more then this . their ignorance of local customs , idioms of language , and several other circumstances , renders them incompetent judges ( as has bin excellently evinced by a late author . ) t will therefore befit them , either to qualifie themselves better , or to spare their criticisms . but upon the whole , i think i may challenge any ingenious man , to produce any writing of that antiquity , whose phrase and genious is so accomodated to all successions of ages . stiles and waies of address we know grow obsolete , and are almost antiquated as garments : and yet after so long a tract of time , the scripture must ( by considering men ) be confest to speak not only properly , but often politely and elegantly to the present age : a great argument that it is the dictate of him that is , the same yesterday , to day , and for ever , heb. . . . but besides these more solemn traducers , there are a lighter ludicrous sort of profaners , who use the scripture as they do odd ends of plaies , to furnish out their jests ; clothe all their little impertinent conceits in its language , and debase it by the mixture of such miserable trifles , as themselves would be ashamed of , were they not heightned and inspirited by that profaneness . a bible phrase serves them in discourse as the haut-goust do's in diet , to give a relish to the most insipid stuff . and were it not for this magazine , a great many mens raillery would want supplies : for there are divers who make a great noise of wit , that would be very mute if this one topic were barr'd them . and indeed it seems a tacite confession , that they have little of their own , when they are fain thus to commit sacriledg to drive on the trade . but sure 't is a pitiful pretence to ingenuity that can be thus kept up , there being little need of any other faculty but memory to be able to cap texts . i am sure such repetitions out of other books would be thought pedantic and silly . how ridiculous would a man be , that should alwaies enter lard his discourse with fragments of horace , or virgil , or the aphorisms of pythagoras , or seneca ? now 't is too evident , that it is not from any speculative esteem of sacred writ , that it is so often quoted : and why should it then be thought a specimen of wit to do it there , when 't is folly in other instances ? the truth is , 't is so much the reserve of those who can give no better testimony of their parts , that methinks upon that very score it should be given over by those that can . and sure were it possible for any thing that is so bad to grow unfashionable , the world has had enough of this to be cloied with it : but how fond soever men are of this divertisement , 't will finally prove that mirth solomon speaks of , which ends in heaviness , prov. . . for certainly whether we estimate it according to human or divine mesures , it must be a high provocation of god. . let any of us but put the case in our own persons : suppose we had written to friend , to advertise him of things of the greatest importance to himself , had given him ample and exact instructions , back'd them with earnest exhortations and conjurings not to neglect his own concern ; and lastly , enforced all with the most moving expressions of kindness and tenderness to him : suppose , i say , that after all this , the next news we should hear of that letter , were to have it put in doggrel rime , to be made sport for the rabble , or at the best have the most eminent phrases of it pickt out and made a common by-word : i would fain know how any of us would resent such a mixture of ingratitude and contumely . i think i need make no minute application . the whole design of the bible do's sufficiently answer , nay out-go the first part of the parallel , and god knows our vile usage of it do's too much ( i fear too literally ) adapt the latter . and if we think the affront to base for one of us , can we believe god will take it in good part ? that were to make him not only more stupid then any man , but as much so as the heathen idols , that have eies and see not , pselm . . and 't is sure , the highest madness in the world , for any man that believes that there is a god , to imagine he will finally sit down by such usage . . but if we weigh it in the scale of religion ; the crime will yet appear more heinous . mere natural piety has taught men to receive the responses of their gods with all possible veneration . what applications had the delphic oracle from all parts , and from all ranks of men ? what confidence had they in its prediction , and what obedience did they pay to its advice ? if we look next into the mosaical oeconomy , we shall see with what dreadful solemnities that law was promulged , what an awful reverence was paid to the mount whence it issued , how it was fenced from any rude intrusions either of men or beasts : and after it was written in tables , all the whole equipage of the tabernacle , was designed only for its more decent repository , the ark it self receiving its value only from what it had in custody . yea such a hallowing influence had it , as transfused a relative sanctity even to the meanest utensils , none of which were after to be put to common uses : the very perfume was so peculiar and sacred , that it was a capital crime to imitate the composition . afterwards , when more of the divine revelations were commieted to writing , the jews were such scrupulous reverers of it , that 't was the business of the masorites , to number not only the sections and lines , but even the words and letters of the old testament , that by that exact calculation they might the better secure it from any surreptitious practices . . and sure the new testament is not of less concern then the old : nay the apostle asserts it to be of far greater , and which we shall be more accountable for , for if the word spoken by angels were stedfast , and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence , how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation , which at the first began to be spoken to us by the lord , and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him ? heb. . . and it is in another place the inference of the same apostle , from the excellency of the gospel above the law , that we should serve god acceptably with reverence and godly fear , heb. . . and certainly 't is but an ill essay of that reverence and godly fear , to use that very gospel so irreverently and ungodly as men now do . if we pass from the apostolic to the next succeeding ages of the church , we find the primitive christians look'd on their bibles as their most important tresure . such was the outward respects they paid to them , ( of which the standing up at the reading of the gospel , still in use among us , is a faint memorial ) that the heathen persecutors made it one part of their examination of the christians brought to their tribunals , what those books were which they adored while they read them ? such was their intimate esteem , that they exposed all things else to the rapine of their enemies , so they might secure those volumes . nor was this only a heroic piece of zeal in some , but indispensably required of all : insomuch , that when in the heat of persecution , they were commanded to deliver up their bibles to be burnt , the church gave no indulgence for that necessity of the times , but exhorted men rather to deliver up their lives : and those whose courage failed them in the encounter , were not only branded by the infamous name of traditors , but separated from the communion of the faithful , and not readmitted till after many years of the severest penance . . i have given this brief narration , with a desire , that the reader will compare the practice of former times with those of the present , and see what he can find either among heathens , jews , or christians , that can at all patronize our profaneness . there was no respect thought too much for the false oracles of a falser god : and yet we think no contemts too great for those of the true . the moral law was so sacred to the jews , that no parts of its remotest retinue , those ceremonial attendants , were to be look'd on as common : and we who are equally obliged by that law , laugh at that by which we must one day be judged . the ritual , the preceptive , the prophetic , and all other parts of sacred writ , were most sedulously , most religiously guarded by them : and we look upon them as a winter nights tale , from which to fetch matter of sport and merriment . lastly , the first christians paid a veneration to , nay sacrificed their lives to rescue their bibles from the unworthy usage of the heathens , and we our selves expose them to worse : they would but have burnt them ; we scorn and vilify them , and outvy even the persecutors malice with our contemt . these are miserable antithesis's ; yet this god knows is the case with too many . i wonder what new state of felicity hereafter these men have fancied to themselves : for sure they cannot think these retrograde steps can ever bring them so much as to the heathens elyzium , much less the christians heaven . . it will therefore concern those who do not quite renounce their claim to that heaven , to consider soberly , how inconsistent their practice is with those hopes . a man may have a great estate conveid to him ; but if he will madly burn , or childishly make paper kites of his deeds , he forfeits his title with his evidence : and those certainly that deal so with the conveiances of their eternal inheritance . will not speed better . if they will thus dally and play with them , god will be as little in earnest in the performance , as they are in the reception of the promises ; nay he will take his turn of mocking too , and when their scene of mirth is over , his will begin . a dreadful menace of this we have , prov. . . which deserves to be set down at large , because i have called , and ye refused , i have stretched out my hand ▪ and no man regarded : but ye have set at noughe all my counsel , and would none of my reproof , i also will laugh at your calamity , i will mock when your fear cometh . when your fear cometh as desolation , and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind : when distress and anguish cometh upon you , then shall they call upon me , but i will not answer , they shall seek me early , but they shall not find me . would god i could as well transcribe this text into mens hearts , and there would need no more to secure the whole canon of scripture from their profanation . could men but look a little before them , and apprehend how in the daies of their distress and agony , they will gasp for those comforts which they now turn into ridicule ; they would not thus madly defeat themselves , cut off their best and only reserve , and with a pitiful contemt cast away those cordials , which will then be the only support of their fainting spirits . as for those who deride scripture upon atheistical grounds , all i shall say , is , to refer to what i have said in the beginning of this section ; they had need be very well assured that foundation be not sandy : for if it be , this reproching gods word will be a considerable addition to the guilt of all their other hostility , and how jolly soever they seem at present , it may be when that question they are so willing to take for granted , is by death drawing near a decision , some of their confidence will retire , and leave them in an amazed expectation of somwhat , which they are sure cannot be good for them , who have so ill provided for it . then perhaps their merry vein will fail them , and not their infidelity , but their despair may keep them from invocating that power they have so long derided . 't is certain it has so happened with some : for as practical , so speculative wickedness , has usually another aspect , when it stands in the shadow of death , then in the dazling beams of health and vigor . it would therefore be wisdom before-hand to draw it out of this deceitful light , and by sober serious thoughts place it as near as may be in those circumstances in which 't will then appear : and then sure to hearts that are not wholly petrified , 't will seem safer to own a god early and upon choice , then late upon compulsion . . however , if they will not yield themselves homagers , yet the mere possibility of their being in the wrong , should methinks perswade them at least to be civil adversaries . a generous man will not pursue even a falling enemy with revilings and reproach , much less will a wise man do it to one who is in any the lest probability of revenging it : it being a received maxim , that there is no greater folly , then for a man to let his to●gue betray him to mischief . let it therefore in this case at least stand neuter , that if by their words they be not justified , yet by their words they may not be condemned . they can be no loosers by it : for at the utmost , 't is but keeping in a little unsavory breath , which ( supposing no god to be offended with it ) is yet nauseous to all those men who believe there is one . to those indeed who have a zeal for their faith , there can be no discourse so intolerable , so disobliging : it turns conversation into skirmishing , and perpetual disputes . the egyptians were so zealous for their brutish deities , that moses presumed the israelites sacrificing of those beasts they adored , must needs set them in an uproar , exod. . . and sure , those who do acknowledge a divine power , cannot contentedly sit by to hear him blasphemed . 't is true , there are some so cool , that , they are of the same mind for god , that gideons father was for baal , judg. . . let him plead for himself , they will not appear in his defence : yet even these have a secret consciousness that they ought to do so , and therefore have some uneasiness in being put to the test : so that it cannot be a pleasant entertainment even for them . and therefore those who have no fear of god to restrain them , should methinks , unless they be perfectly of the temper of the unjust judg , luke . . in respect of men , abstain from all sorts of impious discourse ; and at least be civil , tho they will not be pious . sect . iv. of detraction . we have seen in the last section , the insolence of the tongue towards god ; and sure we cannot expect it should pay more reverence to men . if there be those that dare stretch their mouths against heaven , psalm . . we are not to wonder if there be more that will shoot their arrows , even bitter words , against the best on earth , psalm . . i shall not attempt to ransack the whole quiver , by shewing every particular sort of verbal injuries which relate to our neighbors , but rather chuse out some few which either for the extraordinariness of their guilt , or the frequency of their practice are the most eminent . i begin with detraction , in which both those qualities concur : for as in some instances 't is one of the highest sins , so in the general 't is certainly one of the most common , and by being so becomes insensible . this vice ( above all others ) seems to have maintained not only its empire , but its reputation too . men are not yet convinced heartily that it is a sin : or if any , not of so deep a die , or so wide an extent as indeed it is . they have , if not false , yet imperfect notions of it , and by not knowing how far its circle reaches , do often like young conjurers , step beyond the limits of their safety . this i am the apter to believe , because i see some degree of this fault cleave to those , who have eminently corrected all other exorbitancies of the tongue . many who would startle at an oath , whose stomachs as well as consciences recoil at an obscenity , do yet slide glibly into a detraction : which yet methinks , persons otherwise of strict conversations should not do frequently and habitually , had not their easie thoughts of the guilt smoothed the way to it . it may therefore be no unkind attemt , to try to dis-entangle from this snare by displaying it ; shewing the whole contexture of the sin , how 't is woven with threds of different sizes , yet the least of them strong enough to nooz and intrap us . and alas , if satan fetter us , 't is indifferent to him whether it be by a cable or a hair . nay , perhaps the smallest sins are his greatest stratagems . the finer his line is spun , the less shadow it casts , and is less apt to fright us from the hook : and tho there be much odds between a talent of lead and a grain of sand , yet those grains may be accumulated till they out-weigh the talent . it was a good reply of plato's , to one who murmured at his reproving him for a small matter , custom , saies he , is no small matter . and indeed , supposing any sin were so small as we are willing to fancy most , yet an indulgent habit , even of that , would be certainly ruinous : that indulgence being perfectly opposite to the love of god , which better can consist with the indeliberate commissions of many sins , then with an allowed persistance in any one . but in this matter of detraction , i cannot yield that any is small , save only comparatively with some other of the same kind which is greater : for absolutely considered , there is even in the very lowest degrees of it , a flat contradiction to the grand rule of charity , the loving our neighbor as our selves . and surely , that which at once violates the sum of the whole second table of the law , for so our saviour renders it , luke . . must be look'd on as no trifling inconsiderable guilt . to evidence this , i shall in the anatomizing this sin , apply this rule to every part of it : first consider it in gross , in its entire body , and after descend to its several limbs . . detraction in the native importance of the word , signifies the withdrawing or taking off from a thing : and as it is applied to the reputation , it denotes the impairing or lessening a man in point of fame , rendring him less valued and esteemed by others , which is the final aim of detraction , tho pursued by various means . . this is justly look'd on as one of the most unkind designs one man can have upon another , there being implanted in every mans nature a great tenderness of reputation : and to be careless of it , is lookt on as a mark of a degenerous mind . on which account solon in his ●aws presumes , that he that will sell his own fame , will also sell the public interest . 't is true , many have improved this too far , blown up this native spark into such flames of ambition , as has set the world in a combustion ; such as alexander , caesar , and others , who sacrificed hecatombs to their fame , fed it up to a prodigy upon a canibal diet , the flesh of men : yet even these excesses serve to evince the universal consent of mankind , that reputation is a valuable and desirable thing . . nor have we only the suffrage of man , but the attestation of god himself , who frequently in scripture gives testimony to it : a good name is better then great riches , prov. . . and again , a good name is better then precious ointment , eccles. . . and the more to recommend it , he proposes it as a reward to piety and vertue , as he menaces the contrary to wickedness . the memory of the just shall be blessed , but the name of the wicked shall rot , prov. . . and that we may not think this an invitation fitted only to the jewish oeconomy , the apostle goes farther , and proposes the endeavor after it as a duty , whatsoever things are of good report , if there be any vertue , and if there be any praise , think on these things , phil. . . . and accordingly good men have in their estimate ranked their names the next degree to their souls , preferr'd them before goods or life . indeed 't is that which gives us an inferior sort of immortality , and makes us even in this world survive our selves . this part of us alone continues verdant in the grave , and yields a perfume , when we are stench and rottenness : the consideration whereof has so prevailed with the more generous heathens , that they have cheerfully quitted life in contemplation of it . thus epaminondas alacriously expired , in confidence that he left behind him a perpetual memory of the victories he had atchieved for his country . brutus so courted the fame of a patriot , that he brake through all the obstacles of gratitude and humanity to attemt it : he cheerfully bare the defeat of his attemt , in contemplation of the glory of it . 't were endless to recount the stories of the codri , decii , and curtii , with the train of those noble heroes , who in behalf of their countries devoted them selves to certain death . . but we need no foreign mediums to discover the value of a good name : let every man weigh it but in his own scales , retire to his breast , and there reflect on that impatience he has when his own repute is invaded . to what dangers , to what guilts does sometimes the mere fancy of a reproach hurry men ? it makes them really forfeit that vertue from whence all true reputation springs ; and , like esops dog , lose the substance by too greedy catching at the shadow ; an irrefragable proof how great a price they set upon their fame . . and then , since reason sets it at so high a rate , and passion at a higher , we we may conclude the violating this interest , one of the greatest injuries in human commerce ; such as is resented not only by the rash , but the sober ; so that we must pick out only blocks and stones , the stupid and insensible part of mankind , if we think we can inflict this wound without an afflictive smart . and tho the power of christianity does in some so moderate this resentment , that none of these blows shall recoil , no degree of revenge be attemted ; yet that does not at all justify or excuse the inflicter . it may indeed be a useful trial of the patience and meekness of the defamed , yet the defamer has not the less either of crime or danger : not of crime , for that is rather enhanced then abated by the goodness of the person injured ; nor of danger , since god is the more immediate avenger of those who attemt not to be their own . but if the injury meet not with this meekness ( as in this vindictive age 't is manifold odds it will not ) it then acquires another accumulative guilt , stands answerable not only for its own positive ill , but for all the accidental which it causes in the sufferer , who by this means is robb'd not only of his repute , but his innocence also , provoked to those unchristian returns , which draw god also into the enmity , and set him at once at war with heaven and earth . and tho as to this immediate judgment , he must bear his iniquity , answer for his impatience : yet as in all civil insurrections , the ring-leader is lookt on with a peculiar severity , so doubtless in this case , the first provoker has by his seniority and primogeniture a double portion of the guilt , and may consequently expect of the punishment , according to the doom of our saviour , wo be to that man by whom the offence cometh , matth. . . . indeed there is such a train of mischiefs usually follow this sin , that 't is scarce possible to make a full estimate of its malignity . 't is one of the grand incendiaries which disturbs the peace of the world , and has a great share in most of its quarrels . for could we examine all the feuds which harrass persons , families , nay somtimes nations too , we should find the greater part take their rise from injurious reprochful words , and that for one which is commenced upon the intuition of any real considerable interest , there are many which owe their being to this licentiousness of the tongue . . in regard therefore of its proper guilt , and all those remoter sins and miseries which ensue it , 't is every mans great concern to watch over himself . neither is it less in respect both of that universal aptness we have to this sin , and its being so perpetually at hand ; that for others we must attend occasions and convenient seasons , but the opportunities of this are alwaies ready : i can do my neighbor this injury , when i can do him no other . besides the multitude of objects do proportionably multiply both the possibilities and incitations ; and the objects here are as numerous , as there are persons in the world i either know , or have heard of . for tho some sorts of detractions seem confined to those to whom we bear particular malice , yet there are other kinds of it more raging , which fly indifferently at all . lastly , this sin has the aid almost of universal example , which is an advantage beyond all the others , there being scarce any so irresistable insinuation as the practice of those with whom we converse , and no subject of converse so common as the defaming our neighbors . . since then the path is so slippery , it had not need be dark too . let us then take in the best light we can , and attentively view this sin in its several branches , that by a distinct discovery of the divers acts and degrees of it , we may the better be armed against them all . sect . v. of lying defamation . . detraction being ( as we have already said ) the lessning and impairing a man in his repute , we may resolve , that what ever conduces to that end , is properly a detraction . i shall begin with that which is most eminent , the spreading of defamatory reports . these may be of two kinds , either false , or true ; which tho they seem to be of very different complexions , yet may spring from the same stock , and drive at the same design . let us first consider of the false . . and this admits of various circumstances . somtimes a man invents a perfect falsity of another : somtimes he that does not invent it , yet reports it , tho he know it to be false : and a third sort there are , who having not certain knowledg whether it be false or no , do yet divulge it as an absolute certainty , or at least with such artificial insinuations , as may biass the hearer on that hand . the former of these is a crime of so high , so dis-ingenious a nature , that tho many are vile enough to commit it , none are so impudent as to avow it . even in this age of insulting vice , when almost all other wickedness appears bare-fac'd , this is fain to keep on the vizard . no man will own himself a false accuser : for if modesty do not restrain him , yet his very malice will ; since to confess would be but to defeat his design . indeed it is of all other sins the most diabolical , it being a conjunction of two of satans most essential properties , malice and lying . we know 't is his peculiar title to be the accuser of the brethren : and when we transcribe his copy , we also assume his nature , intitle our selves to a descent from him , ye are of your father the devil , joh. . . we are by it render'd a sort of iacubus brats , the inf●mous progenies of the lying spirit . it is indeed a sin of so gross , so formidable a bulk , that there needs no help of optics to render it discernible , and therefore i need not farther expatiate on it . . the next degree is not much short of it ; what it wants is rather of invention then malice : for he that will so adopt anothers lie , shews he would willingly have bin its proper father . it does indeed differ no more then the maker of adulterate wares , does from the vender of them : and certainly there cannot be a more ignominious trade , then the being hucksters to such vile merchandize . neither is the sin less then the baseness : we find the lover of a lie ranked in an equal form of guilt with the maker , rev. . and surely he must be presumed to love it , that can descend to be the broker of it , help it to pass current in the world. . the third sort of detractors look a little more demurely , and with the woman in the proverbs . chap. . wipe their mouths , and say they have don no wickedness . they do not certainly know the falsity of what they report , and their ignorance must serve them as an amulet against the guilt both of deceit and malice : but i fear it will do neither . for first , perhaps they are affectedly ignorant : they are so willing it should be true , that they have not attemted to examine it . but secondly , it does not suffice that i do not know the falsity ; for to make me a true speaker , 't is necessary i know the truth of what i affirm . nay , if the thing were never so true , yet if i knew it not to be so , its truth will not secure me from being a liar : and therefore whoever endeavors to have that receiv'd for a certainty , which himself knows not to be so , offends against truth . the utmost that can consist with sincerity , is to represent it to others as doubtful as it appears to him . yet even that how consonant soever to truth , is not to charity . even doubtful accusations leave a stain behind them , & often prove indelible injuries to the party accused : how much more then do the more positive and confident aspersions we have hitherto spoken of ? let me add only this concerning this latter sort , that they are greater advancers of defamatory designs , then the very first contrivers . for those upon a consciousness of their falsness , are obliged to proceed cautiously , to pick out the credulous and least discerning persons , on whom to impose their fictions , and dare not produce them in all companies for fear of detection : but these in confidence that the untruth ( if it be one ) lies not at their door , speak it without any restraint in all places , at all times ; and what the others are fain to whisper , they proclaim ; like our new engine , which pretends to convey a whisper many miles off . so that as in the case of stealing 't is proverbially said , that if there were no receivers there would be no thieves ; so in this of slander , if there were fewer spreaders , there would be fewer forgers of libels : the manufacture would be discouraged , if it had not these retailers to put off the wares . . now to apply these practices to our rule of duty , there will need no very close inspection to discern the obliquity . the most superficial glance will evidence these several degrees of slanderers to do what they would not be willing to suffer . who among them can be content to be falsely aspersed ? nay , so far are they from that , that let but the shadow of their own calumny reflect on themselves , let any but truly tell them that they have falsely accused others , they grow raving and impatient , like a dog at a looking-glass , fiercely combating that image which himself creates : and how smoothly soever the original lie slides from them , the echo of it grates their ears . and indeed 't is observable , that those who make the greatest havock of other mens reputation , are the most nicely tender of their own ; which sets this sin of calumny in a most diametrical opposition to the evangelical precept of loving our neighbors as our selves . . thus much is discernable even in the surface of the crime : but if we look deeper , and examine the motives , we shall find the foundation well agrees to the superstructure , they being usually one of these two , malice or interest . and indeed the thing is so dis-ingenuous , so contrary to the dictates of humanity as well as divinity , that i must in reverence to our common nature , presume it must be some very forcible impellent , that can drive a man so far from himself . the devil here plaies the artist : and as the fatallest poisons to man are ( they say ) drawn from human bodies , so here he extracts the venem of our irascible and concupiscible part , and in it dips those arrows , which we thus shoot at one another . . 't is needless to harangue severally upon each . the world too experimentally knows the force of both . malice is that whirl-wind , which has shook states and families , no less then private persons ; a passion so impetuous and precipitate , that it often equally involves the agent and the patient : a malicious man being of like violence with those who flung in the three children , dan. . consumed by those flames into which he cast others . as for interest , 't is that universal monarch to which all other empires are tributaries , to which men sacrifice not only their consciences and innocence , but ( what is usually much dearer ) their sensualities and vices . those whom all the divine ( either ) threats or promises , cannot perswade to mortify , nay but restrain one lust ; at mammons beck will disclame many , and force their inclinations to comply with their interest . . and whilst this sin of calumny has two such potent abettors , we are not to wonder at its growth : as long as men are malicious and designing , they will be traducing ; those cyclops's will be perpetually forming thunder-bolts against which no innocence or vertue can be proof . and alas , we daily find too great effects of their industry . but tho these are the forgers of the more solemn deliberate calumnies , yet this sportive age hath produced another sort ; there being men that defame others by way of divertisement , invent little stories that they may find themselves exercise , and the town talk . this , if it must pass for sport , is such as solomon describes , prov. . , . as a mad man that casteth fire-brands , arrows and death , so is he that deceiveth his neighbor , and saith , am not i in sport ? he that shoots an arrow in jest , may kill a man in earnest ; and he that gives himself liberty to play with his neighbors fame , may soon play it away . most men have such an aptness to entertain sinister opinions of others , that they greedily draw in any suggestion of that kind ; and one may as easily perswade the thirsty earth to refund the water she has soakt into her veins , as them to deposite a prejudice they have once taken up . therefore such experiments upon fame , are as dangerous as that which alexander is said to have made of the force of naptha upon his page , from which he scarce escaped with life . these jocular slanders are often as mischievous as those of deeper design , and have from the slightness of the temtation an enhancement of guilt . for sure , he that can put such an interest of his neighbors in balance with a little fit of laughter , sets it at lower price then he that hopes to enrich or advance himself by it : and tho it pass among some for a specimen of wit , yet it really lists them among solomons fools , who make a mock at sin , prov. . . in the mean time , since slander is a plant that can grow in all soils ; since the frolic humor as well as the morose betraies to the guilt , who can hope to escape this scourge of the tongue , as the wiseman calls it , ec. . . which communicates with all ? persons of all ranks do mutually asperse , and are aspersed : so that he who would not have his credulity abused , has scarce a securer way , then ( like that astrologer , who made his almanack give a tolerable account of the weather by a direct inversion of the common prognosticators ) to let his belief run quite counter to reports . yea so epidemic is this disease grown , that even religion ( at least those parties and factions which assume that name ) has got a taint of it ; each sect and opinion seeking to represent his antagonist as odious as it can . and whilst they contend for speculative truth , they by mutual calumnies forfeit the practic : a thing that justly excites the grief of good men , to see that those who all pretend to the same christianity , should only be unanimous in the violating that truth and charity it prescribes . . and if these be the weapons of our spiritual warfare , what may we think of the carnal ? how are our secular animosities pursued , when our speculations are thus managed ? how easily do we run down the reputation of any who stand in the way either of our spleen or avarice ? when josephs resolute purity had changed the scene of his mistress's passion , she does readily shift that of guilt too , and fixes her crime upon him , gen. . . so when ziba had a mind to undermine mephibosheth in his estate , he first practices upon his fame in a false accusation , sam. . . and alas , how familiarly do we now see both these scenes reacted ? those who will not take vice in their bosoms , shall yet have it bespatter their faces : they who will not run to the same excess of riot , must expect to be evil spoken of , pet. . . nay not only pious men , but piety it self partakes of the same fate , falls under the two-edg'd slander both of deceit and folly . and if men cannot be permitted quietly to enjoy their piety , much less will they those things whereof the world hath more gust , i mean secular advantages . there are still crimes to be discovered in the possessors of honors or estates , and they wonderfully excite the zeal of those who would supplant them . what artifices are there to make them appear unworthy of what they have , that others more unworthy may succeed them ? nor are those storms only in the upper region , in the higher ranks of men ; but if we pass thro all degrees , we shall find the difference is rather in the value of the things , then in the means of pursuing them . he that pretends to the meanest office , does studiously disparage his competitor , as he that is rival'd for a kingdom . nay , even he that has but a merry humor to gratify , makes no scruple to do it with the loss of another mans reputation . . thus do we accomodate every petty temporal interest at the cost of our eternal : and as an unskilful fencer , whilst he is pursuing his thrust , exposes his body ; so whilst we thus actuate our own malice , we abandon our selves to satans , receive mortal wounds from him , only that we may give a few light scratches to one another . for as i have before said , there is nothing does more secure his title to us , then this vice of calumny , it bearing his proper impress and figure . and we may fear , christ will one day make the same judgment of persons as he did of coin , and award them to him whose image and superscription they bear , matth. : . . and now how great a madness is it to make costly oblations to so vile an idol ? this is indeed the worshipping our own imaginations , preferring a malicious fiction before a real felicity : and is but faintly resembled by him , who is said to have chosen to part with his bishopric , rather then burn his romance . alas , are there not gross corporal sins enough to ruine us , but must we have aëreal ones too , damn our selves with chimera's , and by these forgeries of our brains dream out selves to destruction ? . let all those then who thus unhappily employ their inventive faculty , timely consider , how unthriving a trade 't is finally like to prove ; that all their false accusations of others will rebound in true ones upon themselves . it does often so in this world , where many times the most clandestine contrivances of this kind meet with detection . or if they should happen to keep on the disguise here , yet 't will infallibly be torn off at the great day of manifestation , when before god , angels , and men , they will be render'd infinitly more vile , then 't was possible for them here to make others . sect . vi. of vncharitable truth . . in the next place we are to consider of the other branch of defamatory reports , viz. such as are true : which tho they must be confest to be of a lower form of guilt then the former , yet as to the kind , they equally agree in the definition of detraction , since 't is possible to impair a mans credit by true reports as well as by false . . to clear this i shall first observe , that altho every fault hath some penal effects which are coetanous to the act , yet this of infamy is not so : this is a more remote consequent ; that which it immediatly depends upon , is the publishing . a man may do things , which to god and his own conscience render him abominable , and yet keep his reputation with men : but when this stifled crime breaks out , when his secret guilts are detected , then , and not till then , he becomes infamous : so that altho his sin be the material , yet it is the discovery that is the formal cause of his infamy . . this being granted , it follows , that he that divulges an unknown conceled fault , stands accountable for all the consequences that flow from that divulging ; but whether accountable as for guilt , must be determin'd by the particular circumstances of the cause . so that here we must admit of an exception : for tho every discovery of anothers fault be in the strict natural sense of the word a detraction , yet it will not alwaies be the sin of detraction , because in some instances there may some higher obligation intervene , and supersede that we ow to the fame of our neighbor ; and in those cases it may not only be lawful , but necessary to expose him . . now all such cases i conceive may summarily be reduced to two heads , justice and charity . first as to justice : that we know is a fundamental vertue , and he that shall violate that , to abound in another , is as absurd , as he that undermines the foundation to raise the walls . we are not to steal to give alms , and god himself has declared , that he hates robbery for a burnt-offering ; so that no pretence either of charity or piety can absolve us from the duty we ow to justice . now it may often fall out , that by conceling one mans fault , i may be injurious to another , nay to a whole community : and then i assume the guilt i concele , and by the laws both of god and man am judged an accessory . . and as justice to others enforces , so somtimes justice to a mans self allows the publishing of a fault , when a considerable interest either of fame or fortune cannot otherwise be rescued . but to make loud outcries of injury , when they tend nothing to the repress of it , is a liberty rather assumed by rage and impatience , then authorized by justice . nay , often in that case the complainer is the most injurious person ; for he inflicts more then he suffers , and in lieu of some trivial right of his which is invaded , he assaults the other in a nearer interest , by wounding him in his good name : but if the cause be considerable , and the manner regular , there lies sure no obligation upon any man to wrong himself , to indulge to another . . neither does charity retrench this liberty : for tho it be one act of charity to concele another mans faults , yet somtimes it may be inconsistent with some more important charity , which i owe to a third person , or perhaps to a multitude ; as in those cases wherein public benefit is concern'd . if this were not allowable , no history could lawfully be written , since if true , it cannot but recount the faults of many : no evidence could be brought in against a malefactor : and indeed , all discipline would be subverted ; which would be so great a mischief , that charity obliges to prevent it , what defamation soever fall upon the guilty by it . for in such instances 't is a true rule , that mercy to the evil proves cruelty to the innocent . and as in a competition of mischiefs we are to chuse the least , so of two goods the greatest , and the more extensive , is the most eligible . . nay , even that charity which reflects upon my self , may also somtimes supersede that to my neighbor , the rule obliging me to love him as , not better then my self . i need not sure silently assent to my own unjust defamation , for fear of proving another a false accuser , nor suffer my self to be made a begger , to concele another mans being a thief . t is true , in a great inequality of interests , charity ●hose character it is , not to seek her own , cor. . . ) will promt me to prefer a greater concern of my neighbors , before a slight one of my own : but in equal circumstances , i am sure at liberty to be kind first to my self . if i will recede even from that , i may ; but that is then to be accounted among the heroic flights of charity , nor her binding and indispensible laws . . having now set the boundaries , the excepted cases ; as all instances within them will be legitimated , so all without them will ( by the known rule of exceptions ) be precluded , and fall under that general duty we owe to our neighbor , of tendring his credit : an obligation so universally infringed , that 't is not imaginable the breach should alwaies happen within the excepted cases . when 't is remembred how unactive the principles of justice and charity are now grown in the world , we must certainly impute such incessant effects , to some more vigorous causes : of which it may not be amiss to point out some of the most obvious , and leave every man to examine which of them he finds most operative in himself . . in the first place , i may reckon pride , a humor which as it is alwaies mounting , so it will make use of any foot-stool towards its rise . a man who affects an extraordinary splendor of reputation , is glad to find any foils to set him off ; and therefore will let no fault nor folly of anothers enjoy the shade , but brings it into the open light , that by that comparison his own excellences may appear the brighter . i dare appeal to the breast of any proud man , whether he do not upon such occasions , delight to make some pharisaical reflections on himself , whether he be not apt to say , i am not like other men , or as this publican , luke . tho probably he leave out the god i thank thee . now he that cherishes such resentments as these in himself , will doubtless be willing to propagate them to other men ; and to that end render the blemishes of others as visible as he can . but this betraies a degenerous spirit , which from a consciousness that he wants solid worth , on which to bottom a reputation , is fain to found it on the ruines of other mens . the true diamond sparkles even in the sun-shine : 't is but a glow-worm virtue , that ows its lustre to the darkness about it . . another promter to detraction is envy , which sometimes is particular , sometimes general . he that has a pique to another , would have him as hateful to all man-kind as he is to him ; and therefore as he grieves and repines at any thing that may advance his estimation , so he exults and triumphs when any thing occurs which may depress it , and is usually very industrious to improve the opportunity , nay has a strange sagacity it hunting it out . no vultur does more quickly scent a carcass , then an envious person does those dead flies which corrupt his neighbors ointment , ecclesiast . . . the vapor whereof his h●●e , like a strong wind , scatters and disperses far and near . nor needs he any great crime to practice on : every little infirmity or passion , look'd on thro his optics , appears a mountainous guilt . he can improve the least speck or freckle into a leprosy , which shall overspread the whole man : and a cloud no bigger then a mans hand , like that of elisha , kings . . may in an instant , with the help of prejudice , grow to the utter darkning of the brightest reputation , and fill the whole horizon with tempest and horror . somtimes this envy is general , not confin'd to any man persons , but diffused to the whole nature . some tempers there are so malign , that they wish ill to all , and believe ill of all ; like timon the athenian , who profest himself a universal man-hater . he whose guilty conscience reflects dismal images of himself , is willing to put the same ugly shape upon the whole nature , and to conclude that all men are the same , were they but closely inspected . and therefore when he can see but the least glimmering of a fault in any , he takes it as a proof of his hypothesis , and with an envious joy calls in as many spectators as he can . 't is certain there are some in whose ears nothing sounds so harsh as the commendation of another ; as on the contrary , nothing is so melodious as a defamation . plutarch gives an apt instance of this upon aristides's banishment , whom when a mean person had propos'd to ostracism , being askt what displesure aristides had don him , he replied , none , neither do i know him , but it grieves me to hear every body call him a just man. i fear some of our keenest accusers now a daies may give the same answer . no man that is eminent for piety ( or indeed but moral vertue ) but he shall have many insidious eies upon him , watching for his halting : and if any the least obliquity can be espied , he is used worse then the vilest malefactor : for such are tried but at one bar , and know the utmost of their doom ; but these are arraigned at every table , in every tavern . and at such variety of judicatures , there will be as great variety of sentences ; only they commonly concur in this one , that he is an hypocrite : and then what complacency , what triumph have they in such a discovery ? there is not half so much epicurism in any of their most studied luxuries , no spectacle affords them so much plesure , as a bleeding fame thus lying at their mercy . . another sort of detractors there are , whose designs are not so black , but are equally mean and sordid , much too light to be put in ballance with a neighbors credit . of those some will pick up all the little stories they gan get , to humor a patron : an artifice well known by those trencher-guests , who , like rats , still haunt the best provisions . these men do almost come up to a literal sense of what the psalmist spoke in a figurative , psalm . and eat up people for bread , tear and worry men in their good names , that themselves may eat . it was a curse denounced against eli's off-spring , that they should come and crouch for a morsel of bread , sam. . . but such men court this as a preferment , and to bring themselves within the reach of it , stick not to assume that vilest office of common delators . there are others , who when they have got the knowledg of another mans fault , think it an endearing thing to whisper in the ear of some friend or confident . but sure , if they must needs sacrifice some secret to their friendship , they should take davids rule , and not offer that which cost them nothing . if they will express their confidence , let them acquaint them with their own private crimes . that indeed would shew somthing of trust : but those experiments upon another mans cost , will hardly convince any considering person of their kindness . . there still remains a yet more trifling sort of defamers , who have no deliberate design which they pursue in it , yet are as assiduous at the trade as the deeper contrivers . such are those who publish their neighbors failings as they read gazets , only that they may be telling news ; an itch wherewith some peoples tongues are strangely over-run , who can as well hold a glowing coal in their mouths , as keep any thing they think new ; nay will somtimes run themselves out of breath , for fear least any should serve them as ahimaaz did cushi , sam. . . and tell the tale before them . this is one of the most childish vanities imaginable : and sure men must have souls of a very low level , that can think it a commensurate entertainment . others there are who use defamatory discourse , neither for the love of news , nor defamation , but purely for love of talk : whose speech , like a flowing current , bears away indiscriminately whatever lies in its way . and indeed such incessant talkers , are usually people , nor of depth enough to supply themselves out of their own store , and therefore can let no foreign accession pass by them , no more then the mill which is alwaies going , can afford any waters to run wast . i know we use to call this talkativeness a feminine vice ; but to speak impartially , i think , tho we have given them the inclosure of the scandal , they have not of the fault , and he that shall appropriate loquacity to women , may perhaps somtimes need to light diogenes's candle to seek a man : for 't is possible to come into masculine company , where 't will be as hard to edg in a word , as at a female gossiping . however , as to this particular of defaming : both the sexes seem to be at a vie : and i think he were a very critical judg , that could determin between them . . now lest these later sort of defamers should be apt to absolve themselves , as men of harmless intentions , i shall desire them to consider , that they are only more impertinent , not less injurious . for tho it be granted , that the proud and envious are to make a distinct account for their pride and envy ; yet as far as relates to the neighbor , they are equally mischievous . anacreon that was choaked with a grape-stone , died as surely as julius cesar with his three and twenty wounds ; and a mans reputation may be as well fool'd and pratled away , as maliciously betraied . nay perhaps more easily ; for where the speaker can least be suspected of design , the hearer is apter to give him credit : this way of insinuating by familiar discourse , being like those poisons that are taken in at the pores , which are the most insensibly sucked in , and the most impossible to expel . . but we need not dispute which is worst , since 't is certain all are bad , none of them ( or any that hold proportion with them ) being at all able to pretend their warrant either from justice or charity . and then what our savior saies in another case , will be appliable to this , he that is not for us , is against us , matth. . . he that is publishing his neighbors faults , acts not upon the dictates of justice or charity , acts directly in contradiction to them : for where they do not upon some particular respects command , they do implicity , and generally forbid all such discoveries . . for first , if a fault divulged be of a light nature , the offendor cannot thereby merit so much as to be made a public discourse . fame is a tender thing , and seldom is tost and bandied without receiving some bruise , if not a crack : for reports we know , like snow-balls gather still , the farther they roul : and when i have once handed it to another , how know i how he may improve it ? and if he deliver it so advanced to a third , he may give his contribution also to it , and so in a successive transmitting , it may grow to such a monstrous bulk , as bears no proportion to its original . he must be a great stranger to the world , that has not experimentally found the truth of this . how many persons have laid under great and heavy scandals , which have taken their first rise only from some inadvertence or indiscretion ? of so quick a growth is slander , that the least grain , like that of mustard-seed , mentioned matth. . : immediatly shoots up into a tree . and when it is so , it can no more be reduced back into its first cause , then a tree can shrink into that little seed from whence it first sprang . no ruins are so irreparable as those of reputation : and therefore he that pulls out but one stone towards the breach , may do a greater mischief then perhaps he intends ; and a greater injustice too : for by how much the more strictly justice obliges to reparation in case of injuries done , so much the more severely does it prohibit the doing those injuries which are uncapable of being repared . in the levitical law , he that knew his ox was apt so gore , and yet kept him not up , stood responsible for any mischief he happened to do , exod. . . i think there is no considering man can be ignorant how apt little trivial accusations are , to tear and mangle ones fame : and yet if the lavish talker restrain them not , he certainly stands accountable to god , his neighbor , and his own conscience , for all the danger they procure . . but if the report concern some higher and enormous crime , 't is true , the delinquent may deserve the less pity , yet perhaps the reporter may not deserve the less blame : for often such a discovery serves , not to reclame , but to enrage the offender , and precipitate him into farther degrees of ill . modestly and fear of shame , is one of those natural restraints , which the wisdom of god has put upon mankind , and he that once stumbles , may yet by a check of that bridle recover again : but when by a public detection he is fallen under that infamy he fear'd , he will then be apt to discard all caution , and to think he owes himself the utmost plesures of his vice , as the price of his reputation . nay , perhaps he advances farther , and sets up for a reverst sort of fame , by being eminently wicked : and he who before was but a clandestine disciple , becomes a doctor of impiety . and sure it were better to let a conceled crime remain in its wish'd obscurity , then by thus rouzing it from its covert , bring it to stand at bay , and set it self in this open defiance ; especially in this degenerous age , when vice has so many well-willers , that , like a hoping party , they eagerly run into any that will head them . . and this brings in a third consideration relating to the public , to which the divulging of private ( especially if they be novel unusual ) crimes , does but an ill piece of service . vice is contagious , and casts pestilential vapors : and as he that should bring out a plague-sick person , to inform the world of his disease , would be thought not to have much befriended his neighborhood ; so he that displaies these vicious ulcers , whilst he seeks to defame one , may perhaps infect many . we too experimentally find the force of ill examples . men often take up sins , to which they have no natural propension , merely by way of conforty and imitation . but if the instance happen in a crime , which more suits the practice of the hearers , tho it cannot be said to seduce , yet it may encourage and confirm them ; embolden them not only the more frequently to act , but even to avow those sins wherein they find they stand not single , and by discovering a new accessary to their party , to invite them the more heartily and openly to espouse it . . these are such effects as surely do not very well correspond with that justice and charity we owe either to particular persons , or to mankind in general . and indeed no better can be expected , from a practice which to perfectly contradicts the grand rule both of justice and charity , the doing as we would be don to . that this does so , every man has a ready conviction within him , if he please but to consult his own heart . alas , with what solicitude do we seek to hide our own guilts with false dresses , what varnishes have we for them ? there are not more arts of disguising our corporal blemishes , then our moral : and yet whilst we thus paint and parget our own deformities , we cannot allow any the least imperfection of anothers to remain undetected , but tear off the veil from their blushing frailties , and not only expose but proclaim them . and can there be a grosser , a more detestable partiality then this ? god may sure in this instance ( as in many others ) expostulate with us as he did with israel , ezek. . are not your waies unequal ? what barbarism , what inhumanity is it thus to treat those of the same common nature with our selves , whom we cannot but know have the same concern to preserve a reputation , and the same regret to lose it , which we have ? and what shame is it , that that evangelical precept , of doing as we would be don to , which met with so much reverence even from heathens , that severus the emperor preferr'd it to all the maxims of philosophers ; should be thus contemned and violated by christians , and that too , upon such slight inconsiderable motives , as usually prevail in this case of defamation ? . but we are not to consider this fault only in its root , as it is a defect of ju●tice and charity , but in its product too , as it is a seminary of more injustice and uncharitableness . those disadvantageous reports we make of our neighbors , are almost seen to come round : for let no man perswade himself , that the hearers will keep his counsel any better then he does that of the defamed person . the softest whisper of this kind , will find others to echo it , till it reach the ears of the concerned party , and perhaps with some enhancing circumstances too . and when 't is considered how unwilling men are to hear of their faults , tho even in the mildest and most charitable way of admonition , t is not to be doubted a public defamation , will seem disobliging enough to provoke a return ; which again begets a rejoinder , and so the quarrel is carried on with mutual recriminations ; all malicious inquiries are made into each others manners , and those things which perhaps they did in closets , come to be proclamed upon the house top : so the wild-fire runs round , till sometimes nothing but blood will quench it ; or if it arrive not to that , yet it usually fixes in an irreconcilable feud . to this is often owing those distances we see among friends and relations ; this breeds such strangeness , such animosities amongst neighbors , that you cannot go to one , but you shall be entertain'd with invectives against the other ; nay perhaps you shall lose both , because you are willing to side with neither . . these are the usual consequences of the liberty of the tongue : and what account can any man give to himself , either in christianity or prudence , that has let in such a train of mischiefs , merely to gratify an impotent childish humor of telling a tale ? peace was the great legacy christ left to his followers , and ought to be guarded , tho we expose for it our greatest temporal concerns , but cannot without despight to him , as well as our brethren , be thus prostituted . . yet if we consider it abstractedly from those more solemn mischiefs which attend it , the mere levity and unworthiness of it sets it below an ingenuous person . we generally think a tatler and busy-body a title of no small reproch : yet truly i know not to whom it more justly belongs , then to those , who busy themselves first in learning , and then in publishing the faults of others : an emploiment which the apostle thought a blot , even upon the weaker sex , and thinks the prevention of such importance , that he prescribes them to change their whole condition of life ; to convert widow-hood ( tho a state which in other respects he much prefers , cor. . . ) into marriage , rather then expose themselves to the temtation , tim. . . . and if their impotence cannot afford excuse for it , what a debasement is it of mens nobler faculties to be thus entertained ? the historian gives it as an ill indication of domitians temper , that he emploi'd himself in catching and tormenting flies : and sure they fall not under a much better character , either for wisdom , or good nature , who thus snatch up all the little fluttering reports , they can meet with to the prejudice of their neighbors . . but besides the divulging the faults of others , there is another branch of detraction naturally springing from this root , and this is censuring and severe judging of them . we think not we have well plaid the historians , when we have told the thing , unless we add also our remarks , and animadversions on it . and altho 't is , god knows , bad enough to make a naked relation , and trust it to the severity of the hearers ; yet few can content themselves with that , but must give them a sample of rigor , and by the bitterness of their own censure invite them to pass the like : a process contrary to all rules of law or equity , for the plaintiff to assume the part of a judg. and we may easily divine the fate of that mans fame , that is so unduly tried . . 't is indeed sad to see how many private tribunals are every where set up , where we scan and judg our neighbors action , but scarce ever acquit any . we take up with the most incompetent witnesses , nay often suborn our own surmises and jealousies , that we may be sure to cast the unhappy criminal . how nicely and scrupulously do we examine every circumstance ; ( would god we were but half as exact in our own penitential inquisitions ) and torture it to make it confess somthing which appears not in the more general view of the fact , and which perhaps never was in the actors intention ? in a word , we do like witches with their magical chymistry , extract all the venem , and take none of the allay . by this means we confound the degrees of sins , and sentence deliberate and indeliberate , an habit or an act all at one rate , that is commonly , at the utmost it can amount to , even in its worse acception : and sure this were a most culpable corruption in judgment , could we shew our commission to judg our brethren . . but here we may every one of us interrogate our selves in our saviours words , who made me a judg ? luke . . and if he disclaim'd it , who in respect of his divinity had the supreme right , and that too in a case wherein one ( at least ) or the litigants had desired his interposition , what a boldness is it in us to assume it , where no such appeal is made to us , but on the contrary , the party disowns our autority ? nay ( which is infinitly more ) t is superseded by our great law-giver , in that express prohibition , matth. . . judg not , and that back'd with a severe penalty , that ye be not judged ? as god hath appropriated vengeance to himself , so has he judicature also ; and t is an invasion of his peculiar , for any ( but his delegates the lawful magistrates ) to pretend to either . and indeed , in all private judgment , so much depends upon the intention of the offender , that unless we could possess our selves of gods omniscience , 't will be as irrational as impious to assume his autority . until we know mens hearts , we are at the best but imperfect judges of their actions . at our rate of judging , st. paul had surely pass'd for a most malicious persecutor , whereas god saw he did ignorantly in unbelief , and upon that intuition had mercy on him , tim. . . 't is therefore good counsel which the apostle gives , cor. . . judg nothing before the time until the lord come . for tho 't is said , the saints shall judg the world , cor. . . yet it must be at the great assize , and he that will needs intrude himself into the office before the time , will be in danger to be rather passive then active in the judicatory . i do not here advise to such a stupid charity as shall make no distinction of actions . i know there is a woe pronounced as well to those who call evil good , as good evil . surely when we see an open notorious sin committed , we may express a detestation of the crime , tho not of the actor ; nay it may somtimes be a necessary charity , both to the offender , and to the innocent spectators , as an amulet to keep them from the contagion of the example . but still even in these cases , our sentence must not exceed the evidence , we must judg only according to the visible undoubted circumstances , and not aggravate the crime upon presumtions and conjectures ; if we do , how right soever our guesses may be , our judgment is not , but we are as saint james speaks , judges of evil thoughts , chap. . . . indeed this rash judging is not only very unjust both to god and man , but it is an act of the greatest pride . when we set our selves in the tribunal , we alwaies look down with contemt on those at the bar. and certainly there is nothing does so gratify , so regale a haughty humor , as this piece of usurpt soverainty over our brethren : but the more it does so , the greater necessity there is to abstain from it . pride is a hardy kind of vice , that will live upon the barest pasture : you cannot starve it with the most industrious mortifications : how little need is there then of pampering and heightning it , which we cannot more effectually do , then by this censorious humor ? for by that we are so perpetually emploi'd abroad , that we have no leisure to look homeward , and see our own defects . we are like the inhabitants of ai , jos. . so eager upon the pursuit of others , that we leave our selves expos'd to the ambushes of satan , who will be sure still to encourage us in our chase , draw us still farther & farther from our selves , and cares not how zealous we are in fighting against the crimes of others , so he can but keep that zeal from recoiling upon our own . . lastly , this judging others , is one of the highest violations of charity . the apostle gives it as one of the properties of that grace , that it thinks no evil ( i. e. ) is not apt to make severe constructions , but sets every thing in the fairest light , puts the most candid interpretations that the matter will bear . and truly , this is of great importance to the reputation of our neighbors . the world we know is in many instances extremely governed by opinion , but in this 't is all in all ; it has not only an influence upon it , but is that very thing : reputation being nothing but a fair opinion and estimation among others . now this opinion is not alwaies swaied by due motives : somtimes little accidents , and often fancy , and oftest prepossession governs in it . so that many times he that puts the first ill character , fixes the stamp which afterwards goes current in the world. the generality of people take up prejudices ( as they do religions ) upon trust : and of those that are more curious in inquiring into the grounds , there are not many who vary on the more charitable hand , or bring the common sentence to review , with intent to moderate but inhance it . men are apt to think it some disparagement to their acuteness and invention , if they cannot say somthing as sharp upon the subject , as has bin said before ; and so 't is the business of many to lay on more load , but of few to take off : and therefore he that passes the first condemnatory sentence , is like the incendiary in a popular tumult , who is chargeable with all those disorders to which he gave the first rise , tho that free not his abettors from their share of the guilt . . and as this is very uncharitable in respect of the injury offer'd , so also is it in reflection on the grand rule of charity . can we pretend to love our neighbors as our selves , and yet shall our love to him have the quite contrary effects to that we bear our selves ? on self-love lessen our beam into a mote , and yet can our love to him magnify his mote into a beam ? no certainly , true charity is more sincere , does not turn to us the reverse end of the perspective , to represent our own faults at a distance , and in the most diminitive size , and yet shuffle the other to us when we are to view his . no , these are tricks of legerdemain we read in another schole , even in his , whose stile is the accuser of the brethren . we know how frequently god protests against false weights and false mesures . and sure 't is not only in the shop or market that he abhors them , they are no less abominable inconversation then in traffic . to buy by one mesure and sell by another , is not more unequal , then it is to have these differing standards for our own and our neighbors faults , that our own shall weigh , in the prophet jeremiahs phrase , lighter then vanity , yea nothing , and yet his ( tho really the lighter ) shall prove zacharies talent of lead . this is such a partiallity , as consists not with common honesty , and can therefore never be reconciled with christian charity : and how demurely soever such men may pretend to sanctity , that interrogation of god presses hard upon them , shall i count them pure with the wicked balances , and with the bag of deceitful weights ? mich. . . such bitter invectives against other mens faults , and indulgence or palliation of their own , shews their zeal lies in their spleen , and that they consider not so much what is don , as who does it : and to such the sentence of the apostle is very applicable , romans . . therefore thou art inexcusable , o man , whosoever thou art that judgest , for wherein thou judgest another , thou condemnest thy self , for thou that judgest dost the same thing . but admit a man have not the very same guilts he censures in another , yet 't is sure every man has some ; and of what sort soever they be , he desires not they should be rigorously scan'd , and therefore by the rule of charity , yea and justice too , he ought not to do that which he would not suffer . if he can find extenuations for his own crimes , he is in all reason to presume others may have so for theirs : the common frailty of our nature , as it is apt alike to betray us to faults , so it gives as equal share in the excuse ; and therefore what i would have pass for the effect of impotency or inadvertence in my self , i can with no tolerable ingenuity give a worse name to in him . . we have now viewed both these branches of detraction , seen both the sin and mischiefs of them ; we may now join them together in a concluding observation , which is , that they are as imprudent as they are unchristian . it has bin received among the maxims of civil life , not unnecessarily to exasperate any body ; to which agrees the advice of an ancient philosopher , speak not evil of thy neighbor , if thou dost thou shalt hear that which will not fail to trouble thee . there is no person so inconsiderable , but may at some time or other do a displesure : but in this of defaming men need no harnessing , no preparation ; every man has his weapons ready for a return : so that none can shoot these arrows , but they must expect they will revert with a rebounded force : not only to the violation of christian unity ( as i have before observ'd ) but to the aggressors great secular demerit , both in fame , and oftentimes interest also . revenge is sharp-sighted , and over-looks no opportunity of a retaliation ; and that commonly not bounded as the levitical ones were , an eye for an eye , a tooth for a tooth , exod. . . no nor by the larger proportions of their restitutions four-fold , exod. . . but extended to the utmost power of the inflicter . the examples are innumerable of men who have thus laid themselves open in their greatest concerns , and have let loose the hands as well as tongues of others against them , merely because they would put no restraint upon their own ; which is so great indiscretion , that to them we may well apply that of solomon , a fools mouth is his destruction , and his lips are the snare of his soul , prov. . . . and now who can sufficiently wonder , that a practice that so thwarts our interest of both worlds , should come universally to prevail among us ? yet that it does so , i may appeal to the consciences of most , and to the observation of all . what so common topic of discourse is there , as this of back-biting our neighbors ? come into company of all ages , all ranks , all professions , this is the constant entertainment : and i doubt , he that at night shall duly recollect the occurences of the day , shall very rarely be able to say , he has spent it without hearing or speaking ( perhaps both ) somwhat of this kind . nay even those who restrain themselves other liberties , are often apt to indulge to this : many who are so just to their neighbors property , that as abraham once said , gen. . . they would not take from him , even from a thred to a shoe latchet , are yet so inconsiderate of his fame , as to find themselves discourse at the expence of that , tho infinitly a greater injury then the robbing of his coffer : which shews what false mesures we are apt to take of things and evinces that many of those , who have not only in general abjur'd the world in their baptism , but do in many instances seem to themselves ( as well as others ) to have gain'd a superiority over it , do yet in this undiscernibly yield it the greatest ensign of soveraignty , by permitting it to set the standards and estimates of things , and taking its customary prescriptions for laws . for what besides this unhappy servility to custom , can possibly reconcile men that own christianity , to a practice so widely distant from it ? 't is true , those that profess themselves men of this world , who design only their portion in this life , may take it up as somtimes conducing ( at least seemingly ) to their end : but for those who propose higher hopes to themselves , and know that charity is one of the main props to those hopes , how foolishly do they undermine themselves , when they thus act against their principles , and that upon no other autority , but that of popular usage ? i know men are apt to excuse themselves upon their indignation against vice , and think that their zeal must as well acquit them for this violation of the second table , as it once did moses for the breaking both , exod. . . but to such i may answer in christs words , luke . . ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of . meekness and charity are the evangelical graces , which will most recommend and assimilate us to him , who was meek and lowly in heart . but after all this pretext of zeal , i fear it is but a cheat we put on our selves , the elder brothers raiment only to disguise the supplanter , gen. . let men truly ransack their own breasts , and i doubt the best will find there is somthing of vanity that lies at the bottom , if it be not the positive sort mention'd before , of designing to illustrate my self by others blemishes , yet at least the negative , that i am unwilling to incur the contemt incident to those , who scruple at small sins . besides i observe perhaps , that 't is the common entertainment of the world , to defame their neighbors , and if i strike not in upon the theme , i shall have nothing to render me acceptable company ; perhaps i shall be reproched as morose or dull , and my silence shall be construed to proceed not from the abundance of my charity , but the defect of my wit. . but sure they that can thus argue , do hereby give a more demonstrative proof of that defect . he whose wit is so precarious , that it must depend only upon the folly or vice of another , had best give over all pretence to it . he that has nothing of his own growth to set before his guests , had better make no invitations , then break down his neighbors inclosure , and feast them upon his plunder . besides , how pitiful an attestation of wit is it , to be able to make a disgraceful relation of another ? no scolding woman but may set up such trophies : and they that can value a man upon such an account , may prefer the scarabes , who feed upon dung , and are remark'd by no other property , before the bee that sucks flowers and returns hony. . but in the next place , admit this restraint should certainly expose one to that reproch ; methinks this should be no news to those who know the condition of christianity is to take up the cross : and sure it cannot weigh lighter then in this instance . what am i the worse , if a vain talkative person think me too reserv'd ? or if he , whose frolic levity is his disease , call me dull , because i vapor not out all my spirits into froth ? socrates when inform'd of some gating speeches one had used of him behind his back , made only this facetious reply , let him beat me too when i am absent . and he that gets not such an indifference to all the idle censures of men , will be disturb'd in all his civil transactions , as well as his christian : it being scarce possible to do any thing , but there will be descants made on it . and if a man will regard those winds , he must , as solomon saies , never sow , eccl. . . he must suspend even the necessary actions of common life , if he will not venture them to the being mis-judged by others . . but there is yet a farther consideration in this matter : for he that upon such a despicable motive will violate his duty in one particular , lets satan get a main point of him , and can with no good logic deny to do it in others . detraction is not the only sin in fashion : profaneness , and obscenity , and all sorts of luxury are so too , and threaten no less reproch to those who scruple at them . upon the same grounds therefore that he discards his charity to his neighbor , he may also his piety , his modesty , his temperance , and almost all other virtues . and to speak the truth , there is not a more fertile womb of sin , then this dread of all mens reproch . other corruptions must be gratified with cost and industry , but in this the devil hath no farther trouble then to laugh men out of their souls . so prolific a vice therefore had need be weeded out of mens hearts : for if it be allowed the least corner , if it be indulged too in this one instance , 't will quickly spread it self farther . . yet after all , this fear of reproch is a mere fallacy , started to disguise a more real cause of fear : for the greatest danger of reproch does indeed lie on that other side . common estimation puts an ill character upon pragmatic medling people . for tho the inquisitiveness and curiosity of the hearer , may somtimes render such discourses grateful enough to him , yet it leaves in him no good impressions of the speaker . this is well observ'd by the son of sirach , ecclus. . , . whether it be to friend or foe , talk not of other mens lives , and if thou canst without offence , revele them not , for he heard and observ'd thee , and when time cometh he will hate thee . in a word , all considering persons will be ever upon their guard in such company , as fore-seeing that they will talk no less freely of them , then they do of others before them . nor can the commonness of the guilt obviate the censure , there being nothing more frequent then for men to accuse their own faults in other persons . vice is like a dark lantern , which turns its bright side only to him that bears it , but looks black and dismal in anothers hand : and in this particular none has so much reason to fear a defamer , as those who are themselves such : for ( besides the common prudential motive ) their own consciousness gives them an inward alarm , and makes them look for a retribution in the same kind . thus upon the whole matter we see , there is no real temtation , even to our vanity , to comply with this uncharitable custom , we being sure to lose more repute by it then we can propose to our selves to gain . the being esteem'd an ill man , will not be balanced by being thought pleasant , ingenuous company , were one sure to be so . but 't is odds , that will not be acquired by it neither , for the most assiduous tale-bearers , and biterest revilers , are often half-witted people : there being nothing more frequently observed , then such mens aptness to speak evil of things they understand not , jude v. . . o let not then those that have repudiated the more inviting sins , shew themselves philter'd and bewitch'd by this , but instead of submitting to the ill example of others , set a good one to them , and endeavor to bring this unchristian custom out of fashion . i am sure if they do not , they will be more deeply chargeable then others : for the more command they have over their other corruptions , the more do they witness against themselves . their remissness and willing subjection to this , besides their example when ill , is more ensnaring then other mens , and is apt to insinuate easie thoughts of the sin . men are apt to think themselves safe while they follow one of noted piety , and the autority of his person often leads them blindfold into his failings . thus when peter dissembled , st. paul tells us , that the other jews , and even barnabas also , was carried away with his dissimulation , galat. . . and i doubt not in this particular many are incouraged by the liberty they see even good men take . so that such have a more accumulative guilt , for they do not only commit , but patronize the fault : the consideration whereof has kept me , i confess , longer upon this head , then is proportionable to the brevity of the rest ; but i think not longer then agrees to the importance of the subject . . and now since we have consider'd the malignity of this sin of detraction , and yet withal find that 't is a sin , which as the apostle speaks , doth so easily beset us , 't is but a natural corollary that we inforce our vigilance against it . and where the importance and difficulty are both so great , 't will be a little necessary to consider what are the likliest means , the most appropriate antidote against this so dangerous , and yet so epidemic a disease . . and here the common rule of physic is to be adverted to , viz. to examine the causes , that the remedies may be adapted to them . i shall therefore in the first place desire every man seriously to study his own constitution of mind , and observe what are his particular temtations to this sin of detraction , whether any of those i have before mention'd , as pride , envy , levity , &c. or any other which lies deeper , and is only discernible to his own inspection . let him , i say , make the scrutiny , and then accordingly apply himself to correct the sin in its first principle . for as when there is an eruption of humor in any part , 't is not cured merely by outward applications , but by such alterative medicines as purify the blood ; so this leprosy of the tongue will still spread farther , if it be not check'd in its spring and source , by the mortifying of those corrupt inclinations , which feed and heighten it . . this is an inquisition i must leave to every mans own conscience , which alone can testify by what impulses he acts . yet as the rabbins were wont to say , that in every signal judgment which befel the jews , there was some grain of the golden-calf ; so i think i may venture to say , that in all detraction , there is some mixture of pride : and therefore i suppose , a caution against that , will be so generally seasonable , that it may well lead the van of all other advices in this matter . and here 't is very observable , that god who has made of one blood all nations of the earth , acts . has so equally distributed all the most valuable privileges of human-nature , as if he design'd to preclude all insulting of one man over another . neither has he only thus insinuated it by his providence , but has inforc'd it by his commands in the levitical law we find what a particular care he takes to moderate the rigor of judicial correction , upon this very account , lest thy brother be despised in thine eyes , deut. . . so unreasonable did he think it , that the crime or misery of one , should be the exultation of another . and s. paul brands it as a great guilt of the corinthians , that they upon the occasion of the incestuous person were puffed up , when they should have mourned , corin. . . when we see a dead corps , we are not apt to insult over it , or brag of our own health and vigor ; but it rather damps us , and makes us reflect , that it may ( we know not how soon ) be our own condition . and certainly the spectacles of spiritual mortality should have the same operation . we have the same principles of corruption with our lapsed brethren , and have nothing but gods grace , to secure us from the same effects , and by these insulting reflections we forfeit that too ; for he gives grace only to the humble , james . . saint pauls advice therefore is very apposite to this case , gallat . . . brethren , if a man be overtaken in a fault , restore such a one in the spirit of meekness , considering thy self , least thou also be temted . in a word , the faults of others ought to excite our pity towards them , our caution as to our selves , and our thankfulness to god , if he hath hitherto preserv'd us from the like , for who made thee to differ from another ? cor. . . but if we spread our sails and triumph over these wrecks , we expose our selves to worse . other sins like rocks may split us , yet the lading may be preserv'd : but pride like a gulf swallows us up ; our very vertues when so levened , becoming weights and plummets to sink us to the deeper ruine . the counsel therefore of the apostle , is very pertinent to this matter , rom. . . be not high minded , but fear . . but god knows we can insult over others when we are not only under a possibility , but are actually involv'd in the same guilt : and then what are all our accusations and bitter censures of others , but indictments and condemnatory sentences against our selves ? and we may justly expect god should take us at our word , and reply upon us as the prophet did upon david , thou art the man , sam. . . for tho our officious vehemence against anothers crime , may blind the eies of men , yet god is not so mocked . as therefore when a thief or murderer is detected , it gives an alarm to the whole confederacy ; so when we find our own guilts pursued in ot●er mens persons , t is not a time for us to join in the prosecution , but rather by humble and penitent reflections on our selves to provide for our own safety . when therefore we find our selves ( upon any misdemeanor of our brother ) ready to mount the tribunal , and pronounce our sentence , let us first consider how competent we are for the office , calling to mind the decision christ once made in the like case , he that is without sin let him first cast a stone , job . . . and if we did this , many perhaps of our fiercest impeachers , would think fit to retire , and leave the delinquent ( as they themselves finally desire to be ) to the merciful indulgence of a savior . in short , would we but look into our own hearts , we should find so much work for our inquisitions and censure , that we should not be at leisure to ramble abroad for it . and therefore as lycurgus once said to one , who importun'd him to establish a popular parity in the state , do thou , saies he , begin it first in thine own family : so i shall advise those that will be judging , to practice first at home . and if they will confine themselves to that , till there be nothing left to correct , i doubt not their neighbor will be well enough secur'd against their detractions . . another preservation against that sin is the frequent contemplation of the last and great judgment . this is indeed a catholicon against all : but we find it particularly appli'd by st. paul to this of judging and despising our brethren . why dost thou judg thy brother ? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother ? we shall all stand before the judgment seat of christ , rom. . . that is the great day of revelation and retribution , and we are not to anticipate it by our private inquests or sentences : we have business enough to provide our own accounts against that day . and as it were a spightful folly for malefactors , that were going together to that bar , to spend their time in exaggerating each others crimes : so surely is it for us , who are all going toward the dreadful tribunal , to be drawing up charges against one another . and who knows but we may then meet with the fate of daniels accusers , see him we censur'd acquit , and our selves doomed . the penitence of the criminal may have numbred him among the saints , when our unretracted uncharitableness may send us to unquenchable flames . i conclude this consideration with the words of st. james , there is one lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy , who art thou that judgest another ? jam. . . . a third expedient may be , to try to make a revulsion of the humor , to draw it into another chanel . if we must needs be talking of other peoples faults , let it not be to defame , but to amend them , by converting our detraction and backbiting into admonition and fraternal correption . this is a way to extract medicine out of the viper , to consecrate even this so unhollow'd a part of our temper , and to turn the ungrateful medling of a busy-body , into the most obliging office of a friend . and indeed had we that zeal for vertue , which we pretend when we inveigh against vice , we should surely lay it out this way ; for this only gives a possibility of reforming the offender . but alas we order the matter so , as if we fear'd to lose the occasion of clamor , and will tell all the world but him that it most concerns . indeed t is a deplorable thing to see how universally this necessary christian duty is neglected ; and to that neglect we may in a great degree impute that strange over-flowing of detraction among us . we know the receiving any thing into our charge , insensibly begets a love and tenderness to it ( a nurse upon this account comes often to vie kindness with the mother : ) and would we but take one another thus into our care , and by friendly vigilance thus watch over each others souls , t is scarce imaginable what an endearment it would create : such certainly as would infallibly supplant all our unkind reportings and severe descants upon our brethren ; since those can never take place , but when there is at least an indifference , if not an enmity . . the next cure i shall propose for detraction , is to substract its nurishment , by suppressing all curiosity and inquisitiveness concerning others . were all supplies thus cut off , it would at last be subdued . the king of ethiopia in a vie of wit with the king of egypt , propos'd it as a problem to him , to drink up the sea , to which he repli'd , by requiring him first to stop the access of rivers to it : and he that would drain this other ocean , must take the same course , dam up the avenues of those springs which feed it . he that is alwaies upon the scent , hunting out some discovery of others , will be very apt to invite his neighbors to the quarry ; and therefore t will be necessary for him , to restrain himself from that range : not like jealous states , to keep spies and pensioners abroad to bring him intelligence , but rather discourage all such officious pick-thanks : for the fuller he is of such informations , the more is his pain if he keep them in , and his guilt if he publish them . could men be perswaded to affect a wholesome ignorance in these matters , it would conduce both to their ease and innocence : for 't is this itch of the ear which breaks out at the tongue : and were not curiosity the purveior , detraction woud soon be starved into a tameness . . but the most infallible receit of all , is the frequent recollecting , and serious applying of the grand rule , of doing as we would be don to : for as detraction is the violation of that , so the observation of that must certainly supplant detraction . let us therefore when we find the humor fermenting within us , and ready to break out in declamations against our brethren , let us , i say , check it with this short question , would i my self be thus us'd ? this voice from within , will be like that from heaven to st. paul , which stopt him in the heigth of his carrier . act. . . and this voice every man may hear , that will not stop his ears , nor gag his conscience , it being but the echo of that native justice and equity which is planted in our hearts : and when we have our remedy so near us , and will not use it , god may well expostulate with us , as he did with the jews , why will ye die , o house of israel ? ezek. . . . these are some of those many receits which may he prescrib'd against this spreading disease . but indeed there is not so much need to multiply remedies , as to perswade men to apply them . we are in love with our malady , and as loth to be cured of the luxury of the tongue , as st. augustine was of his other sensuality , against which he praied with a caveat , that he might not be too soon heard . but 't is ill dallying , where our souls are concern'd : for alas t is they that are wounded by those darts , which we throw at others . we take our aim perhaps at our neighbors , but indeed hit our selves : herein verifying in the highest sense that axiom of the wise-man , he that diggeth a pit , shall fall into it , and he that roleth a stone , it shall return upon him , prov. . . if therefore we have no tenderness , no relenting to our brethren , yet let us have some to our selves ; so much compassion , nay so much respect to our precious immortal souls , as not to set them at so despicable a price , to put them in balance with the satisfying of a petulant peevish vanity . surely the shewing our selves ill-natur'd ( which is all the gain detraction amounts to ) is not so enamouring a design , that we should sacrifice to it our highest interest . t is too much to spend our breath in such a pursuit ; o let not our souls also exhale in the vapor ; but let us rather pour them out in praiers for our brethren , then in accusations of them : for tho both the one and the other will return into our own bosoms , yet god knows to far differing purposes , even as differing as those wherewith we utter them . the charity of the one like kindly exhalations will descend in showers of blessings , but the rigor and asperity of the other , in a severe doom upon our selves : for the apostle will tell us , he shall have judgment without mercy , that hath shewed no mercy , james . . sect . vii . of scoffing and derision . there is also another fault of the tongue injurious to our neighbor , and that is derision and mockery , and striving to render others as ridiculous and contemtible as we can . this in respect of the subject matter differs from the other of detraction , as much as folly or deformity do's from vice : yet since injuries as well as benefits , are to be mesured by common estimation , this may come in balance with the other . there is such a general aversation in human nature to contemt , that there is scarce any thing more exasperating . i will not deny but the excess of that aversation may be level'd against pride : yet sure scorn and disdain never sprung from humility , and therefore are very incompetent correctors of the other ; so that it may be said of that , as once it was of diogènes , that he trampled on plato's pride with greater of his own . . nor is this injury enhanced only by the resentment of the sufferer , but also by the way of inflicting it . we generally think those are the severest marks of infamy , which are the most indelible . to be burnt in the hand or pilloried , is a more lasting reproch then to be scourged or confined ; and it is the same in this case , for here commonly wit is the lictor , which is arm'd with an edg'd tool , and leaves scars behind it . the reproch of rage and fury seem to be writ in chalk or lead , which a dispassionate hearer easily wipes out , but those of wit are like the gravers burine upon copper , or the corrodings of aqua-fortis , engrave and indent the characters that they can never be defaced . the truth of this daily experience attests . a dull contumely quickly vanishes , no body thinking it worth remembring , but when t is steel'd with wit , it pierces deep , leaves such impressions in the fancy of the hearers , that thereby it gets rooting in the memory , and will scarce be eradicated : nay sometimes it happens to survive both speaker and hearer , and conveys it self to posterity ; it being not unusual for the sarcasms of wit to be transmitted in story . and as it thus gives an edg , so also do's it add wings to a reproch , makes it fly abroad in an instant . many a poor mans infirmities had bin confined to the notice of a few relations or neigbors , had not some remarkable strain of drollery scatter'd and dispersed them . the jest recommends the defamation , and is commonly so incorporate with it , that they cannot be related apart . and even those who like it not in one respect , yet are many times so transported with it in the other , that they chuse rather to propagate the contumely , then stifle the conceit . indeed wit is so much the diana of this age , that he who goes about to set any bounds to it , must expect an uproar , acts . . or at least to be judged to have imposed an envious inhibition on it , because himself has not stock enough to maintain the trade . but how ever sharp or unexpected the censure may seem to be , yet t is necessary that plain downright truth should somtimes be spoken ; and i think that will bear me out , if i say t is possible men may be as oppressive by their parts , as their power ; and that god did no more design the meaner intellectuals of some for triumphs to the pride and vanity of the more acute , then he did the possessions of the less powerful , as a prey to the rapine and avarice of the mighty . . and this suggests a yet farther aggravation of this sin , as it is a perverting of gods design , and abuse of the talent he has committed to men in trust . ingenuity and quickness of parts , is sure to be reckoned in the highest ranks of blessings , and an instrument proper for the most excellent purposes : and therefore we cannot suppose the divine wisdom so much short of human , as not in his intention to assign it to uses worthy of it . those must relate either to god , our selves , or our neighbors . in respect of god , it renders us more capable of contemplating his perfections , discerning the equity and excellence of his laws , and our obligations to obedience . in regard of our selves it makes us apprehend our own interest in that obedience ; makes us tractable and perswasible , contrary to that brutish stub bornness of the horse and mule , which the psalmist reproches , psal. . . besides it accommodates us in all the concerns of human life , forms it self into all those useful contrivances , which may make our being here more comfortable : especially it renders a man company to himself , and in the greatest dearth of society , entertains him with his own thoughts . lastly , as to our neighbors , it renders us useful and assistant . all those discoveries and experiments , those arts and sciences , which are now the common tresure of the world , took their first rise from the ingenuity of particular persons : and in all personal exigencies wherein any of us are at any time involved , we need not be told the usefulness of a wise adviser . now all these are emploiments commensurable to the faculty from whence they flow , and that answer its excellence and value ; and he that so bestows his talent , gives a good account of his trust . but i would fain know under which of these heads derision of our neighbor comes in : certainly not under that of being assistant to him . it would be a sorry relief to a poor indigent wretch , to lavish out wit upon him , in upbraiding of his misery . and is not this a parallel case ? is it not the same barbarism , to mock and reproch a man that wants the gifts of nature , as him that wants those of fortune ? nay perhaps it may be more , for a beggar may have impoverisht himself by his own fault , but in natural defects there is nothing to be charged , unless we will fly higher , and arraign that providence that hath so dispensed . in a word , as the superfluities of the rich are by god assign'd as the store-house of the poor , so the abilities of the wise are of the ignorant : for t is a great mistake , to think our selves stewards in some of gods gifs , and proprietaries in others . they are all equally to be emploied , according to the designation of the donor , and there is nothing more universally design'd by him , then that mankind should be equally helpful to one another . those therefore whom god hath blest with higher degrees of sagacity and quickness , ought not to look down on others as the objects of their contemt or scorn , but rather of their care and pity , endeavoring to rescue them from those mischiefs , to which their weakness may expose them , remembring still , that god might have changed the scene , and made themselves what they see others . it is part of jobs justification of his integrity , that he was eies to the blind , and feet to the lame , job . . . ( i. e. ) he accommodated his assistances to all the wants and exigencies of others : and sure t is no less the part of a good man to do it in the mental then in the corporeal defects . . but alas many of us would rather put a stumbling block in the way of the blind , pull away the crutch from the lame , that we may sport our selves to see them tumble : such a sensuality we have in observing and improving the imperfections of others , that it is become the grand excellence of the age to be dextrous at it , and wit serves some men for little else . we are got indeed into a merry world , laughing is our main business ; as if because it has bin made part of the definition of man , that he is risible , his man-hood consisted in nothing else . but alas , if that be all the use men have of their understandings , they were given them to little purpose , since mere idiots can laugh with as much plesure and more innocence then they ; and it is a great instance how extremes may be brought to meet , that the excess of wit in the one , and of folly in the other , serve to produce the same effect . . yet so voracious is this humor now grown , that it draws in every thing to feed it . there is not game enough from the real folly of the world , and therefore that which is the most distant from it must be stampt with its mark . t is a known story of the frier who on a fasting day bid his capon be carp , and then very canonically ate it ; and by such a transubstantiating power our wits bid all seriousness and consideration be formality and foppery , and then under that name endeavor to hunt it out of the world . i fear moral honesty fares not better with some of them then moral prudence . the old philosophical vertues of justice , temperance , and chastity are now hist off the stage , as fit only for the antiquated set of actors , and he that appears in that equipage , is by many thought more ridiculous , then he that walks the street in his ancestors trunk-hose . nay indeed vice its self is scarce secure if it have not the grand accomplishment of impudence : a puny blushing sinner is to be laught out of his modesty , tho not out of his sin ; and to be proof against their scorns he must first be so against all the regrets of his own mind . . and if mere ethnic virtue , or shame-fac'd vice have this treatment , christian piety must expect worse : and so indeed it finds , its possessors being beyond all others exposed to their scorn and contemt . nor is it strange it should be so , such men being made , as it is wisd. . . to reprove their waies , they think in their own defence they are to deride theirs . this is it indeed which gives a secret sting and venem to their reproches : other men they abuse as an exercise of their wit , but these in defence of the party . so julian after his apostacy , thought it a more effectual way to persecute the christians by taunts and ironies , then by racks and tortures , as thinking it more possible to shame , then fright them out of their religion . and the stratagem seems to have bin reassumed by many in this age , and i fear with too great success : for i doubt not there are divers who have herded themselves amongst these profane scoffers , not that they are convinced by their reasons , but terrified by their contumelies ; and as some indians are said to worship the devil , that he may not hurt them ; so these chuse to be active , that they may not be passive in the contemts flung upon religion : such men forget the dreadful denunciation of christ against those that shall be ashamed of him and his words , mat. . . . as for those who , upon a juster estimate , find the advantages of piety worthy to be chosen , and take it with all its necessary ignominies , they have the encouragement of very good company in their sufferings . the psalmist long ago had his share , when not only those that sa●e in the gate spake against him , but the drunkards made songs upon him , psalm . . . t was also the prophet jeremies complaint , i am in derision daily , every one mocketh me , jer. . . nay our blessed lord himself was derided in his life by the pharisees , luke . . mocked and reviled at his death by the priests , the elders , the soldiers ; nay by casual passengers , mat. . . and shall the servant think himself greater then his lord ? shall a christian expect an immunity from what his savior has born before him ? ( he that do's so , is too delicate a member for a crucified head . ) no sure , let us rather animate our selves , as the apostle exhorts , by considering him who as well despised the shame , as endured the cross for us , heb. . . and who has not only given an example , but proposed a reward , a beatitude to those who are reviled for righteousness sake , mat. . . and when this is soberly ponder'd , 't will sure make it easy for us to resolve with holy david in a like case , i will be yet more vile , sam. . . . but to return from this digression , to those who thus unhappily employ their parts , let me propose to them , that they would borrow every day some few minutes from their mirth , and seriously consider , whether this be ( i need not say a christian , but ) a manly exercise of their faculties . alas when they have rallied out the day from one company to another , they may sum up their account at night in the wise mans simile , their laughter has bin but like the crackling of thorns under a pot , ecclus. . . made a little brisk noise for the present , and with the sparkles perhaps annoied their neighbors , but what real good has it brought to themselves ? all that they can fancy is but the repute of wit. but sure that might be attainable some other way . we find the world affected to new things , and this of derision and abuse to others is so beaten a road , that perhaps the very variety of a new way would render it acceptable . they are the lighter substances that still swim away with the stream , the greater and more solid bodies do somtimes stop the current : and sure 't were a noble essay of mans parts to stem this tide , and by a more useful application of their own faculties , convince others that theirs might be better emploied . t is said of anacharsis , that at a feast he could not be got to smile at the affected railleries of common jesters , but when an ape was brought in he freely laught , saying , an ape was ridiculous by nature , but men by art and study . and truly t is a great contemt of human nature to think their intellects were given them for no better end then to raise that laughter , which a brute can do as well or better . . i would not be thought to recommend such a stoical sourness , as shall admit of nothing of the cheerful pleasant part of conversation . god has not sure bin more rigid to our minds then to our bodies : and as he has not so devoted the one to toil , but that he allows us some time to exercise them in recreation as well as labors , so doubtless he indulges the same relaxation to our minds ; which are not alwaies to be scrued up to the height , but allowed to descend to those easinesses of converse , which entertain the lower faculties of the soul. nor do i think those are ill emploied in those little skirmishes of wit , which pass familiarly between intimates and acquaintances , which besides the present divertisement , serve to whet and quicken the fancy . yet i conceive this liberty is to be bounded with some cautions : as first in these encounters , the charge should be powder , not bullets ; there should nothing be said that should leave any ungrateful impressions , or give any umbrage of a spightful intent . the world wants not experiments of the mischiefs have happened by too severe railleries : in such fencing , jest has proved earnest , and florets have oft turn'd to swords , and not only the friendship , but the men have fallen a sacrifice to a jest. . secondly this is to have the same restriction with all other recreations , that it be made a divertisement , not a trade . t is an insinuating thing , and is apt to encroch too much upon our time , and god knows we have a great deal of business of this world , and much more for the next , which will not be don with laughing , and therefore t is not for us to play away too much of that time , which is exacted by more serious concerns . t is sure we shall die in earnest , and it will not become us to live altogether in jest. but besides this stealth of our time , t is apt to steal away mens hearts too , make them so dote upon this kind of entertainment , that it averts them from any thing more serious . i believe i may appeal to some who have made this their business , whether it go not against the hair with them to set to any thing else : and having espoused this as their one excellence , they are willing to decry all others , that they may the more value themselves upon this . by this means it is , that the gift of raillery has in this age , like the lean kine , devoured all the more solid worthy qualifications ; and is counted the most reputable accomplishment . a strange inverted estimate , thus to prefer the little ebullitions of wit , before solid reason and judgment . if they would accommodate their diet at the same rate , they shall eat the husk rather then the kernel , and drink nothing but froth and bubbles . but after all , wisdom is commonly at long running justified even of her despisers ; these great idolaters of wit often dashing themselves upon such rocks , as make them too late wish , their sails had bin less , and their ballast more . for the preventing therefore of more such wracks , i wish the present caution may be more adverted to , not to bestow an unproportionable part of our time or value on this slight exercise of mans slightest faculty . . a third caution in this matter , is to confine our selves to present company , not to make absent persons the subject of our mirth . those freedoms we use to a mans face as they are commonly more moderate , so they are more equitable , because we expose our selves to the like from him ; but the back blows are disingenuous , and give suspicion we intend not a fair trial of wit , but a cowardly murder of a mans fame . t was the precept of the philosopher , deride not the absent , and i think it may well be so of the politician : there being nothing more imprudent as to our civil concerns then the contrary liberty . for those things never die in the company they are first vented in ( nay perhaps the hearer is not willing his wit should so soon expire ; ) and when they once take air , they quickly come to the notice of the derided person , and then nothing in the world is more disobliging . t was a sober precept given one , not so much as to laugh in compliance with him that derides another , for you will be hated by him he derides . and if an accessary be hated , sure much more the principal : and i think i may say , there are many can sooner forgive a solemn deep contrivance against them , then one of their jocular reproches : for he that designs seems to acknowledg them considerable , but he that mocks them , seems to think them too low for any thing but contemt : and we learn from aristotle , that the mesure of anger is entirely taken thence ; men being so far provoked , as they imagine they were slighted or affronted . in mere secular wisdom it will therefore become men to consider , whether this trade be like to turn to account , or whethere it be worth the while , at once to make a jest and an enemy . . and if it be imprudent to make man our enemy , t is much more to make god so , by levelling our blowes at any thing sacred : but of that i have already had occasion to speak , and shall not repete ; only give me leave to say , that besides the profaner sort of jests , which more immediately reflect on him , he is concern'd in all the unjust reproches of our brethren , our love to them being confirm'd by the same divine sanction with our reverence to him : and sure nothing is more inconsistent with that love , then the exposing them to that contemt we are our selves so impatient of . in a word what repute soever this practice now has of wit , it is very far from wisdom to provoke god that we may also disoblige man : and if we will take the scripture estimate , we shall find a scorne is no such honorable epithet as we seem to account it . solomon do's almost constantly set it in opposition to a wise man : thus it is , prov. . . and again , chap. . . and many other places ; and on the other side , closely links it with the fool : and that not only in title , but in punishment too , judgments are prepared for scorners , and stripes for the back of fools , prov. . . so that if our wits think not solomon too dull for their cabal , we see what a turn he will give to their present verdict . . and if these reproches which aim only at ostentation of wit , be so unjustifiable , what shall we say to those , that are drawn with blacker lines , that are founded in malice or envy , or some undermining design ? every man that is to be supplanted , cannot alwaies be attaqued with a down-right battery : perhaps his integrity may be such , that , as 't was said of daniel , chap. . . they can find no occasion against him : and when they cannot shake the main fort , they must try if they can possess themselves of the out-works , raise some prejudice against his discretion , his humor , his carriage , and his most extrinsic adherents , and if by representing him ridiculous in any of these , they can but abate mens reverence to him , their confidence of him will not long hold out ; bare honesty without some other adornment , being lookt on as a leaf-less tree , no body will trust himself to its shelter . thus the enemies of socrates , when they could no other way suppress his reputation , hired aristophanes a comic poet to personate him on the stage , and by the insinuations of those interludes , insensibly conveied first a contemt , and then a hatred of him into the hearts of the people . but i need not bring instances of former times in this matter , these being sufficiently verst in that mystery . . it is not strange that men of such designs , should summon all their wit to the service , make their railleries as picquant as they can , that they may wound the deeper : but methinks 't is but a mean office they assign their wit , to be ( i will not say the pander , that being in this age scarce a title of reproch , but ) the executioner or hangman to their malice . christ bids us be wise as serpents , yet adds withall harmless as doves ; mat. . . but here the serpent has quite eat up the dove , and puts a vultur in the place , a creature of such sagacity and diligence in pursuit of the prey , that 't is hard for any art or innocence to escape its talons . . there is yet another sort of contumelious persons , who indeed are not chargeable with that circumstance , of ill employing their wit , for they use none in it . these are people whose sole talent is pride and scorn ; who perhaps have attained the sciences of dressing themselves finely , and eating well , and upon the strength of those excellences , look fastidiously , and speak disdainfully on any that want them ; concluding if a man fall short of their garniture at the knees and elbowes , he is much inferior to them in the furniture of his head. such people think crying , o ridiculous ! is an ample confutation of any thing can be said ; and so they can but despise enough , are contented not to be able to say why they do so . these are , i confess , the most innocent kind of deriders in respect of others , what they say having not edg enough to cause any smart . the greatest hurt they do is to themselves , who tho they much need , yet are generally little capable of a rescue , and therefore i shall not clog the present discourse with any advise to them : i shall chuse rather to conclude with enforcing my suit to the former , that they would soberly and sadly weigh the account they must one day give of the emploiment of their parts , and the more they have hitherto embeazled them , the more to endeavor to expiate that unthriftiness , by a more careful managery for the future ; that so instead of that vain , emty , vanishing mirth they have courted here , they may find a real , full , and eternal satisfaction in the joy of their lord. sect . viii . of flattery . . the last of verbal injuries to our neighbor which i shall mention , is flattery . this is indeed the fatallest wound of the tongue , carries least smart , but infinitly more of danger , and is as much superior to the former , as a gangrene is to a gall or scratch ; this may be sore and vexing , but that stupifying and deadly . flattery is such a mystery , such a riddle of iniquity , that its very softnesses are its cruellest rigors , its balm corrodes , and ( to comprize all in the psalmists excellent description ) its words are smoother then oil , and yet be they very swords , psalm . . . . but besides the mischiefs of it to the patient , 't is the most dishonoring , the most vilifying thing to the agent . i shall not need to empannel a jury either of moralists or divines , every mans own breast sufficiently instructing him in the unworthiness of it . t is indeed a collective accumulative baseness , it being in its element a compound and complex of the most sordid , hateful qualities incident to mankind . i shall instance in three , viz. lying , servility , and trechery , which being detestably deform'd single , must in conjunction make up a loathsom monstrous guilt . now tho flattery has two branches , yet these lie so at the root as equally to influence both : for whether you take it as it is the giving of praise where it is not due , or the professing of kindness which is not real , these properties are still its constitutive parts . . and first we may take lying to be the very corner stone of the fabric ; for take it away , and the whole falls to the ground . a parasite would make but a lean trade of it , that should confine himself to truth . for tho t is possible so to order the manner and circumstances , as to flatter even in the representing a mans real vertues to him , yet commonly if they do not falsify as to the kind , they are forc'd to do it as to the degree . besides as there are but few such subjects of flattery , so neither are men of that worth so receptive of it . such sort of addresses are less dangerous to those who have the perspicacity to see thro them : so that these merchants are under a a necessity of dealing with the more ignorant chapmen , and with them their counterfeit wares will go off best . it is indeed strange to consider , with what gross impudent falshoods men of this trade will court their patrons . how many in former ages have not only amass'd together all sublunary excellences , but have even ransacked heaven to supply their flattery , deified their princes , and perswaded them they were gods , who at last found they were to die like men ? and tho this strein be now out-dated , yet perhaps t is not that the vice is grown more modest , but that atheism has rob'd it of that topic . those that believe no god , would rather seem to annihilate then magnify the person to whom they should apply the title . but i do not find that the practice has any other bounds . a great mans vices shall still be called vertues ; his deformities , beauties ; and his most absurd follies , the height of ingenuity . such a subtil alchymist is this parasite , that he turns all he touches into gold , imaginary indeed as to the deluded person , but oft-times real to himself . nor is lying less natural to the other part of flattery , the profession of service and kindness . this needs no evidencing , and to attemt it would be a self-confutation : for if those professions be true , they are not flattery , therefore if they be flattery , they must needs be lies . it will be almost as needless to expatiate on the baseness and meaness of that sin ; for tho there is no subject that affords more matter for declamation , yet lying is a thing that is ashamed of it self , and therefore may well be remitted to its own convictions . t is aristotles observation , that all elements but the earth , had some philosopher or other , that gave it his vote to be the first productive principle of all things : and i think we may now say , that all crimes have had their abettors and fautors , some body that would stand up in their defence ; only lying is so much the dregs and refuse of wickedness , that none has yet had chymistry enough to sublimate it , to bring it into such a reputation , that any man will think fit to own it : the greater wonder that what is under so universal a reproch , should be so commonly admitted in practice . but by this we may make an estimate , what the whole body of flattery is , when in one limb of it we find so much corruption . . a second is servility and abjectness of humor : and of this there needs no other proof then has bin already given ; this charge being implicitly involv'd in the former of lying , the condescending to that , being a mark of a disingenuous spirit . and accordingly the nobler heathens lookt on it as the vice of slaves and vassals , below the liberty of a free man , as well as an honest . but tho i need no other evidence to make good the accusation , yet every sycophant furnishes me with many supernumerary proofs . look upon such a one , and you shall see his eies immoveably fixt on his patrons face , watching each look , each glance , and in every change of his countenance ( like a star-gazer ) reading his own destiny , his ears chain'd ( like gally-slaves at the oar ) to his dictate , sucking in the most insipid discourses with as much greediness , as if they were the apothegms of the seven sages , his tongue tuned only to panegyrics and acclamations , his feet in winged motion upon every nod or other signification of his plesure : in a word , his whole body ( as if it had no other animal spirits then what it derived from him ) varies its postures , its exercises , as he finds agreeable to the humor he is to serve . and can humanity contrive to debase it self more ? yes it can , and do's to often , by enslaving its diviner part to , taking up not only opinions , but even crimes also in compliance , playing the incarnate devil , and helping to act those villanies which satan can only suggest : and if this be not a state of abject slavery , sure there is none in the world . plutarch tells us , that philoxenus for despising some dull poetry of dionysius , was by him condemed to dig in the quarries : from whence being by the mediation of friends remanded , at his return dionysius produced some other of his verses , which as soon as philoxenus had heard , he made no reply , but calling to the waiters , said , let them carry me again to the quarries . and if a heathen poet could prefer a corporeal slavery before a mental , what name of reproch is low enough for those , who can submit to both , in pursuit of those poor sordid advantages they project by their flatteries ? nor is this baseness more observable in these mean fawnings and observances , then it is in the protestations of kindness and friendship . love is the greatest gift any man has to bestow , and friendship the sacredest of all moral bonds , and to prostitute these to little pitiful designs , is sure one of the basest cheats we can put upon our common nature , in thus debasing her purest and most current coin , which by these frequent adulterations is become so suspected , that scarce any man knows what he receives . but christian charity is yet worse used in the case : for that obliging to all sincerity , is hereby induced to give gold for dross , exhibite that love indeed , and in truth , which is returned only in word and in tongue , joh. . . and so it do's in those who observe its rules : but in those who own , yet observe them not , 't is yet a greater sufferer , by laboring under the scandal of all their dissimulations . it was once the character given christians , even by their enemies , behold how they love one another : but god knows we may now be pointed out by a very differing mark , behold how they deceive and delude one another . and sure this violation we herein offer to our religion , do's not allay but aggravate the baseness of this practice : for if in the other we sell our selves , in this we sell our god too , sacrifice our interest in him to get a surreptitious title to the favor of a man. and this i conceive do's in the second place not much commend the art of flattery , which is built up of so vile materials . . and to compleat this infamous composition , in the third place trechery comes in ; a crime of so odious a kind , that to name it is to implead it : yet how intrinsic a part this is of flattery , will need no great skill to evidence , daily experience sufficiently doing it . t is a common observation of flatterers , that they are like the heliotrope , open only towards the sun , but shut and contract themselves at night , and in cloudy weather . let the object of their adoration be but eclipsed , they can see none of those excellences which before dazled their eies : and however inconstant they may seem in it to others , they are indeed very constant to themselves , true to their fixt principle , of courting the greatness , not the man ; in pursuit whereof their old idol is often made a sacrifice to their new : all malicious discovery is made of their falling friend , to buy an interest in the rising one . of this there are such crouds of examples in story , that it would be impertinent to single out any , especially in an age that is fitter to furnish presidents for the future , then to borrow of the past-times . but supposing the parasite not actually guilty of this base revolt ( which yet he seldom fails to be upon occasion ) yet is he no less trecherous even in the height of his blandishments ; and while he most courts a man , he do's the most ruinously undermine him . for first he abuses him in his understanding , precludes him from that which wise men have judged the most essential part of learning , the knowledg of himself , from which 't is the main business of the flatterer to divert him . and to this abuse there is another inevitably consequent : for this ignorance of his faults or follies , necessarily condemns him to the continuing in them , it being impossible for him to think of correcting either the one or the other , who is made believe he has neither . this is like the trechery of a bribed officer in a garrison , who will not let the weak parts be fortified , and laies the man as open to assaults as that doth the town . yet this is not all , he do's not only provide for the continuance , but the improving of his crimes and errors , which alas are too prolific of themselves , but being cultivated and manured with perpetual soothings and encouragements , grow immesurably luxuriant . and accordingly we see that men used only to applauses , are so swell'd with them , that their insolences are intolerable . and this they are somtimes taught to their cost , when they happen among free-men , who will not submit to all they say , nor commend all they do . and finding these uneasy contradictions when they come abroad , they are willing to retire to their most complaisant company : and so this sycophant devil having once got them within his circle , may enchant them as he pleases , lead them from one wickedness to another , and as caligula and other voluptuous emperors , by being adored as gods , sunk in their sensuality below the nature of man , so these celebrated persons are by that false veneration animated to all those reprochful practices , which may expose them to a real contemt ; their follies , as well as their vices still get head , till they answer the description the wise man gives of the old giants , who fell away in the strength of their foolishness . ecclus. . . . and sure he that betraies a man to all these mischiefs , may well be thought perfidious . but that which infinitly amplifies and enhances the trechery is , that all this is acted under the notion and disguise of a friend ; a relation so venerable , that methinks t is the nearest secular transcript of the treason , which is storied of those who have administred poison in the eucharist . the name of a friend is such an endearment , as nothing human can equal . all other natural or civil ties take their greatest force from this . what signifies an unfriendly parent , or brother , or wife ? t is friendship only that is the cement which really and effectively combines mankind : and therefore we may observe , that god reckoning up other relations , illustrates them by several notes of endearment , but when he comes to that of friendship , t is the friend who is as thine own soul , deut. . . nothing below the highest instance was thought expressive enough of that union . what a legion of fiends then possesseth men that can break these chains mat. . . nay that can hammer and forge those very chains into daggers and stillettoes , and make their friendship an engine of ruine ? this is certainly the blackest color wherein we can view a parasite , his false light makes the shadow the more dismal . as the ape has a peculiar deformity above other brutes by that aukward and ungraceful resemblance he has to a man , so sure a flatterer is infinitely the more hateful for being the ugly counterfeit of a friend . and as this trechery lies at the bottom of the panegyrics , so also do's it of all the caresses and exuberant kindness of a flatterer , which if they aimed not at any particular end of circumvention , must yet in the general be trecherous by being false . a man looks on the love of his friend as one of the richest possessions ( upon which account the philosopher thought friends were to be inventoried as well as goods . ) what a defeat and discomfiture is it to a man when he comes to use this wealth , to find it all false metal , such as will not answer any of those purposes for which he depended on it . there cannot sure be a greater trechery , then first to raise a confidence and then deceive it . but besides this fundamental falseness , there are also many incidental trecheries , which fall in upon occasion of particular designs . a pretence of kindness is the universal stale to all base projects : by this men are rob'd of their fortunes , and women of their honor : in a word all the wolfish designs walk under this sheeps clothing ; and as the world goes , men have more need to beware of those who call themselves friends , then those who own themselves enemies . . these are the lineaments of this vice of flattery , which sure do together make up a face of most extreme deformity . i might upon a true account add another , and charge it with folly too . i am sure according to the divine estimate it is alwaies so : and truly it do's not seldom prove so in the secular also . men of this art do somtimes drop their vizard before they have got the prize , and then there is nothing in the world that appears to contemtible , so silly ; a barefaced flatterer being every bodies scorn . the short is , wherever this game is plaied there is alwaies a fool in the case : if the parasite be detected , it falls to his share : if he be not , to his whom he deludes . but at the best t is but subtilty and cunning he can boast of ; and if he can in his own fancy raise that to the opinion of true wisdom , t is a sign he is come round to practice his deceits upon him self , and is as much his own flatterer as he has bin others . . and now i know not whether it be more shame or wonder , to see that men can so put off ingenuity , and the native greatness of their kind , as to descend to so base , so ignoble a vice : yet alas we daily see it don , and that not only by the scum and refuse of the people , such as job speaks of , who are viler then the earth , cap. . . but by persons of all conditions . flattery like a spring forc'd upwards ascends , as cares are by the wise man said to descend , ecclus. . . from him that weareth a linen frock to him that weareth a crown : all intermedial degrees are but like pipes , which as they suck from below , so transmit it still upwards . there are few so low but find some body to cajole and flatter them . some interest or other may somtimes be to be served even upon the meanest ; and those that find themselves thus solicited for benefits , are easily taught by it how to address to their immediate superiors , from whom they expect greater : and as 't is thus handed from one rank to another , the art still is more subtilized and refined ( god help poor princes the while , who commonly meet with the elixir , and quintessence of this venem : ) and thus it passes thro all states and conditions : as they are passive on the one side , and are flattered by some , so they are active on the other , and flatter others . . i say all conditions , i do not say all persons in those conditions , for no truly generous soul can stoop so low : but t is too evident to what a low ebb generosity as well as christianity is grown , by the numbers of those who thus degrade themselves , every little petty interest being thought worth these base submissions . and truly it is hard to find , by what topic of perswasion to assault such men . the meanness , or the sin will scarce be disswasives to those who have reconciled themselves to both : if any thing can be pertinently said to them , it must be upon the score of interest , for that being their grand principle , they can with no pretence disclame the inferences drawn thence . . let them therefore duly ballance the advantages they project from this practice with the mischiefs and dangers of it . what they expect is commonly either honor or wealth , these they hope may be acquired by their prostrations to those , who can dispense or procure them . t is true , as honor signifies greatness and power , it is somtimes attain'd by it , but then as it signifies reputation and esteem , 't is as sure to be lost . he that thus ascends , may be lookt on with fear , but never with reverence . now i think t is no good bargain to exchange this second notion of honor for the first : for besides the difference in the intrinsic value , t is to be consider'd how tottering a pinacle unmerited greatness is . he that rais'd him to satisfy his humor at one time , can ( with more ease and equal justice ) throw him down at another : and when such a man do's fall , he falls as without pity , so without remedy , has no foundation on which to rebuild his fortune . his sycophanting arts being detected , that game is not to be plaid the second time : whereas a man of a clear reputation , tho his barque be split , yet he saves his cargo , has something left towards setting up again , and so is in capacity of receiving benefit not only from his own industry , but the friendship of others . a sound piece of timber , if it be not thought fit for one use , yet will be laid by for another : and an honest man will probably at one time or other be thought good for something . . as for the other aim , that of wealth , 't is very possible that may somtimes be compassed ; and well it may , the flatterer having several springs to feed it by . for he that has a great patron , has the advantage of his countenance and autority , he has that of his bounty and liberality , and he has another ( somtimes greater then both ) that of his negligence and deceivableness . but yet all these acquisitions are many times like fairy mony , what is brought one night is taken away the next . men of this mold seldom know how to bear prosperity temperately , and it is no new thing to see a privado carry it so high , as to awaken the jealousy of his promoter , which being assisted by the busy industry of those who envy his fortune , t will be easy enough to find some flaw in the gettings , by which to unravel the whole web : an event that has bin oft experimented not only in the private managery of families , but in the most public administrations . and these are such hazards , that laid all together would much recommend to any the moral of horaces fable , and make one chuse the country mouses plain fare and safety , rather then the delicacies of the city with so much danger . this then is the state of the prosperous parasite . but alas how many are there who never arrive to this , but are kickt down ere they have climb'd the two or three first rounds of the ladder , whose designs are so humble , as not to aspire above a major-domo , or some such domestic preferment ( for , in this trade there are adventures of all sizes . ) but upon all these considerations , methinks it appears no very inviting one to any . at the long run an honest freedom of speech will more recommend a man , then all these sneaking flatteries : we have a very wise mans word for it , he that rebuketh a man , afterwards shall find more favor , then he that flattereth with his lips , prov. . . . but after all that hath or can be said , the suppression of flattery will most depend upon those persons to whom it is addrest : if it be not repuls'd there , nothing else will discourage it ; and if it be , 't is crusht in the egg , and can produce no viper . these vulturs prey only on carcasses , on such stupid minds , as have not life and vigor enough to fray them away . let but persons of quality entertain such customers with a severe brow , with some smart expression of dislike , those leeches will immediatly fall off . in sparta when all laws against theft prov'd ineffectual , at last they fixt the penalty on them that were robb'd , and by that did the business : and in the present case , if 't were made as infamous to be flatter'd as 't is to flatter , i believe it might have the like effect . indeed there is pretence enough to make it so : for first as to wit , the advantage is clear on the flatterers side : he must be allowed to have more of that ( which in this age is more then a counterpoise to honesty ; and as for vertue , the balance ( as to the principal motive ) seems to hang pretty even : t is the vice of avarice that temts the one to flatter , and the vice of pride that makes it acceptable to the other . the truth is , there is the bottom of the matter : t is that secret confederate within , that exposes men to those assaults from without . we have generally such an appetite to praise , that we greedily suck in without staying to examine whether it belong to us or no , or whether it be design'd as a kindness or an abuse . other injuries rush upon us with violence , and give us notice of their approch : they may be said to come like water into our bowels ; but this like oil into our bones , ps. . . penetrates easily , undiscernibly , by help of that native propension we have to receive it . t is therefore the near concern of all , especially of those whose quality most exposes them , to keep a guard upon that trecherous immate , not to let that step into the scale to make a base sycophant out-weigh a true friend . and when ever they are attacqued with extravagant encomiums , let them fortify themselves with this dilemma , either they have those excellences they are praised for , or they have not : if they have not , t is an apparent cheat and gull , and he is of a pitiful forlorn understanding that delights to be fool'd ; but if they have , they are too good to be exposed to such worms who will instantly wither the fairest gourd , john. . . for as it is said of the grand signior , that no grass growes where his horse once treads : so we may say of the flatterer , no vertue ever prospers where he is admitted : if he find any he hugs it till he stifles it , if he find none , he so indisposes the soil , that no future seeds can ever take root . in fine , he is a mischief beyond the description of any character . o let not men then act this part to themselves by being their own parasites ! and then t will be an easy thing to escape all others . sect . ix . of boasting . . we have now seen some effects of an ungovern'd tongue , as they relate to god and our neighbor . there is yet a third sort which reflect upon a mans self . so unboundedly mischievous is that petulant member , that heaven and earth are not wide enough for its range , but it will find work at home too ; and like the viper , that after it had devoured its companions , prei'd upon its self , so it corrodes inward , and becomes as fatal to its owner , as to all the world besides . . of this there are as many instances , as there are imprudent things said , for all such have the worst reflection upon the speaker : and therefore all that have given rules for civil life , have in order to it put very severe restraints upon the tongue , that it run not before the judgment . t was the advice of zeno to dip the tongue in the mind before one should permit it to speak . theophrastus used to say , it was safer trusting to an unbridled , horse , then to intemperate speech . and daily experience confirms the aphorism ; for those that set no guard upon their tongues , are hurried by them into a thousand indecences , and very often into real considerable mischiefs . by this means men have proved their own delators , discovered their own most important secrets : and whereas their heart should have kept a lock upon their tongues , they have given their tongue the key of their heart , and the event has bin oft as unhappy as the proceeding was preposterous . there are indeed so many waies for men to lose themselves in their talk , that i should do the like if i should pretend to trace them . besides my subject leads me not to discourse ethically , but christianly of the faults of the tongue , and therefore i have all along considered the one no farther then it happens to be twisted with the other . . in the present case i shall insist only upon one fault of the tongue , which partakes of both kinds , and it is at once a vice and a folly , i mean that of boasting and vaunting a mans self : a strain to which some mens tongues have a wonderful glibness . no discourse can be administred , but they will try to turn the tide , and draw it all into their own chanel , by entertaining you with long stories of themselves : or if there be no room for that , they will at least screw in here and there some intimations of what they did or said . yea so stupid a vanity is this , that it works alike upon all materials : not only their greater and more illustrious acts or sentences , but even their most slight and trivial occurrences , by being theirs , they think acquire a considerableness , and are forcibly imposed upon the company ; the very dreams of such people strait commence prophesy , and are as seriously related , as if they were undoubted revelations . and sure if we reflect upon our saviors rule , that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh , we cannot but think these men are very full of themselves ; and to be so , is but another phrase for being very proud . so t is pride in the heart , which is the spring that feeds this perpetual current at the mouth , and under that notion we are to consider it . . and truly there is nothing can render it more infamous , pride being a vice that of all others is the most branded in scripture as most detestable to god , and is signalized by the punishment to be so . this turned lucifer out of heaven , nebuchadnezzar out of his throne , nay out of human society . and indeed it seems still to have somthing of the same effect , nothing rendring a man so inconsiderable ; for it sets him above the meaner sort of company , and makes him intolerable to the better , and to complete the parallel , he seldom comes to know himself till he be turn'd a grazing , be reduced to some extremities . . but this boasting arrogant humor , tho alwaies bad , yet is more or less so according to the subject on which it works . if it be only on natural excellences , as beauty , wit ; or accidental acquisitions , as honor , wealth , or the like , yet even here t is not only a theft , but a sacriledg ; the glory of those being due only to the donor , not to the receiver , there being not so much as any predisposition in the subject to determine gods bounty . he could have made the most deformed beggar as handsom and as rich , as those who most pride themselves in their wealth and beauty . no man fancies himself to be his own creator , and tho some have assumed to be the architects of their own fortunes , yet the frequent defeats of mens industry and contrivance , do sufficiently confute that bold pretence , and evince , that there is somthing above them , which can either blast or prosper their attemts . what an invasion then is it of gods right , to ingross the honor of those things being don , which were not at all in their power to do ? and sure the folly is as great in respect of men , as the sin is towards god. this boasting like a heavy nurse , over-laies the child : the vanity of that quite drowns the notice of the things in which t is founded ; and men are not so apt to say , such a man is handsom , wise , or great , as that he is proud upon the fancy of being so . in a word , he that celebrates his own excellences , must be content with his own applauses , for he will get none of others , unless it be from those fawning sycophants , whose praises are worse then bitterest detraction . . and yet so sottish a vice is pride , that it can make even those insidious flatteries matter of boast , which is a much more irrational object of it then the former . how eagerly do some men propagate every little encomium their parasites make of them ? with what gust and sensuality will they tell how such a jest of theirs took , or such a magnificence was admired ? t is plesant to see what little arts and dexterities they have to wind in such things into discourse : when alas it amounts to no more then this , that some have thought them fools enough to be flatter'd , and t is odds but the hearers will think them enough so to be laught at . . but there is yet another subject of boasting more foolish , and more criminal too then either of the former , and that is when men vaunt of their piety , which if it were true , were yet less owing to themselves then any natural endowment . for tho we do not at all assist towards them , yet do we neither obstruct ; but in the operations of grace t is otherwise ; we have there a principle of opposition , and god never makes us his own till he subdue that : and tho he do it not by an irresistible force , but by such sweet and gentle insinuations , that we are somtimes captivated ere we are aware : yet that do's not impeach his right of conquest , but only shews him the more gracious conqueror . t is true in respect of the event we have great cause of exultance and joy , gods service being the most perfect freedom ; yet in regard of the efficiency , we have as little matter of boast , as the surprized city has in the triumphs of its victor . . but secondly either this vaunted piety is not real , and then t is good for nothing , or else by being vaunted becomes so . if it be not real , t is then the superadding hypocrisy to the former sacriledg , an attemt at once to rob god and cheat men , and in the event usually renders them hateful to both ; to god ( who cannot be mocked ) it do's so at the instant , and seldom misses to do so at last to men . an hypocrite has a long part to act , and if his memory fail him but in any one scene , his play is spoiled : so that his hazards are so great , that t is as little prudent as t is honest to set up the trade , especially in an age when piety it self is at so low a price , that its counterfeit cannot pass for much . but if the piety be indeed true , the boasting it blasts it , makes it utterly insignificant . this we are told by christ himself , who assures us that even the most christian actions of praier , almes , and fasting , must expect no other reward ( when boasted ) then the sought-for applause of men . mat. . when a man shall make his own tongue the trumpet of his alms , or the echo of his praiers , he carves , or rather snatches his own reward , and must not look god should heap more upon him : the recompence of his pride he may indeed look for from him , but that of his vertue he has forestall'd . in short , piety is like those lamps of old , which maintain'd their light some ages under ground , but as soon as they took air expired . and surely there cannot be a more deplorable folly , then thus to lose a rich jewel , only for the pitiful plesure of shewing it : it s the humor of children and idiots , who must be handling their birds till they fly away , and it ranks us with them in point of discretion , tho not of innocence . . from the view of these particulars we may in the gross conclude that this ostentation is a most foolish sin , such as never brought in advantage to any man. there is no vice so undermines it self as this do's : t is glory it seeks , and instead of gaining that , it loses common ordinary estimation . every body that sees a bladder puft up , knows t is but wind that so swells it : and there is no surer argument of a light frothy brain then this bubbling at the mouth . indeed there is nothing renders any man so contemtible , so utterly useless to the world : it excludes him almost from all commerce , makes him uncapable of receiving or doing a benefit . no man will do him a good turn , because he fore-sees he will arrogate it to himself , as the effect of his merit : and none ( that are not in some great exigence ) will receive one from him , as knowing it shall be not only proclamed , but magnified much above the true worth . there seems to be but one purpose for which he serves , and that is to be sport for his company : and that he seldom fails to be , for in these gamesome daies men will not lose such an opportunity of divertisement , and therefore will purposely give him hints , which may put him upon his rhodomontades . i do not speak this by way of encouragement to them , but only to shew these vaporers , to what scorn they expose themselves , and what advantage they give to any that have a mind to abuse them : for they need not be at any pains for it , they do but swim with their stream ; an approving nod or smile serves to drive on the design , and make them display themselves more disadvantagiously , more ridiculously , then the most satyrical character could possibly do . . but besides these sportive projects , such a man laies himself open to more dangerous circumventions . he that shews himself so enamour'd of praise , that ( narcissus like ) dotes on his own reflections , is a fit prey for flatterers , and such a carcase will never want those eagles : when his weak part is once discern'd ( as it must soon be when himself publishes it ) he shall quickly be surrounded with assailants . the last section has shewed the misery of a man so besieged , therefore i shall not enlarge on it here , this mention being only intended to evince how apt this vain glorious humor is to betray men to it . . these are competent specimens of the folly of this vice : but it has yet a farther aggravation , that it precludes all means of growing wiser . t is solomons assertion , seest thou a man wise in his own conceit ? there is more hope of a fool then of him , prov. . . and the reason is evident , for he discards the two grand instruments of instruction , admonition and observation . the former he thinks superseded by his own perfections , and therefore when any such friendly office is attemted towards him , he imputes it either to envy , and a desire to eclipse his lustre by finding some spot , or else to ignorance and incapacity of estimating his worth : the one he entertains with indignation , the other with disdainful pity . as for observation , he so circumscribes it within himself , that it can never fetch in any thing from without . reading of men has bin by some thought the most facile and expedite method for acquiring knowledg ; and sure for some kinds of knowledg it is : but then a man must not only read one author , much less the one worst he can pick out for himself . t is an old true saying , he that is his own pupil shall have a fool for his tutor : and truly he that studies only himself , will be like to make but a sorry progress . yet this is the case of arrogant men : they lose all the benefit of conversation , and when they should be enriching their minds with foreign tresure , they are only counting over their own store . instead of adverting to those sober discourses which they hear from others , they are perhaps watching to interrupt them by some pompous story of themselves , or at least in the abundance of their self-sufficiency , think they can say much better things , magisterially obtrude their own notions , and fall a teaching when t is fitter they should learn : and sure to be thus forward to lay out , and take no care to bring in , must needs end in a bunkrupt state . t is true i confess the study of a mans-self is ( rightly taken ) the most useful part of learning , but then it must be such a study as brings him to know himself , which none do so little as these men , who in this are like those silly women the apostle describes , tim. . . who are ever learning yet never attain . and 't is no wonder , for they begin at the wrong end , make no inquiry into their faults or defects , but fix their contemplation only on their more splendid qualities , with which they are so dazled , that when you bring them to the darker parts of themselves , it fares with them as with those that come newly from gazing on the sun , they can see nothing . . and now having dissected this swelling vice , and seen what it is that feeds the tumor , the cure suggests it self . if the disease be founded in pride , the abating that is the most natural and proper remedy : and truly one would think that mere weighing of the foregoing considerations , might prove sufficient allaies to it . yet because where humors are turgent , t is necessary not only to purge them , but also to strengthen the infested parts , i shall adventure to give some few advices by way of fortification and antidote . . in the first place , that of the apostle offers it self to my hand , look not every man on his own things , but every man also on the things of others . phil. . . a counsel which in a distorted sense seems to be too much practiced . we are apt to apply it to worldly advantages , and in that notion not to look on our own things with thankfulness , but on other mens with envy . we apply it also to errors and sins , and look not on our own to correct and reform , but on others to despise and censure . let us at last take it in the genuine sense , and not look on our own excellencies , but those of others . we see in all things how desuetude do's contract and narrow our faculties , so that we can apprehend only those things wherein we are conversant . the droiling pesant scarce thinks there is any world beyond his own village , or the neighboring markets , nor any gaity beyond that of a wake or morrice ; and men who are accustom'd only to the admiration of themselves , think there is nothing beside them worthy of regard . the unbred minds must be a little sent abroad , made acquainted with those excellencies which god has bestowed on other men , and then they will not think themselves like gideons fleece to have suckt up all the dew of heaven : nay perhaps , they may find they rather answer the other part of the miracle ; and are drier then their neighbors . let them therefore put themselves in this course , observe diligently all the good that is visible in other men : and when they find themselves mounting into their altitudes , let them clog their wings with the remembrance of those who have out-soar'd them , not in vain opinion , but in true worth . t is nothing but the fancy of singularity that puffs us up to breath , to walk , to hear , to see , are excellent powers , yet no body is proud of them , because they are common to the whole kind : and therefore if we would observe the great number of those that equal , or exceed us , even in the more appropriate endowments , we should not put so excessive a price upon our selves . . secondly if we will needs be reflecting upon our selves , let us do it more ingenuously , more equally : let us take a true survey , and observe as well the barren as the fertil part of the soil : and if this were don , many mens value would be much short of what they are willing to suppose it . did we but compare our crop of weeds and nettles , with that of our corn , we must either think our ground is poor , or our selves very ill husbands . when therefore the recollection of either real or fancied worth begins to make us aëry , let us condense again by the remembrance of our sins and folly : t is the only possible service they can do us , and considering how dear they are to cost us , we had not need lose this one accidental advantage . in this sense satan may cast out satan , our vilest guilts help to eject our pride ; and did we well manage this one stratagem against him , 't would give us more cause of triumph , then most of those things for which we so spread our plumes : i do not say we should contract new guilts to make us humble , god knows we need not , we have all of us enough of the old stock if we would but thus employ them . . in the last place i should advise those who are apt to talk big things of themselves , to turn into some other road of discourse : for if they are their own theme , their tongues will as naturally turn into eulogies , as a horse do's into that inn to which he is customed . all habits do require some little excess of the contrary to their cure : for we have not so just a scantling of our selves , as to know to a grain what will level the scales , and place us in the right mediocrity . let men therefore that have this infirmity , shun ( as far as prudence and interest permits ) all discourse of themselves , till they can sever it from that unhappy appendage . they will not be at all the less acceptable company , it being generally thought none of the best parts of breeding , to talk much of ones self : for tho it be don so as not to argue pride , yet it do's ignorance of more worthy subjects . . i should here conclude this section , but that there is another sort of vaunting talk , which was not well reducible to any of the former heads , the subject matter being vastly distant : for in those the boasting was founded in some either real or supposed worth , but in this in baseness and villany . there are a generation of men , who have removed all the land-marks which their fathers ( nay even the father of spirits ) have set , reverst the common notions of humanity , and call evil good , and good evil , and those things which a moderate impudence would blush to be surprized in , they not only proclame but boast of , blow the trumpet as much before their crimes , as others before their good deeds . nay so much do they affect this inverted sort of hypocrisy , that they own more wickedness then they act , assume to have made practical the highest speculations of villany , and like the devils knights errant , pretend to those romantic atchievements , which the veriest fiend incarnate could never compass . these are such prodigies , such monsters of villany , that tho they are the objects of grief and wonder , they are not of counsel . men who thus rave , we may conclude their brains are turned , and one may as well read lectures at bedlam as treat with such . yet we know that there sharp corrections recover crazed men to sobriety ; and then their cure lies only in the hand of civil justice : if that would take them at their words , receive their brags as confessions , and punish them accordingly , it may be a little real smart would correct this mad itch , and and teach them not to glory in their shame , phil. . . in the mean time let others who are not ●et arrived to this height , consider betimes , that all indulgent practice of sin is the direct road to it , and according to the degrees of that indulgence , they make more or less hast . he that constantly and habitually indulges , rides upon the spur , and will quickly overtake his leaders . nay if it be but this once vice of vanity , it may finally bring him to their state . he that loves to brag , will scarce find exercise enough for that faculty in his vertues , and therefore may at last be temted to take in his vices also . but that which is more seriously considerable is , that pride is so provoking to almighty god , that it often causes him to withdraw his grace , which is a donative he has promised only to the humble , jam. . . and indeed when we turn that grace into wantonness , as the proud man do's who is pamper'd by it into high conceits of himself , t is not probable god will any longer prostitute his favors to such abuse . the apostle observes it of the gentiles , who had in contradiction of their natural light abandon'd themselves to vile idolatries , that god after gave them up to a reprobate mind and vile aff●ctions ▪ rom. . . but the proud now stifle a much clearer light , and give up themselves to as base an idolatry , the adoration of themselves . and therefore t is but equal to expect god should desert them , and ( as some nations have de●fied their diseases ) permit them to celebrate even their fowlest enormities . the application of all i shall sum up in the words of the apostle , rom. . . take heed also that he spare not thee . sect . x. of querulousness . . to this of boasting may not unfitly be subjoin'd another inordinancy of the tongue , viz. murmuring and complaining . for tho these faults seem to differ as much in their complexions , as sanguine do's from melancholy , yet there is nothing more frequent then to see them united in the same person . nor is this a conjunction of a later date , but is as old as st. j●de's daies , who observe ●hat the murmurers and complainers are the very same with those who speak great swelling words , jude . . nor are we to wonder to find them thus conjoined , if we consider what an original cognation and kindred they have , they being ( however they seem divided ) streams issuing from the same fountain . for the very same pride which promts a man to vaunt and over-value what he is , do's as forcibly incline him to contemn and disvalue what he has ; whilst mesuring his enjoiments by that vast idea he has form'd of himself , 't is impossible but he must think them below him . . this indeed is the true original of those perpetual complainings we hear from all sorts and conditions of men . for let us pass thro all degrees , all ages , we shall rarely find a single person , much less any number of men , exemt from this querulous , this sullen humor : as if that breath of life wherewith god originally inspired us , had bin given us not to magnify his bounty , but to accuse his illiberality , and like the dismaller sort of instruments , could be tuned to no other streins but those of mourning and lamentation . every man contributes his note to this doleful harmony , and after all that god has don to oblige and delight mankind , scarce any man is satisfied enough , i will not say to be thankful , but to be patient . for alas what tragical complaints do men make of their infelicity , when perhaps their prosperity is as much the envious out-cry of others ? every little defeat of a design , of an appetite , every little dis-regard from those above them , or less solemn observance from those below them , makes their heart hot within them , psal. . . and the tongue ( that combustible part ) quickly takes fire and breaks out into extravagant exclamations . it is indeed strange to see how weighty every the trivialliest thing is when a passion is cast into the scale with it , how every the slightest inconvenience or petty want preponderates hundreds of great substantial blessings : when indeed were it in an instance never so considerable , it could be no just counterpoise . yet so closely is this corruption interwoven with our constitution , that it has somtimes prevail'd even upon good men . jacob tho he had twelve sons , yet upon the supposed death of one de●pis'd the comforts of all the rest , and with an obstinate sorrow resolves to go mourning to his grave , gen. . . david after that signal victory which had preserv'd his life , reinstated him in his throne , and restor'd him to the ark and sanctuary , yet suffer'd the loss of his rebellious son , who was the author of his danger , to overwhelm the sense of his deliverance , and instead of hymns and praises , breaks out into ejulations and effeminate wailings , sam. . . . but god knows the most of our complaints cannot pretend to such considerable motives : they are not the bowels of a father , the impresses of nature that excite our repinings , but the impulses of our lusts and inordinate appetites . our discontents are usually such as ahab's for his neighbors vineyard , haman's for mordecai's obeisance , achitophel's for having his counsel rejected . every disappointment of our avarice , ambition , and pride , fill's our heart with bitterness and our mouths with clamors . for if we should examine the numerous complaints which sound in every corner , it would doubtless be found that the greatest part of them have some such original : and that , whether the pretended grievances be public or private . for the first : many a man is a state male-content , merely because he sees another advanced to that honor or wealth which he thinks he has better deserv'd . he is alwaies inveighing against such unequal distributions , where the best services ( such you may be sure his own are ) are the worst rewarded : nor do's he ever cease to predict public ruines , till his private are repared . but as soon as that is don , his augury grows more mild : and as if the estate and he were like hippocrates's twins , his recruites give new vigor to that , and till his next suit is denied , every thing is well administred . so full alas men are of themselves , that t is hard to find any the most splendid pretence which has not somthing of that at the bottom : and would every man ransack his own heart , and resolve not to cast a stone till he had first cleer'd it of all sinister respects , perhaps the number of our complainers would be much abated . . nor is it otherwise in private discontents . men are apt to think themselves ill used by any man who will not serve their interest or their humor , nay somtimes their vices ; and are prone in all companies to arraign such an unpliant person , as if he were an enemy to mankind , because he is not a slave to their will. nay many have quarrel'd even with their dearest friends , because they would not assist them to their own ruine , or have striven to divert them from it : so forcible are our propensions to mutiny , that we equally take occasions from benefits or injuries . . but the highest and most unhappy instance of all is our behavior towards god , whose allotments we dispute with the same or rather greater boldness then we do those of men . what else mean those impatient murmurs at those things which are the immediat issues of his providence ? such are our native blemishes , diseases , death of friends , and the like . nay what indeed are our displesures even at those things which we pretend to fasten upon a second cause ? for those being all under this subordination of the first , cannot move but by its permission . this holy job well discern'd , and therefore do's not indite the chaldeans or sabeans for his plunder , but knowing they were but instruments , he submissly acknowledges , that there was a higher agent in his loss , the lord hath taken away , job . . . when therfore we ravingly execrate the rapine of one man , the deceit of another for our impoverishment , when we angrily charge our defamation on the malice of our maligners , our disappointments on the treachery or negligence of our friends , we do interpretatively conclude either that there is no over-ruling providence which could have restrained those events , or else ( which is equally horrid ) we accuse it as not having don well in permitting them . so that against whomsoever we direct our clamors , their last rebound is against heaven : this querulous humor carrying alwaies an implicite repugnance to gods disposals : but where it is indulged to , it usually is its own expositor , and explicitely avows it , charges god foolishly , and by impious murmurs blasphemes that power which it cannot resist . indeed the progress is very natural for our impatiences at man to swell into mutinies against god : for when the mind is once imbiter'd , it distinguishes not of objects , but indifferently le ts fly its venem . he that frets himself , the prophet tells us , will curse his king , nay his god , isa. . . and he that quarrels at gods distributions , is in the direct road to defie his being . . by this we may estimate the danger of our discontents , which tho at first they are introduced by the inordinate love of our selves , yet are very apt to terminate in hatred and blasphemies against god. he therefore that would secure himself from the highest degree , must watch against the lowest ; as he that would prevent a total inundation , must avert the smallest breach in his banks . not but that even the first beginnings are in themselves well worth our guarding : for abstracting from all the danger of this enormous increase , these murmurings ( like a mortiferous herb ) are poisonous even in their first spring , before they arrive to their full maturity . to be alwaies moralizing the fable of prometheus upon one's self , playing the vultur upon one's own entrails , is no desirable thing , tho we were accountable to none but our selves for it : to dip our tongues in gall , to have nothing in our mouth but the extract , and exhalation of our inward bitterness , is sure no great sensuality . so that did we consult only our own ease , we might from that single topic draw arguments enough against our mutinies . . but besides our duty and ease , our credit and reputation make their plea also . fortitude is one of the noblest of moral vertues , and has the luck to appear considerable even to those who despise all the rest . now one of the most proper and eminent acts of that is , the bearing adverse events with an evenness of temper . this passive valour is as much the mark of a great mind as the active , nay perhaps more , the later being often owing to the animal , this to the rational part of man. and sure we must strangely have corrupted the principles of morality as well as religion , if every turbulent unruly spirit , that fills the world with blood and rapine , shall have his ferity called gallantry ; yet that sober courage , that maintains it self against all the shocks of fortune , that keeps its post in spight of the rudest encounters , shall not be allowed at least as good a name . and then on the contrary we may conclude , that to sink under every cross accident , to be still whining and complaining , crying out upon every touch , is a note of a mean degenerous soul , below the dionity of our reasonable nature . for certainly god never gave us reason for so unkind a purpose , as only to quicken and inhance the resentment of our sufferings , but rather to controle those disorders , which the more tumultuous part of us , our senses , are apt to raise in us : and we are so far men and no farther , as we use it to that end . therefore if the dictates of religion cannot restrain our murmurs , if we are not christians enough to submit to the divine precepts of meekness and acquiescence : yet let us at least keep within these bounds which ingenuous nature has set us , and not by our manly impatiencies enter common with brutes and animals . . nay i may farther add , if neither for gods nor our own sakes , yet for others , for humane society sake , this querulous inclination should be supprest ; there being nothing that renders a man more unplesant , more uneasy company . for ( besides that 't is very apt to vent it self upon those with whom he converses , rendring him capricious and exceptious ; and t is a harsh , a grating sound to hear a man alwaies in the complaining key ) no man would willingly dwell within the noise of shreeks and groans ; and the exclamations of the discontented differ from those only by being more articulate . it is a very unwelcome importunity , to entertain a mans company with remonstrances of his own infelicites and misadventures ; and he that will relate all his grievances to others , will quickly make himself one to them . for tho he that is full of the inward sense of them , thinks it rather an ease then oppression to speak them out , yet the case is far otherwise with his auditors : they are perhaps as much taken up with themselves ; as he is , and as little at leisure to consider his concerns , as he theirs . alas we are not now in those primitive daies , when there was as it were one common sense among christians , when if one member suffer'd , all the members suffer'd with it , cor. . . that charity which gave that sympathetic motion to the whole , is now it self benum'd , flows rarely beyond the narrow compass of our personal interest ; and therefore we cannot expect that men should be very patient of our complaints who are not concern'd in the causes of them . the priests answer to judas do's speak the sense of most men in the case , what is that to us ? see thou to that , mat. . . i do not deny but that the discharging ones griefs into the bosome of a true friend , is both innocent and prudent : nay indeed he that has such a tresure , is unkind to himself if he use it not . but that which i would disswade , is the promiscuous use of this liberty in common conversation , the satisfying our spleen , when we cannot ease our hearts by it , the loud declamings at our misery , which is seldom sever'd from as severe reflections on those whom we suppose the causes of it ; by which nothing can be acquired but the opinion of our impatience , or perhaps some new grievance from some , who think themselves concern'd to vindicate those whom we asperse . in a word 't is as indecent as it is unacceptable , and we may observe all men are willing to slink out of such company , the sober for the hazards , and the jovial for the unplesantness . so that the murmurer seems to be turn'd off to the company of those doleful creatures which the prophet mentions , which were to inhabit the ruines of babylon , . . for he is ill conversation to all men , tho the worst of all to himself . . and now upon the force of all these considerations , i may reasonably impress the wise mans counsel , therefore beware of murmuring , wisd. . . and indeed it is not the precept of the wise man alone , but of all who have made any just pretence to that title . for when we consider those excellent lectures of contentation and acquiescence , wherewith the writings of philosophers abound , 't is hard to say whether they speak more of instruction or reproch to us . when their confused notions of a deity had given them such impressions of his wisdom and goodness , that they would not pretend to make any elections for themselves : how do's it shame our more explicite knowledg , who dare not depend on him in the smallest instance ? who will not take his disposals for good , unless our senses become his sureties ? which amounts but to that degree of credit , which the most faithless man may expect from us , the trusting him as far as we see him . this is such a contumely to him , as the ethnic world durst not offer him , and is the peculiar insolence of us degenerated christians , who sure cannot be thought in earnest when we talk of singing hallelujahs in the next world to him , whilst we entertain him here only with the sullen noise of murmurs and repinings . for we are not to think that heaven will metamorphose us on a sudden , and turn our exclamations and wild clamors into lauds and magnificats . it do's indeed perfect and crown those graces which were here inchoate and begun , but no mans conversion ever succeeded his being there : for christ has expresly told us , that except we be converted , we shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven , if we go hence in our froward discontents , they will associate us with those , with whom is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth . sect . xi . of positiveness . . another very unhandsom circumstance in discourse is the being over confident and peremtory , a thing which do's very much unfit men for conversation , it being lookt on as the common birth-right of mankind , that every man is to opine according to the dictates of his own understanding , not anothers . now this peremtoriness is of two sorts , the one a magisterialness in matters of opinion and speculation , the other a positiveness in relating matters of fact : in the one we impose upon mens understandings , in the other on their faith . . for the first , he must be much a stranger in the world who has not met with it : there being a generation of men , who as the prophet speaks , are wise in their own eies , and prudent in their own sight , isa. . . nay not only so , but who make themselves the standards of wisdom , to which all are bound to conform , and whoever weighs not in their balance , be his reasons never do weighty , they write tekel upon them . this is one of the most oppressive monopolies imaginable : all others can concern only somthing without us , but this fastens upon our nature , yea and the better part of it too , our reason ; and if it meet with those who have any considerable share of that within them , they will often be temted to rally it , and not too tamely resign this native liberty . reason submits only to reason , and he that assaults it with bare autority ( that which is divine alwaies excepted ) may as well cut flame with his sword , or harden wax in the sun . . t is true indeed these great dictators do somtimes run down the company , and carry their hypothesis without contest : but of this there may be divers reasons besides the weight of their arguments . some unspeculative men may not have the skill to examine their assertions , and therefore an assent is their safest course ; others may be lazy and not think it worth their pains ; a third sort may be modest and awed by a severe brow and an imperious nod : and perhaps the wiser may providently fore-see the impossibility of convincing one who thinks himself not subject to error . upon these or other like grounds t is very possible all may be silenced when never a one is convinced : so that these great masters may often make very false estimates of their conquests , and sacrifice to their own nets , heb. . . when they have taken nothing . . nay indeed this insolent way of proposing is so far from propagating their notions , that it gives prejudice against them . they are the gentle insinuations which pierce , ( as oil is the most penetrating of all liquors ; ) but in these magisterial documents men think themselves attackt , and stand upon their guard , and reckon they must part with honor together with their opinion , if they suffer themselves to be hector'd out of it . besides , this imposing humor is so unaimable , that it gives an aversion to the person ; and we know how forcible personal prejudices are ( tho t is true they should not be ) towards the biassing of opinions . nay indeed men of this temper do cut themselves off from the opportunities of proselyting others , by averting them from their company . freedom is the endearing thing in society , and where that is control'd , men are not very fond of associating themselves . t is natural to us to be uneasy in the presence of those who assume an authority over us . children care not for the company of their parents or tutors , and men will care less for theirs , who would make them children by usurping a tutorage . . all these inconveniencies are evidently consequent to this dogmatizing , supposing men be never so much in the right : but if they happen to be in the wrong , what a ridiculous pageantry is it , to see such a philosophical gravity set to man out solecism ? a concluding face put upon no concluding argument , is the most contemtible sort of folly in the world . they do by this sound a trumpet to their own defeat : and whereas a modest mistake might slip by undiscern'd , these rodomontade errors force themselves upon mens observation , and make it as impossible for men not to see , as it is not to despise them when they do . for indeed pride is as ill linkt with error , as we usually say it is with beggery , and in this as well as that , converts pity into contemt . . and then it would be considered , what security any man that will be imposing has , that this will not be his case . human nature is very fallible , and as it is possible a man may err in a great many things , so t is certain every man do's in somthing or other . now who knows at the instant he is so positive , but this may be his erring turn ? alas how frequently are we mistaken even in common ordinary things ! for as the wise man speaks , hardly do we judg aright even in things that are before us , wisd. . . our very senses do sometimes delude us . how then may we wander in things of abstruse speculations ? the consideration of this hath with some so prevail'd , that it has produc'd a sect of scepticism , and tho i press it not for that purpose , yet sure it may reasonably be urged to introduce some modesty and calmness in our assertions . for when we have no other certainty of our being in the right , but our own perswasions that we are so : this may often be but making one error the gage for another . for god knows confidence is so far from a certain mark of truth , that 't is often the seducer into falshood , none being so apt to lose their way as those who , out of an ungrouded persumtion of knowing it , despise all direction from others . . let all this be weighed , and the result will be , that this peremtoriness is a thing that can befit no form of understanding . it renders wise men disobliging and troublesom , and fools ridiculous and contemtible . it casts a prejudice upon the most solid reasoning , and it renders the lighter more notoriously despicable . t is pity good parts should be leven'd by it , made a snare to the owners , and useless to others . and 't is pity too that weak parts should by it be condemn'd to be alwaies so , by despising those aids which should improve them . since therefore 't is so ill calculated for every meridian , would god all climes might be purged from it . . and as there are weighty objections against it in respect of its effects , so there are no inconsiderable prejudices in relation to its causes , of which we may reckon pride to be the most certain and universal : for whatever else casually occurs to it , this is the fundamental constitutive principle ; nothing but a great overweening of a mans own understanding being able to instate him in that imaginary empire over other mens . for here sure we may ask the apostles question , who made thee to differ from another ? when god has made rationality the common portion of mankind , how came it to be thy inclosure ? or what signature has he set upon thine , what mark of excellency , that thine should be paramount ? doubtless if thou fanciest thou hast that part of jacobs blessing , to be lord of thy brethren , and that all thy mothers sons should bow down to thee , gen. . . thou hast got it more surreptiously then he did , and with less effect : for tho isaac could not retract his mistaken benediction , god will never ratify that fantastic , thou hast pronounced to thy self , with his real effective one . . but there happens many times to be another ingredient besides pride , and that is ignorance : for those qualities however they may seem at war , do often very closely combine . he who has narrow notions , that knows but a few things , and has no glimpse of any beyond him , thinks there are no such : and therefore as if he had ( like alexander ) no want but that of worlds to conquer , he thinks himself the absolute monarch of all knowledg . and this is of all others the most unhappy composition : for ignorance being of its self like stiff clay , an infertile soil , when pride comes to scorch and harden it , it grows perfectly impenetrable : and accordingly we see none are so inconvincible as your half-witted people , who know just enough to excite their pride , but not so much as to cure their ignorance . . there remains yet a d kind of peremtoriness which i am to speak to , and that is of those who can make no relation without an attestation of its certainty : a sort of hospitable people , who entertain all the idle vagrant reports , and send them out with passports and testimonials , who when they have once adopted a story , will have it pass for legitimate how spurious soever it originally was . these somwhat resemble those hospitals in italy , where all bastards are sure of reception , and such a provision as may enable them to subsist in the world : and were it not for such men , many a fatherless he would be stifled in its birth . it is indeed strange to see , how suddenly loose rumors knit into formal stories , and from thence grow to certainties ; but ' its stranger to see that men can be of such profligated impudence , as knowingly to give them that advance . and yet t is no rarity to meet with such men who will pawn their honor , their souls , for that unworthy purpose : nay and that too with as much impertinence as baseness , when no interest of their own , or perhaps any mans else is to be served by it . . this is so prodigious a thing , as seems to excite ones curiosity to inquire the cause of so wonderful an effect . and here , as in other unnatural productions , there are several concurrents . if we trace it from its original , its first element seems to be idleness : this diverting a man from serious useful entertainments , forces him upon ( the usual refuge of vacant persons ) the inquiring after news ; which when he has got , the venting of it is his next business . if he be of a credulous nature , and believe it himself , he do's the more innocently impose it on others : yet then to secure himself from the imputation of levity and too easy faith , he is often temted to lend some probable circumstance . nay if he be of a proud humor , and have that miserable vanity of loving to speak big , and to be thought a man of greater correspondence and intelligence then his neighbors , he will not bate an ace of absolute certainty ; but however doubtful or improbable the thing is , coming from him it must go for an indisputable truth . this seems to be the descent of this unhappy folly , which yet is often nurst up by a mean or imprudent education . a man that hath converst only with that lower sort of company , who durst not dispute his veracity , thinks the same false coin will pass over the world , which went currant among his fathers servants or tenants : and therefore we may observe that this is more usual in young men , who have come raw into company with good fortunes and ill breeding . but it is too true also that too many never lose the habit , but are as morosely positive in their age , as they were childishly so in their youths . indeed t is impossible they should be otherwise , unless they have the wit to disentangle themselves first from the love of flattery , and after from the company of flatterers : for ( as i have before observ'd ) no vice will ever wither under their shade . i think i shall do the reader no ill office to let in a litle light upon them , and shew him some of those many mischiefs that attend this unworthy practice . . first , it engages a man to oaths , and for ought he knows to perjuries . when he has lancht out boldy into an incredible relation , he thinks he has put his credit upon the forelorn hope , and must take care to relieve it : and there is no succor so constantly ready at hand as that of oaths and imprecations , and therefore whole vollies of them are discharged upon the doubtful . thus do we make god a witness , and our souls parties in the cause of every trifling rumor , as if we had model'd our divinity by the scheme of that jesuitical casuist , who legitimates the killing of a man for an apple . . a second mischief is , that it betraies man to quarrels . he that is peremtory in his own story , may meet with another that is as peremtory in the contradiction of it , and then the two sr. positives must have a skirmish indeed . he that has attested the truth of a false , or the certainty of a doubtful thing , has brought himself into the same strait with baalams ass , he must either fall down flat , or run upon a sword , num. . . for if his hearers do but express a diffidence , either he must sink to a downright confession that he was a liar : or else he must huff and bluster till perhaps he raise a counter-storm , and as he fool'd himself out of his truth , so be beaten out of his pretence to it . indeed there is scarce any quality that do's so temt and invite affronts as this do's : for he that can descend to such a meanness , may reasonably enough be presumed to have little ( as of true worth , so ) even of that which the world calls gallantry , and so every puny sword-man will think him a good tame quarry to enter and flesh himself upon . . in the third place it exposes him to all the contemt and scorn which either good or ill men can fling upon him : the good abominate the sin , the ill triumph over the folly of it . the truth is there can be nothing more wretchedly mean. to be kinght of the post to every fabu●ous relation , is such a sordid thing , that there can scarce be any name of reproch too vile for it . and certainly he that can pawn his faith upon such miserable terms , will by those frequent mortgages quickly be snapt upon a forfeiture ; or however will have his credit so impar'd by it , that no man will think his word a competent gage for the slightest concern . . and this may pass for a fourth consideraton , that this positiveness is so far from gaining credit to his present affirmation , that it destroies it for the future : for he that sees a man make no difference in the confidence of his asserting realities and fictions , can never take his mesures by any thing he avers , but according to the common proverb , will be in danger of disbelieving him even when he speaks truth . and of this no man can want conviction , who will but consult his own observation . for what an allay do we find it to the credit of the most probable event , that it is reported by one who uses to stretch ? this unhappily do such men defeat their own designs : for while they aver stoutly that they may be believed , that very thing makes them doubted , the world being not now to learn how frequently confidence is made a supplement for truth . nor let any man who uses this , flatter himself that he alone do's ( like jobs messenger ) escape the common fate : for tho perhaps he meet with some who in civility or pity will not dispute the probability of his narrations , or with others who for raillery will not discourage the humor , with which they mean ( in his absence ) to divert themselves , yet he may rest assur'd he is discern'd by all , and derided for it . . it therefore concerns men who either regard their truth , or their reputation , not to indulge to this humor , which is the most silly way of shipwracking both . for he that will lay those to stake upon every flying story , may as well wager his estate which way the wind will sit next morning , there being nothing less to be confided in , then the breath of fame , or the whispers of private tale-bearers . wise men are afraid to report improbable truths : what a fool-hardiness is it then to attest improbable falsities , as it often is the luck of these positive men to do ? . certainly there is nothing which they design by this , which may not be obtain'd more effectually by a modest and unconcern'd relation . he that barely relates what he has heard , and leaves the hearer to judg of the probability , do's as much ( i am sure more civilly ) entertain the company , as he that throws down his gauntlet in attestation . he as much satisfies the itch of telling news ; he as much perswades his hearers : nay very much more ; for these over earnest asseverations serve but to give men suspicion that the speaker is conscious of his own falseness : and all this while he has his retreat secure , and stands not responsible for the truth of his relations . nay indeed tho men speak never so known and certain truths , t is most advisable not to press them too importunately . for boldness , like the bravoes and banditti , is seldom emploied but upon desperate services , and is so known a pander for lying , that truth is but defam'd by its attendance . . to conclude , modesty is so amiable , so insinuating a thing , that all the rules of oratory cannot help men to a more agreeable ornament of discourse . and if they will try it in both the foregoing instances , they will undoubtedly find the effects of it : a modest proposal will soonest captivate mens reasons , and a modest relation their belief . sect . x. of obscene talk. . there is another vice of the tongue which i cannot but mention , tho i knew not in which of the former classes to place it : not that it comes under none , but that 't is so common to all , that 't is not easy to resolve to which peculiarly to assign it , i mean obscene and immodest talk , which is offensive to the purity of god , dammageable and infectious to the innocence of our neighbors , and most pernicious to our selves : and yet is now grown a thing so common , that one would think we were fallen into an age of metamorphosis , and that the brutes did , not only poetically and in fiction , but really speak . for the talk of many is so bestial , that it seems to be but the conceptions of the more libidinous animals clothed in human language . . and yet even this must pass for ingenuity , and this vile descent below humanity , must be counted among the highest streins of wit. a wretched debasement of that sprightful faculty , thus to be made the interpreter to a goat or boar : for doubtless had those creatures but the organs of speech , their fancies lie enough that way to make them as good company , as those who more studiously apply themselves to this sort of entertainment . . the crime is comprehensive enough to afford abundance of matter for the most satyrical zeal : but i consider the dissecting of putrid bodies may cast such pestilential fumes , as all the benefits of the scrutiny will not recompence . i shall therefore in respect to the reader dismiss this noisom subject , and thereby give an example with what abhorrence he should alwaies reject such kind of discourse , remembring the advice of st. paul , that all uncleanness should not be once named among those who would walk as becometh saints , eph. . . the close . . i have now touched upon those enormities of speech which i principally design'd to observe , wherein i have bin far from making a full and exact catalogue : therefore i would have no man take this little tract for a just criterion , by which to try himself in reference to his words . yet god grant that all that read it , may be able to approve themselves even by this imperfect essay , and he that do's so , makes fair approches towards being that perfect man st. james speaks of , chap. . . these being such faults of the tongue as are the harder to avoid , because they are every day exemplified to us in common practice ( nay some of them recommended as reputable and ingenuous . ) and it is a strange insinuative power which example and custom have upon us . we see it in every trivial secular instance , in our very habit : those dresses which we laught at in our fore-fathers wardrobes or pictures , when by the circulation of time and vanity they are brought about , we think very becoming . t is the same in our diet : our very palates conform to the fashion , and every thing grows amiable to our fancies , according as t is more or less received in the world . and upon this account all sobriety and strict vertue lies now under a heavy prejudice , and no part of it more , then this of the tongue , which custom has now enfranchized from all the bonds moralists or divines had laid upon it . . but the greater the difficulties are , the more it ought to awake our diligence : if we lie loose and carelesly , t is odds we shall be carried away with the stream . we had need therefore fix our selves , and by a sober recollection of the ends for which our speech was given us , and the account we must one day give of it , impress upon our selves the baseness and the danger of misemploying it . yet a negative innocence will not serve our turns , t will but put us in the condition of him , who wrapt up the talent he was commanded to employ , mat. . . nay indeed t will be impossible to preserve even that if we aspire no farther . the tongue is a busie active part , t will scarce be kept from motion : and therefore if that activity be not determin'd to good objects , t will be practicing upon bad . and indeed i believe a great part of its licentiousness is owing to this very thing . there are so few good themes of discourse in use , that many are driven to the ill for want of better . learning is thought pedantic , agriculture peasant-like , and religion the most insufferable of all : so by excluding all useful subjects of converse , we come together ( as st. paul in another case saies ) not for the better but for the worse , . cor. . . and if the philosopher thought he had lost that day wherein he had not learnt somthing worthy his notice , how many daies do we worse then lose , by having them not only emty of solid useful acquisitions , but full of noxious and pernicious ones ? and indeed if they be the one , they will not miss to be the other also : for the mind is like the stomac , which if it be not supplied with wholesome nurishment , will at last suck in those humors with which the body most abounds . so that if in our converse we do not interchange sober usefull notions , we shall at the best but traffique toies and baubles , and most commonly infection and poison . he therefore that would keep his tongue from betraying himself or others to sin , must tune it to a quite contrary key , make it an instrument , and incentive to vertue , by which he shall not only secure the negative part of his duty , but comply with the positive also , in employing it to those uses for which it was given him . . it would be too vast an undertaking to prescribe the particular subjects of such discourse , nay indeed impossible , because many of them are occasional , such as cannot aforehand be reduced to any certain account . this only in the general we may rest upon , that all speech tending to the glory of god or the good of man , is aright directed . which is not to be understood so restrictively , as if nothing but divinity or the necessary concerns of human life , may lawfully be brought into discourse : somthing is to be indulged to common civility , more to the intimaces and endearments of friendship , and a competency to those recreative discourses which maintain the cherefulness of society ; all which are , if moderatly used , within the latitude of the rule , as tending ( tho in a lower degree ) to the well-being of men , and by consequent to the honor of god , who indulges us those innocent refreshments . but if the subordinate uses come to encroch upon the higher , if we dwell here and look no farther , they then become very sinful by the excess , which were not so in their nature . that inordinacy sets them in opposition to gods designation , in which they were allowed only a secondary place . we should therefore be careful to improve all opportunities of letting our tongues pay their more immediate homage to god , in the duties of praiers and praises , making them not only the interpreters of our pious affections , but the promoters of the like in others . and indeed he can scarce be thought in earnest , who praies , hallowed be thy name , and do's not as much endeavor it with men , as he solicites it from god. . and if we answer our obligations in this point , we shall in it discharge the highest part of our duty to man also : for in whose heart soever we can implant a true reverentialaw of god , we sow the seed of immortality , of an endless happy being , the greatest the most superlative good whereof he is capable . besides in the interim , we do by it help to manumit and release him from those servile drudgeries to vice , under which those remain who live without god in the world . and these indeed are benefits worthy the dignity of human nature to communicate . and it is both sad and strange to see among the multitude and variety of leagues that are contracted in the world , how few there are of these pious combinations ; how those who shew themselves concern'd in all the petty secular interests of their friends , never take this at all into their care ; a pregnant evidence how little true friendship there is among men : . i know some think they sufficiently excuse themselves when they shift off this office to divines , whose peculiar business they say it is . but this is as if one who sees a poor fainting wretch , should forbear to administer a cordial he has at hand , for fear of intrenching on the physitians faculty . many opportunities a friend or companion may have which a divine may want . he often sees a man in the very fit , and so may more aptly apply : for where there is an intimacy of converse , men lay themselves open , discover those passions those vices , which they carefully veil when a strange , or severer eie approches . besides , as such a one may easier discern the disease , so he has better advantages for administring remedies : so children will not take those medicines from the doctors hand , which they will from a nurse or mother : and we are usually too childish in what relates to our souls ; look on good counsel from an ecclesiastic as a divinity potion , and set our stomacs against it ; but a familiar may insensibly insinuate it into us , and ere we are aware beguile us into health . yet if lay persons will needs give the clergy the inclosure of this office , they should at least withdraw those impediments they have laid in their way , by depositing those prejudices which will certainly frustrate their endeavor . men have in these later daies bin taught to look on preaching as a thing of form to the hearers , and of profit only to the speakers , a craft whereby , as demetrius saies , they get their living , acts . . but admit it were so in this last respect , yet it do's not infer it should be so in the former . if it be a trade , t was sure thought ( as in all ages but this ) a very useful one , else there would never have bin such encouragement given to it . no state ever alloted public certain salaries for a set of men that were thought utterly useless : and if there be use to be made of them , shall we lose our advantages merely because they gain theirs ? we are in nothing else so senseless , no man will refuse counsel from a physician , because he lives by the profession . t is rather an argument on his side , that because such an interest of his own depends on it , he has bin the more industrious to fit himself for it . but not to run farther in this digression , i shall apply it to my purpose , by making this equitable proposal , that lay men will not so moralize the common fable , as neither to admonish one another themselves , nor suffer ministers to do it without them . and truly t is hard if neither of these can be granted when both ought . i am sure all is little enough that can be don , tho we should have , as the prophet speaks , precept upon precept , line upon line , here a little and there a little , is. . . mans nature is so unattentive to good , that there can scarce be too many monitors . we see satan , tho he have a much stronger party in our inclinations , dares not rely upon it , but is still employing his emissaries , to confirm and excite them : and if whilst he has so many agents among us , god shall have none , we are like to give but an ill account of our zeal either to god or our neighbor , or of those tongues which were given us to glorify the one , and benefit the other . indeed without this , our greatest officiousness in the secular concerns of others is no kindness . when we strive to advance the fame , to increase the fortune of a wicked man , what do we in it , but enable him to do the more mischiefs , by his wealth to foment his own luxuries , and by his reputation commend them to the practice of others ? he only makes his friend truly rich and great , who teaches him to employ those advantages aright : and would men turn their tongues to this sort of oratory , they would indeed shew they understood for what ends they were given them . . but as all good receives enhancement from its being more diffusive , so these attemts should not be confined to some one or two intimates or relatives , but be as extensive as the common needs , or at least as our opportunities . t is a generous ambition to benefit many , to oblige communities : which can no way so well be don , as by endeavoring to subvert vicious customs , which are the pests and poisons of all societies . the heathens had many ceremonies of lustrations for their cities and countries , but he that could purify and refine their manners , would indeed attain to the substance of those shadows . and because the apostle tells us , that evil words corrupt good manners , cor. . . t would be a fundamental piece of reformation , to introduce a better sort of converse into the world : which is an instance so agreable to my present subject , that i cannot close more pertinently , then to commend the endeavor to the readers ; who , if he have bin by this tract at all convinced of the sin and mischief of those schemes of discourse deciphered in it , cannot be more just to his convictons , then by attemting to supplant them . . it were indeed a design worthy of a noble soul , to try to new model the age in this particular , to make it possible for men to be at once conversable and innocent . i know t will be objected , t is too vast a project for one or many single persons to undertake : yet difficulties use to animate generous spirits , especially when ( as here ) the very attemt is laudable . but as christ saies of wisdom , so may we of courage , the children of this world are more daring then the children of light . the great corrupters of discourse have not bin so distrustful of themselves : for t is visible to any that will reflect , that t is within mans memory since much of this monstrous exorbitancy of discourse grew in fashion , particularly the atheistical and blasphemous . the first propugners of it were but few , and durst then but whisper their black rudiments : yet the world now sees what a harvest they have from their devilish industry . . and shall we give over our clime as forlorn and desperate , and conclude that nothing which is not venemous will thrive in our soil ? would some of parts and autority but make the experiment , i cannot think that all places are yet so vitiated , but that they may meet with many , who would relish sober and ingenuous discourse , and by their example be animated to propagate it to others : but as long as blasphemy , ribaldry , and detraction set up for wit , and carry it without any competition , we do implicitly yield that title we dispute not : and t is hard to say , whether their triumphs be more owing to the boldness of ill men , or the pusillanimity of the good . what if upon the trial they should meet with the worser part of st. paul's fate at athens , that some will mock , acts . . yet perhaps they may partake of the better also , and find others that would be willing to hear them again , and some few at least may cleave unto them . and sure they are too tender and delicate , that will run no hazard , nor be willing to bear a little share in that profane drollery , with which an apostle was , and their god is daily assaulted : especially when by this exposing themselves , they may hope to give some check to that impious liberty . however besides the satisfaction of their own consciences , they may also gain this advantage by the attemt , that it may be a good test by which to try their company . for those whom they find impatient of innocent and profitable converse , they may assure themselves can only ensnare , not benefit them ; and he is a very weak gamester , that will be drawn to play upon such terms as make it highly probable for him to lose , but impossible for him to win . therefore in that case the advice of solomon is very proper , go from the presence of a foolish man , when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledg , prov. . . . but he that will undertake so heroic an enterprize , must qualify himself for it , by being true to his own pretensions . he must leave no uneven thred in his loom , or by indulging to any one sort of reprovable discourse himself , defeat all his endeavors against the rest . those aëry speculators that have writ of the philosophers stone , have required many personal qualifications , strict abstinences and purities in those who make the experiment . the thing may have this sober application , that those who would turn this iron age into gold , that would convert our rusty drossy converse into a purer strein , must be perfectly clean themselves . for alas what effect can that man hope from his most zealous reprehensions , who laies himself open to recrimination ? he that hears a man bitterly inveigh against blasphemy and profaneness , and ( yet in that almost the same breath ) hears his monitor inveigh as bitterly against his neighbor , will scarce think him a good guide of his tongue , that has but half the mastery of his own . let every man therefore be sure to begin at the right end of his work , to wash his own mouth clean , before he prescribe gargarisms to others . and to that purpose let him impartially reflect on all the undue liberties he has given his tongue , whether those which have bin here remarked , or those others which he may find in all practical books , especially in ( the most practical of all books ) his own conscience . and when he has trac'd his talk thro all its wild rambles , let him bring home his stray ; not like the lost sheep with joy , but with tears of penitence and contrition , and keep a strict watch over it that it break not loose again ; nay farther require it to make some restitution for the trespass it has committed in its former excursions : to restore to god what it has rob'd of his honor , by devoting it self an instrument of his service ; to his neighbor what it has detracted from him , by wiping off that sullage it has cast upon his fame , and to himself by defacing those ill characters of vanity and folly it has imprinted on him . thus may the tongue cure its own sting , and by a kind of sympathetic vertue , the wound may be healed by dressing the weapon . but alas when we have don all , the tongue is so slippery that it will often be in danger to deceive our watch : nay it has a secret intelligence with the heart , which like a corrupted goaler is too apt to connive at its escape . let us therefore strengthen our guards , call in him who sees all the secret practices of our trecherous hearts , and commit both them and our tongues to his custody . let us say with the psalmist , try me , o lord , and seek the ground of my heart , psa. . . and with him again , set a watch , o lord , before my mouth , and keep the door of my lips , o let not my heart he inclined to any evil thing , psa. . . and if hand thus join in hand , prov. . . if gods grace be humbly invoked , and our own endeavour honestly emploied , even this unruly evil of the tongue ( as st. james calls it ) chap. . . may be in some degree tamed . if now and then it get a little out by stealth , yet it will not like the demoniac be so raving , as quite to break all its chains . if we cannot alwaies secure our selves from inadvertence and surprize , but that a forbidden word may somtimes escape us , yet we may from deliberate wilful offences of the tongue . and tho we should all aspire higher , yet if we can but reach this , we ought not to excuse our selves ( upon remaining infirmities ) from the christian generous undertaking , i was recommending , the reforming of others . indeed i had made a very impertinent exhortation to that , if this degree of fitness may not be admitted ; for i fear there would be none upon earth could attemt it upon other terms : the world must still remain as it is , and await only the tongues of angels to reduce it . nor need we fear that censure of hypocrisy which we find , mat. . . for the case is very differing . t is indeed as ridiculous as insolent an attemt , for one that has a beam in his own eie , to pretend to cast a mote out of his brothers : but it holds not on the contrary , that he that has a mote in his own , should not endeavor to remove the beam in his brothers . every speck do's not blind a man , nor do's every infirmity make one unable to discern , or incompetent to reprove the grosser faults of others . . yet after all let us as much as is possible clear our eies even of this mote , and make our copy as worth transcribing as we can : for certainly the best instrument of reformation is example : and tho admonition may somtimes be necessary , yet there are many circumstances required to the right ordering of that , so that it cannot alwaies be practicable , but a good example ever is . besides it has a secret magnetic vertue : like the loadstone it attracts by a power of which we can give no account : so that it seems to be one of those occult qualities , those secrets in nature , which have puzled the enquirers , only experience demonstrates it to us . i am sure it do's ( too abundantly ) in ill examples , and i doubt not , might do the like in good , if they were as plentifully experimented . and that they may be so , let every man be ambitious to cast in his mite : for tho two make but a farthing , yet they may be multiplied to the vastest sum . however if a man cannot reform others , yet i am sure t will be worth his while , so to save himself from this untoward generation , act. . . i have now presented the tongue under a double aspect , such as may justify the ancient definition of it , that it is the worst and best part of man , the best in its original and design , and the worst in its corruption and degeneration . in david the man after gods heart it was his glory , ps. . . the best member that he had , psal. . . but in the wicked it cuts like a sharp razor , psal. . . t is as the venem of asps , . . the tongues from heaven were cloven , act. . . to be the more diffusive of good : but those that are fired from hell are forked , jam. . . to be the more impressive of mischief : it must be referred to every mans choice , into which of the forms he will mold his . solomon tells us death and life are in the power of the tongue , and that not only directly in regard of the good or ill we may do to others , but reflexively also , in respect of what may rebound to our selves . let moses then make the inference from solomons premises , therefore chuse life , deut. . . a proposal so reasonable , so agreable to nature , that no florishes can render it more inviting . i shall therefore leave it to the readers contemplation , and shall hope that if he please but to revolve it with that seriousness which the importance exacts , he will new set his tongue , compose it to those pious divine streins , which may be a proper preludium to those allelujahs he hopes eternally to sing . finis . by the king, a proclamation whereas we have been inform'd, that a false, scandalous, and seditious libel ... intituled an account of the proceedings of the house of commons in relation to the recoining the clipp'd money, and falling the price of guineas ... england and wales. sovereign ( - : william iii) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing w estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) by the king, a proclamation whereas we have been inform'd, that a false, scandalous, and seditious libel ... intituled an account of the proceedings of the house of commons in relation to the recoining the clipp'd money, and falling the price of guineas ... england and wales. sovereign ( - : william iii) william iii, king of england, - . broadside. printed by charles bill, and the executrix of thomas newcomb ..., london : . other title information taken from first five lines of text. "given at our court at kensington the fifth day of november, , in the eighth year of our reign." reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng proclamations -- great britain. libel and slander -- england. great britain -- history -- william and mary, - . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion w r diev et mon droit honi soit qvi mal y pense royal blazon or coat of arms by the king , a proclamation . william r. whereas we have been inform'd , that a false , scandalous , and seditious libel , and destructive to the freedom and liberties of parliament , intituled , an account of the proceedings of the house of commons in relation to the recoining the clipp'd money , and falling the price of guineas , has been printed and dispersed ; and whereas the knights , citizens and burgesses in parliament assembled , have humbly besought vs to issue our royal proclamation , for discovery of the author of the said libel : we therefore ( with the advice of our privy council ) have thought fit to issue this our royal proclamation , hereby requiring and commanding all our loving subjects whatsoever , to discover the author of the said libel , to the end he may be dealt withal , and proceeded against according to law. and we do hereby promise and declare that whosoever shall discover the author of the said libel , shall have and receive as a reward , for such discovery , the sum of five hundred pounds ; which said sum of five hundred pounds the commissioners of our treasury are hereby required and directed to pay accordingly . and we do also further promise and declare , that if any person ( other than the author himself ) who was any ways privy to , or instrumental in , the printing or dispersing the said libel , shall discover the author thereof , the person making such discovery , shall not only have the said sum of five hundred pounds , as aforesaid , but also our gracious pardon for his offence . and we do hereby strictly charge and command all our loving subjects ( as they will answer the contrary at their perils ) that they do not any ways conceal , but discover the author of the said libel , to the end he may be proceeded against with the utmost severity , according to law. given at our court at kensington the fifth day of november , . in the eighth year of our reign . god save the king. london printed by charles bill , and the executrix of thomas newcomb , deceas'd , printers to the kings most excellent majesty . . actions for slaunder, or, a methodicall collection under certain grounds and heads of what words are actionable in the law and what not a treatise of very great use and consequence to all men, especially in these times wherein actions for slaunder are more common and do much more abound then in times past, and when the malice of men so much increases, well may their tongue want a directory : to which is added awards or arbitrements methodified under severall grounds and heads collected out of our year-books and other private authentick authorities ... / by jo. march. march, john, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing m estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) actions for slaunder, or, a methodicall collection under certain grounds and heads of what words are actionable in the law and what not a treatise of very great use and consequence to all men, especially in these times wherein actions for slaunder are more common and do much more abound then in times past, and when the malice of men so much increases, well may their tongue want a directory : to which is added awards or arbitrements methodified under severall grounds and heads collected out of our year-books and other private authentick authorities ... / by jo. march. march, john, - . p. printed by f.l. for m. walbank and r. best ... , london : . reproduction of original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng libel and slander -- england. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion actions for slaunder , or , a methodicall collection under certain grounds and heads , of what words are actionable in the law , and what not ? a treatise of very great use and consequence to all men , especially in these times , wherein actions for slaunder are more common , and do much more abound then in times past : and when the malice of men so much increases , well may their tongue want a directory . to which is added , awards or arbitrements , methodised under severall grounds and heads , collected out of our year-books and other pirvate authentick authorities : wherein is principally shewed , what arbitrements are good in law , and what not . a learning of no lesse use and consequence to all men , then the former : for that submissions to arbitrements were never more in use then in these times . and this learning well observed , would avoid multitudes of suits and contentions which daily arise through the defects of arbitrements . by jo. march of grayes-inne , barister . london , printed by f. l. for m. walbank and r. best , and are to be sold at grayes-inne-gate . . actions for slaunder . or a methodicall collection , under certaine grounds and heads , of what words are actionable in the law , and what not ? the first part of my labour is , to shew what words are actionable in the law , and what not ? in the prosecution of which , ti 's not my purpose to run over all the cases that have bin adjudged , neither can i if i would ; my intent is only to lay downe a certaine rule or ground , upon which to go ( which will indeed be as a light to all cases of this nature ) and having done so , to follow every particular thereof , with the most pertinent cases that i finde adjudged in the law ; which done there will be very few cases of consequence hitherto adjudged omitted . but before i enter upon this part of my labour give me leave to premise this , that i do not undertake this work , with an intent ●o incourage men in giving ●ll and unworthy language , or to teac●● them a lawlesse dyalect , but ( as my lord cook speakes ) to direct and instruct them rightly to manage that , which [ though but a little member ] proves often the greatest good , or the greatest evill to most men . and withall to deterre men from words , which are but winde ( as hee further speakes ) which subject men to actions , in which dammages and costs are to bee recovered , which usually trench to the great hinderance and impoverishment of the speakers . and in truth that which caused mee to enter upon this labour , was the frequency of these actions ; for i may with confidence affirme , that they doe at this day bring as much gryse to the mill , if not more , then any one branch of the law whatsoever . and it were to bee wished and certainly never in a better time then now ) that the greatest part of them were suppressed , that words only of brangle , heate and choler , might not he so much as mentioned in those high and honourable courts of justice . for i professe for my part , i judge of them as a great dishonour to the law , and the professors thereof ; especially when i consider that they are used only as instruments to promote the malice , and vent the spleene of private jarres and discontents amongst men . the apostle calling in question the wisdome of men , for going to law one with another , is not to bee intended [ as the learned observe upon that place generally to condemne all legall prosecutions , be ause a man may without question maintaine his just rights & priviledges b● law , but onely to reprehend the folly of such , who upon every slight and triviail occasion ( like many in these contention times ) care not to intayle a suite upon them and their posterity ; though in fine they docke their owne intayles without recovery : and justly may actions for words come within the compasse of the apostles exprobration . i doe not condemne all actions for words neither , for it is but equall , that where a mans life , liveliehood ; or reputation ( which is dearer to him then the former ) is much endangered by scandalous words , that in such case the offender should bee inforced by action to make compensation . but that a man should flee to the law out of malice , and make the courts of justice maintainers of every small and vaine brabble , this seemes to me utterly unlawfull and intolerable amongst christians . i cannot but take notice of that which wray chiefe iustice , saith in cookes th booke , that though slanders and false imputations are to be repressed because that oftentimes a verbis ad verbera perventum est ; which ●confes tends much to the disturbance of the common peace , and therefore by all meanes possible to bee prevented . yet he saith , that the judges have resolved , that actions for scandalls should not bee maintained by any strained construction or argument , nor any favour extended for supportation of them . and he addes the reason of it , because they doe abound more in these dayes ; then in times past , and the intemperance and malice of men increases ; et malitijs hominum est obviandum ; and further addes , that in our old bookes , actions for scandalls are very rare , and such as are brought , are for words of eminent slander , and of great importance . i is true that the law doth in some cases discountenance these actions , and therefore we have a rule , that words if they admit of a double construction , shall alwayes be taken in the best sence for him that speakes them ( as i shall make evident hereafter ) because usually they are spoken in chollar and passion . this i say the law doth , where the words are amphibolus ; but if the words are clearely actionable , in such case the law will never ayde a man , though they were spoken in the distemper of passion which seemeth very hard and unreasonable . nay which is yet more extreame , if counsell shall but informe the jury of the quality and reputation of the plaintiffe and also make them understand [ if they be capable the true sence and meaning of the words , and the hainousnes of them ; such words , against such a person ; this inforced and prest on by eminent councell , shall make a jury give a hundred pounds dammages , whereas it doth not appeare to them , that the plaintiffe by the speaking of the words was prejudiced one farthing , a case of very great extremity , and worthy of reliefe . and can any man deny , but that this is a countenancing of these frivolous actions : but give mee leave reader , and i will in a word informe you how this may be remedied : and though the malice of men cannot bee stopped , yet their actions may . let no words be actionable which do appeare to have beene spoken in chollar and passion , or if actionable , yet let the plaintiffe recover no more in damage , then hee can upon oath make appeare , that hee was actually damnified by the speaking of them ; and if this were provided by act of parliament , our new bookes would bee as little infested with these frivolous actions , as the old ones are . but i cannot thus baulke that observation of that learned chiefe justice who●ses that in our old books actions for scandalls are very rare , and such as are brought , are for words of eminent slanders and of great importance . this must needs bee acknowledged to be a most exact and true observation , for in searching of the books , i cannot finde that any action for scandalous words was brought before e. . time , and so rare then ▪ that i finde but one in . yeares of e. . and that is sir thomas setons case of justice , for calling of him traytor . felon ; and robber , no frivolous cause of action . and i finde but three actions for words brought in . yeares of e. . and those for one and the same words , for publishing one to bee the pilleine of i. s. a slaunder of no small importance , neither ; for so long as that base and slavish tenure of pilleinage held ; hee that was a pilleine , was subject both in person and estate , to the will of his lord , so that he might seize all his estate reall , and personall , and vassalize his person at his pleasure , so that he did not kill or mayme him in all the . yeares of h. . there is not one action that i can find brought for scandalous words . and in . yeares of h. . our books tell us but of five actions brought for scandalous words ; two whereof were in . h. . so that i find none before that time neither . the other were in . h. . and . h. dyer . and these for no trifling words ; for you shall finde that one of them was for calling a man heretike , another for saying a man was perjured ; and the other three for calling of one thiefe all of which are high scandals to a mans reputation and most of them tending to the losse of life and fortunes ; so that it is very true that that reverend chiefe justice observed , that these actions were very rare in our old bookes , and such as were brought were for words of emminent slander , and of great importance . but these few have now got such a numerous progeny that i feare we cannot turne over many leaves in our new books , but wee shall finde one of these actions . they began thus to multiply in the queenes time , as wee finde in my lord cockes . book , where there is no lesse then . adjudged cases together upon these actions . and you may easily judge , they did not abate in king iamses his time ; for ( if i mistake not ) there is no lesse then two and twenty adjudged cases upon these actions in my lord hobarts book . and i am certaine they are not fallen in his majesties raigne that now is ; for i my selfe have reported no lesse then three and twenty judgments upon these actions but from easter tearme in the sixteenth yeare of the king , to trinity tearme in the eighteenth . well therefore might wray chiefe iustice say , that the malice of men doth more increase in these times , then in times past ; and as he saith , the malice of men ought to be with stood as much as may be ; which i am sure the too frequent tollerating of actions of this nature wil not effect , no more then fire can be extinguished by adding fewell unto it . you have heard my advise and direction before , therfore i will here close this with one word , though the tongues of men be set on fire , i know no reason wherefore the law should bee used as bellowes to bow the coles . it is the saying of the prophet david ; i will take heed to my ways , that i offend not with my tongue , i will keepe my mouth as it were with a bridle . it were happy for all men if they could make the like resolution , and keep it . but seeing that wee are but men ; whilest wee carry this lump of flesh and masse of corruption about us , we shall be subject to the like passions and affections that o●●er● have beene before us , and the flesh will rebell against the spirit . and therefore i have provided this treatise upon actions of slander , as a bridle for all rash and inconsiderate ●ongues ; that seeing the mischiefe they may the better know how to avoyd it . and here i shall lay downe this as a generall rule , which i shall by the way as i goe , make good in every perticular . that all scandalous words which touch or concerne a man in his life , liberty , or member or any corporall punishment ; or which scandall a man in his office or place of trust ; or in his call●ng or function by which he gaines his living ; or which tend to the slandering of his title or his disinheritance ; or to the losse of his advance , me it , or preferment , or any other particular damage ; or lastly which charge a man to have any dangerous infectious disease , by reason of which he ought to seperate himselfe , or to be seperated by the law from the society of men : all such words are actionable . and first for the first part of this rule viz. scandalous words which touch or concerne a man in his life ; such words are actionable . if a man call another traitor , felon theefe , or murderer , an action lies for these words , because they call a mans life in question . so it is all one if one shall say of another that he killed or murdered i. s. or that he stole his good● , or that he poysoned him , if it appeare to be intended to be wittingly done , or the like , these words likewise are actionable , as appeares by the bookes in the margent . so if one shall say of another he hath burnt my b●●ne with corne , which is felony , this likewise will beare an action . i have a report of a case which was thus : a servant of one mr. roger brook said of one mis. margaret passey that she sent a letter to his master , and in the said letter willed his master to poyson his wife bridget brooke , and in this case it is , said that upon a writ of error brought in the cnequer chamber it was resolved , the words were actionnable , and the judgement affirmed , which case i confesse i much doubt , because here was but bare advise , and nothing appearing to be done ; like eatons ▪ case in cooks booke . where the defendant said of the plaintiffe that hee gave his champion councell to make a d●ed of gift of his goods to kill him , &c. adjudged that the words were not actionable , because that the purpose or intent of a man without act , is not punishable by the law. and i conceive it will not be like the case , put by tanfi●ld iust. in harris and hixons case , where he saith that to say of another , that he lay in wait to rob or to murder i. s. will beare an action , because that he accuses him of an act viz. the preparation and lying in wait , which is punishable by the law ; but in the former case there is nothing but bare advise , which is not punishable by the law. hawly brought an action upon the case against sydnam for these words ; h● is infected of the robery and murder lately-committed , and smels of the murder , adjudged that the words were actionable , by reason of the word infected . one said of another thou diddest kill a woman great with child , innuendo iocosam vxocem cuiusdam r. s. defunct . and rules by the court that the action wold lie , though that the woman were utterly incertain , because that the offence , and the party intended to commit it , is certaine , and t is not like the case , where one said that there is one in this company ; who hath committed a murder , there it is incertain of whom the words were spoken , and cannot possibly bee ayded by an ( innuendo ) but here the words are actionable without an ( innuendo ) but quaere whether the action would lie or no because there is no expresse averrement that the woman was dead for the ( innuendo ) will not be suffitient . hassellwood brought an action against garr●t for these words ( amongst others agreed not to be actionable ) whosoever is he that is falsest theefe , and strongest in the county of salop , whatsoever he hath stollen , or whatsoever he hath done . thomas hasselwood is falser then hee resolved that these words are actionable , with an averrement that there are felons within the county of salop , but for defan●t of such averrement , the judgement being given in the common pleas was reve●ed in this court. stoner brought an action for words against gambell , and declares that the de●endant dixit deprefato : the plaintiffe thou innuendo , &c. hast stollen my goods ; and upon not guilty pleaded , the iury found for the plaintiffe , and in arrest of judgement it was said , that the count was nought for the words are in the second person , and it is not all adged that the plaintiffe was present at the speaking of them . et tota curia contra , for dixit deprefato , is as much as dixit ad prefatum , for cannot he say thou hast of the plaintiffe , except that it were spoken to him ? and rule was given for judgement . one ●●●mans said of hext , i do not doubt but within two dayes to arrest hext●or ●or suspition of fellony : adjudged that the words were actionable , because that for suspition of felony , hee shall be imprisoned and his life drawne in question . hill. . iac. in the kings bench , winch came to the barre and shewed a libell against another in court christian for these words , thou art a witch and dealest with witchery , and diddest procure mother bale to witch the cattell of i. s. and upon this prayed a prohibition , because that the plaintiffe had remedy at law , and by fenner and gawdy iustices the others ab●ent and prohibition lies , because she hath remedy at law. so that their opinion was that an action would lie at the common law for calling of one witch . and in one edwards his case hill. iac , it was said to have been three 〈◊〉 adjudged that to call one witch would beare an action and also that an action would lie for calling ● one hagge but i doubt of the latter because i take hag to be a doubtfull word . but why witch should not beare an action , i know no reason , being t●e life may be thereby drawne in question , though i know it hath beene doubted . marshall brought an action against steward for saying the devill appeares to thee every night in the likenesse of a black man riding upon a black horse , and thou conferrest with him , and whatsoever thou dost aske he gives it thee , and that is the reason thou hast so much money , adjudged the words were actionable . note reader , that by the statute of of king iames cap. . conjuration or consultation with the devill , is felony . in the case of hawes mich. . of the king that now is , this case was put and agreed by the iudges ; one said of another that hee had received a 〈◊〉 , priest , adjudged actionable , because it is felony , he might receive a romish priest and yet not know him to be so , ( like the cases i have put you afterwards , therefore quere . sir iohn sydenham against timothy man clark i think in my conscience that if sir iohn sydenham might have his will , he would kill all the subjects in england ▪ and the king too , and he is a maintainer of papistry and rebellious persons . these words upon a writ of error in the exchequer chamber were adjudged actionable . it seemes somewhat hard to me reader that words of thoug●t or opinion only should beare an action as here in the former words . and for the latter words , that he is a maintainer of rebellious persons ; they are adjective only , and do not import any act of rebellion in those persons , but only an inclination to it , but of this more hereafter . if a man say of another that he doth like or approve of those that maintaine sedition against the king. i conceive that these words are actionable and sedition is a violent and publique thing , of which he cannot but have notice . this rule was agreed by the iudges in the debate of a case in the kings bench , that many words ( though of themselves they be not actionable yet being equivolent to words that are actionable , will beare on action . and it was said by iones iustice , that in yorkshire strayning of a mare is all one with buggering of a mare and therefore he said that an action will sie for these words , with an averrement that they tantamount to buggering of a mare . note by his opinion in such case there must be an averrement of the m●●●ning or importance of the words . yet my lord hobart hath severall cases adjudged where a man brought an action for welch words , and did not averre what the words did import in english , and yet judgement was given for the plaintiffe , and the court tooke information upon oath by vvelchmen what the words meant in english. and in one of the cases serjeant iohn moore then informed t●● court that judgement had bin given in the kings bench in the case of tu●h upon these words ▪ thou art a healer of fellons without any aver●ement , how the words were taken ; because the court was informed and tooke knowledge that in some counties it was taken for a smotherer of felons . the ca● intended by serjeant moore was i conceive the case of pridham and tucker in the kings bench , where the words were adjudged actionable , without an averrement and in this case ●t was agreed that words may be slanderons in one county and not in another for in norf they know not what healer signifieth , but this being in de●●nshire where this word is used for concealer of theeves , will be actionable . and i take this to be generally true that in all cases where a mans life may be● drawne in question by scandalous words , that such words are actionable . and now i shall cite a case or two , where words spoken which such a mans life , which are by way of interrogation , or by way of hearesay or relati●n ; or lastly by way of negation only and yet will beare an action . it was said at the kings bench barre [ which i heard and observed ] that it had bin adjudged in this court in one appletons case , that where a man said to another where is my peece thou sto●lest from me , that these words were actionable . and iones iustice then said that he remembred this case to be adjudged . a. said that b. told him that c. stole a horse ; but he did not beleeve him , that these words ▪ with an averrement that b. did not say any such thing to a. were actionable . agreeing with this case is the lady morrisons case widdow , who brought an action for words against vvilliam c●de esquier , and declares that she was of good fame , &c. and that henry earle of kent was in speech and communication with her concerning marriage , the defendant pre●●issorum non ignarus , said these words , arsoot hath reported that he hath had the use of the lady morrisons body at his pleasure ; ubi revera arscot did never report it ; and alledges that the earle of kent upon the hearing of these words surceased his suit , by which she lost her advancement . &c. adjudged that the words were actionable though spoken upon the report of another , for otherwise a man might malitiously raise slanderous reports of another , and should never bee punished for it . but in this case tanfield iustice said , that if it had beene expressely alledged , that in truth it was so reported by arscot , then an action would not lie against cade for saying that arscot reported it , because it is true that he did so . and bartley iustice said that an action had bin brought for these words , you are no theefe . in which there was an averrement , which implied an affirmative , and agreed to be actionable , and appletons case was then agreed for law. a. said to is. hast thou beene at london to change the money thou stollest from me ? in this case it was objected , that these words were not actionable , because that they are spoken onely by way of interrogation , and are no direct affirmative . but iones and barily iustices ( the others being absent ) both said that the words were actionable ; for the first words , hast thou been at london , &c. are the only words of interrogation , and the subsequent words , viz. the mony thou stollest from mee , is a positive affirmation ; and ba●tley iust. then said , that it had beene oftentimes adjudged that words of interrogation should be taken as a direct affirmation , which , iones just. also agreed , and further said that this case had bin adjudged . one said to another , i dreamt this night that you stole a horse , these words were adjudged actionable . and he said that if these and the like words should not beare an action , a man might bee as abusive as he pleased , and by such subtill words as these always avoyd an action . and how i will put you a case or two , where words which imply an affirmative shall be actionable . one said of another , he would prove he had stollen his books . in this case the opinion of the court was that the words were actionable , because they imply an affirmative ; and are as much as if hee had said , that he had stollen his books . and so if i will say of another , that i will bring him before a justice of peace , for i will prove that he hath stollen , &c. though the first words are not actionable , yet the last are . whitaer●s brought an action against lavington for these words ; i will prove that whytacre is for sworne , and that ten men can justifie , and i could prove him perjured if i would ▪ adjudged that the words were actionable , for that it is a great slander to be reported that it is in the power of any one to prove one perjured ; and it is as a direct affirmance . it will be proved by many vehement presumptions , that welby was a plotter and contriver of thomas powels death because hee would not sell his land to the said welby ; adjudged the words were actionable . and now i have shewne you the affirmative part , where words which touch or concerne a mans life shall bee actionable . i shall now shew unto you the negative part , where words in such case shall not be actionable . words that touch or concern a mans life may not be actionable in these cases : where they are too generall , or not positively affirmative ; or of a double or indifferent meaning , or doubtefull in sence ; or for that they are incertaine in themselves , or the person of whom they are spoken ; or else by reason of the subsequent qualification of the words , or because they doe not import an act , but an intent , or inclination only to it ; or for that they are impossible , or lastly , because it doth appeare that the speaking of them could be no dammage to the pla●ntiffe , in all these cases the words will not be actionable . and first , words that are too generall , or not positively affirmative , will not bee actionable . to say of a man that he deserves to be hanged ; adjudged not actionable , because they are too generall , for that hee doth not shew any thing that hee hath done to deserve it : and b● yelverton iustice , hee may deserve it for unnaturall using of his parents , and the like , where he shall not bee punished by the law. cooke , lib. . f. . b. yeomans and hexts case ▪ for my ground in allerton hext seekes my life , adjudged not actionable , because seeking his life is to generall , for which there is no punishment . so if i say of another that it is in my power to hang him , adjudged not actionable , in pr●dham and tuckers case cited before , because the words are too generall . iames steward brought an action against b●shop for saying of him , that hee wa● in warwicke gao●e for stealing of a mare and other beasts , and adjudged , that the words would not beare an action because they doe not affirme directly that he did steale them ; as if he had said that he stole them , and was in goale for it ▪ but onely make report of his imprisonment and the supposed reason of it , and it may very well be , that the warrant of mittimus was for stealing expressely , as is the common forme of making of the kalender of the prisoners for the justices of assize , and the like . georg bla●d brought an action against a. b. for saying that he was indicted for felony at such a sessions ; it was said , that it was questioned , whether an action would lie , because an indictment is but a surmise . but i conceave that it is without question , that no action wil● lie in such case ; because that to say a man was indicted of felony , is no more then to say hee was impeached or accused for felony , which an honest man may bee ; and is no positive affirmation that hee had committed felony , and so it hath bin often adjudged , i will only cite one case in the point . hasselwood brought an action against garret for these words ; i can finde in this parish a falser knave then briscoe is the which briscoe is indicted of felony & burglary , and is gone to stafford goale ; and that false kn●ve is thomas hasselwood , &c. it was adjudged that these words are not actionable because that briscoe might be indicted and yet be an honest man. thou hast laye● in fullers tubbe , in which none come , but those that have the pox adjudged the words were nor actionable , because this is no direct affi●mation that the plaintiffe had the pox. poland brought an action against mason , for saying , i charge him ( meaning the p●aint●ffe ) with felony , &c. adjudged the words were not actionable , because that he doth not affirme that he is a felon , but doth onl● say , that he doth charge him with felony , which he may do in some cases ▪ though he did not the fact ▪ as if a felony were done ▪ and the common fame were ▪ that he did it any one that suspects him may charge him with it . hen●y brought an action against fit●h for these words ; i arrest you for felony : agreed that the words were not actionab●e for this is no positive charge that hee was a felon , and this may bee lawfully done upon a common fame as is said before , thus you see that words that are not directly affirmative wil not beare an action . yet you may see before fol. . where words which imply an affirmative only shall be actionable , as to say , that i will prove that you stole my books , or the like , but of this sufficient . secondly , words that are of a double or indiff●rent meaning , the law wil take in the best sence for the speaker , and s● adjudge them actionable , for the rule of law is ( as i have said before ) that verba accipienda sunt in mitiori sensu : yeomans and hexts case cited before , for my land in allerton , hext seekes my life , &c. adjudged these words were not actionable , because he may seeke his life lawfully upon just cause ; and his land may be holden of him , and so in mitiori s●nsu . barham brought an action upon the case against nethersall , and the words were master b●rham did burn my barne , ( innuendo a barue with corne ] with his owne hands , and none but he : and after verdict it was moved in arrest of judgment , that the words were not actionable , for it is not felony to burn a barne , if it be not parcell of a mansion house , nor full of corne ; and in such case agitur civiliter , and not criminaliter : and words must be taken in mitiori sensu ; and the innuendo will not serve when the words themselves are not slanderous . ieams his case , hang him he is full of the pox , i marvaile that you will eate or drinke with him , &c. adjudged that the words wer● no● actionable , because they shall bee taken in mitiori sensu for the small pox and not the french pox. but no●e that in hawtry and miles case cited afterwards it was said by fenner iust : that to say that a man is layd of the pox , will beare an action ; because that is the phrase for the french pox. adrian coote brought an action against adrian gilbert for these words ; thou art a thi●fe and hast stollen a tree adjudged that the words were not actionable ▪ and agreed that there is no difference betweene ▪ and thou hast stollen , and for thou hast stollen ; for in common acceptation ( and ) is to bee understood to be but a verifying and making good of the generall word ( theefe ) and then a tree shall bee understood rather of a tree standing then felled ; which can bee no felony or theft for that a man cannot steale a mans inheritance . so clarke brought an action against gilbert for these words ; thou art a theefe and hast stollen twenty load of my furz adjudged that the action would not lie for the reasons given in the former case . the like law is , if a man say of another that he hath stollen his apples , or his corne , or robbed his hoppe ground , or the like , the law in these cases will adjudge them rather growing , then gathered or cut downe , and so the words not actionable . thus it is evident , that where the words may be taken in a double or an indifferent meaning that the law will ever take them best for the speaker . i shall only put one case more upon this ground and so passe it over . pawlin brought an action against ford for these words , thou art a theevish rogue , and hast stollen my wood. it was in this case said at barre the action would not lie , because it should be construed rather to be wood standing then cut downe , like those cases put before . but bramston chiefe iustice seemed to incline that the words were actionable ▪ because that [ wood ] cannot be otherwise intended then of wood cut down according to the old verse ; arbor du● crescit ▪ lignum dum crescere nescu , and so it was adjourned without more saying . note reader , according to the opinion of bramston chiefe iustice , betwixt litchfield and saunders for the same words , hee hath stollen my wood , to which the defendant demurred , it was adjudged that the action would lie , for tanfield iustice said that the words shall be intended according to the most usuall sence , viz. that it was lignum , and not arbor , as if one say that the plaintiffe hath committed a murder ▪ it shall not be intended that he hath mu●dered a hare , but a man. you may here observe ( reader ) that though words of a double or indifferent meaning ought to be taken in the best intendment for the speaker as i have sufficiently cleared it unto you yet they ought not to be taken contrary to common intendment . for as you shall not straine words to an intent not apparent , to make them actionable , so you must not wr●st them contrary to common intent , to make them no● actionable this is apparent by sanders his case immediatly before , where it is adjudged that to say of another you have stollen my wood , shal● be intended to be lignum , and not arbor , and so actionable , so to say of a man that he hath committed a murder , shall not be understood murdering of a har● , but a man. dame morrison brought an action against vvilliam cade esquier a●d declared that she was of good same , &c. and that henry earle of kent was in speech and communication with her for mariage , the defendant pr●misso um non ignarus said these words arscot hath reported that he hath had the use of the lady morrisons body at his pleasure ; ubi revera arscot never reported it . and further alledges that the e. of kent upon the hearing of these words surceased his suit by which she lost her advancement , the defendant pleaded not guilty , and it was found for the plaintiffe . it was moved by hobart atturney gener●ll that the words were not actionable for this reason amongst others all ruled against him ● because that the words had the use of her body were incertain and of a double intendmen● , and therfore should bee taken in the best sence to have the use of her body as a tailor in measuring ▪ or a phisitian in giving phisick or the like , and not in any worse ●ence . but by popham chiefe iustice the words are actionable , when words are spoken that may have a double intent or meaning , they shall bee expounded according to common intent for otherwise he which intends to slander another , may speak slanderous words , which by common intendment sha●l be expounded a slander and yet no action lie . and here the words hath had the use of her body at his pleasure shall not be intended in any lawfull manner , but licentiously and dishonestly for this is the common intent , with whom all the other justices agreed . thirdly , where the words are doubtful in sence or meaning , there likewise they will not be actio●able . to say that a man smells of a murder lately committed , will not beare an action , because the words are of a dubious sence and intendment . bradshaw brought an action against vvalker for these words ; thou art a filching fellow , and d●ddest ●●lch from vvilliam parson a . l. adjudged that the words were not actionable , because that they are of incertaine sence and meaning . so to call one harlot will not beare an action . and upon this ground i conceive ( as i have said before ) that to call a woman hagge , will not be actionable . so to say of a man that he is a healer of felons ; or that he strained a mare as the cases are before put ; will not be actinable , because of their doubtfull sence and meaning without the words be ● spoken to such who knows the meaning and intendment of them . fourthly , where the words themselves are incertaine , or the persons of whom they are spoken , in such case they will not be actionable . a●d first for the incertainty of the words ; that is , when the scandall is not certaine and apparent in the words themselves . note reader that all the cases put before upon the double or indifferent meaning of words are apt to this purpose . as those thou hast stollen my apples , or my corne , or so many load of my furres , or a tree , or the like the words in these cases are not actionable , because the scandall is not apparent and certaine by the words ; for in every of these cases ▪ ●for ought appeares by the words ] the thing said to be stollen might be growing , and then it is a trespasse only and no felony , and to charge a man with a trespasse , will not be actionable . but if the words were , thou hast stollen my apples out of my loft , my corne out of my barne , or my fu●z or wood out of my yeard , in such case the words would be actionable , because the scandall is apparent , for that it is evident by the words they were not growing . edward miles brought an action against francis iacob for these words , thou hast poysoned smith &c. upon a writ of error in the chequer chamber it was adjudged , that the action would not lie , because it did not appeare by the words that it was done wittingly . gibs and ienkins case to say of a man that he boare away money , or the like will not be actionable . a. said of b. that he tooke away money from him with a strong hand , for which , b. brought an action , adjudged that it would not lie . bramstan chief● iustice in the argueing of hawes case , mich. ● . of this king in the kings bench , remembred this case ; he did assault me and tooke away my purse from me ; and hee said that it was adjudged that the words were not actionable . the reason of these cases , is because that for ought appeares by the words ( which are of them selves uncertaine ) these might be trespasses only , and no felony . againe , where the person scandalized is uncertaine , no action will lie . if one say ( without any precedent communication of any person incertaine ) that one of the servants of b. ( he having divers ) is a notorious felon or traytor , &c. here fore the incertainety of the person no action lyes ; neither can it be made good by an ( innuendo . ) so , if one say generally i know one neere about b. that is a notorious theefe , or the like , no action will lie , for the same reason . so as it is in fleetwoods case in hobarts reports ; if a man say , lookeing upon three persons one of these murdered a man , no action will lie for these words by reason of the incertainety of the person , neither can an innuendo , helpe the incertainety ; and note reader that these cases are not like wisemans case . wiseman of grayes-inne , brought an action against wiseman of lincollins-inne his brother for these words , my brother [ meaning the plaintiffe ] is perjured , and i will justifie it , upon not guilty pleaded , it was found for the plaintiffe , and it was moved in arrest of judgement that the words were not certaine enough to ground an action upon , because the plaintiffe might have more brothers , and it doth not appeare of which of them the words were spoaken , but it was resolved that the action would well lie , because it is alledged that they were spoken of the plaintiffe , and the jury have found accordingly ; and here tanfield iustice tooke this difference ; where the words themselves are incertaine , as to say , one of my brothers is perjured , there they can never be made good by any averrement , but where the words are certaine in themselves , so that it may appeare that the speaker intended a person certaine ; there they may bee made certaine by such a declaration , and the finding of the iury. and it was said that if it were true that there were divers brothers , the defendant should have pleaded it , and then issue should have beene taken , whether the words were spoken of the plaintiffe or no. nor are the former cases like a case which i cited before mich. . iac. where an action was brought for these words ; thou diddest kill a woman great with childe , [ innuend ▪ iocosam vxorem cujusdam r. s. defunct ] where it was ruled that though the woman were utterly incertaine , yet because the offence , and the party intended to commit it were certaine , the action would well lie . foxcroft brought an action against lacy and declared that a communication was moved betweene iohn vvalter , and richard guyn esquiers concerning a certaine suit , wherein the plaintiffe and certaine others were defendants , and that the defendant lacy upon the said communication in their presence , spake these words ; these defendants [ meaning the plaintiffe , and the others ] are those that helped to murder henry farrar ( meaning one hen. farrer deceased who was murdered by one t. guldfield , who was hangd for it , adjudged the words were actionable , and that they were as sufficiently layed to entitle every of the defendants to a severall action , as if they had beene specially named , here you see the words may be sufficiently certaine by relation . fifthly , where former words actionable are qualified with subsequent words not actionable , there though the former words spoaken generally , aud by themselves would have maintained an action , yet now , taking altogether , they will not bee actionable . thou art a theefe , for thou hast stolen my apples out of my orchard ; or , for thou hast robbed my hopground , or , for thou hast stollen a tree ; or , for thou hast stollen my furzes ; as i have put you the cases before . or , thou art a theefe , and thou hast stollen my aples out of my orchard ; or , and thou hast robbed my hop ground , &c. [ aud ] and [ for ] have both one and the same signification in these cases , as i have cleered it to you before to be adjudged ; and in all these cases no action will lie . for [ as i have said before ] the latter words do qualifie the former , for the former words say him to be a theefe , but the latter prove him to be no●e . i have given the reason before , because that in all these cases , the law which will alwayes construe words the best for the speaker , will take the apples , hopes &c. to be growing , and then it is trespasse only and not fellony to take them away because felony as i have told you before ] cannot bee committed of that which is parce ▪ of a mans inheritance as these are whilst they are growing . britteridge brought an action for these words ; britteridge is a perjured old knave , and that is to be proved by a stake , parting the land of h. martin , and m. vvright , adjudged that the words are not actionable , because though the former words would beare an action , the latter do so qualifie and extenuate them , that taking altogether they are not actionable for the latter words do explaine his intent , that hee did not intend any judiciall perjury ; also it was impossible , that a stake could prove him perjured , and therefore for the impossibility , and insensibility of the words the action would not lie . sixtly , where the words doe not import an act , but an intent only , or an inclination to it , there such words [ except where they s●and all a man in his function or profession ] will not beare an action . if a man say of another that he is a seditious knave , or a theevish knave ; or a traiterous knave ; these words will not beare an action ; because that the words do not import that he hath done or is guilty of sedition , felony , or treason , but are adjective words , which import an inclination to it only . but if a man say of another that hee is a parjured knave , an action will lie for these words , because that the adjective [ perjured ] presumeth an act committed , or otherwise hee cannot be perjured . besides , adjective words will beare an action ▪ when they scandall a man in his office , function or trade , by which he doth acquire his living , though they do not import an act done . my lord cooke cites this case adjudged , . eliz. between philips parson of d. and badby , in an action brought for these words , thou hast a seditious sermon , and moved the people to sedition this day : resolved that the words were actionable , notwithstanding that the first part of the words were utter adjective , and the last words were but a motive to sedition , and it doth not appeare that any thing ensued ; yet because that they scandall the plaintiffe in his function , they were adjudged actionable . so , if a man say of a merchant , that hee is a bankruptly knave , or a bankrupt knave , these words will beare an action , though that the bankrupt bee adjective . or if one say of a merchant , that he will be bankrupt within two dayes , which imports but an inclination , ●y●t an action will lie ; for these scandalls reach to the profession . so if a man say of an officer or judge , that hee is a corrupt officer or iudge , though the words be adjective yet an action lyeth for both causes ; first because the words touch him in his office , and then because they doe import an act done . hob. kep . pag. . pl. . yardly , and ellill● case , to say of an atorney , that he is a bribing knave , will beare an action , though the words be adjective . words likewise that import an intent only , will not beare an action . the defendant said of the ●laintiffe for he is a brabler & a quarreller he gave his champion counsell to make a deed of gift of his goods to kill me ▪ &c. but god preserved mee ; the book saith , that it was strongly urged , that the action should be maintainable , and divers cases cited , which i will remember unto you . my lady cockeins case for these words ; my lady cockein offered to give poyson to one to kill the child in her body . another betwixt tibets and heyne in glocester for these words : tibots and another did agree to hire one to kill b. also cardinalls case for these words , if i had consented to master cardinall , t. h. had not beene alive . and the lord lumlyes case ; my lord lumley hath gone about to take away my life , against all christian dealing but notwithstanding these cases , the book saith , that upon great deliberation and advisement , it was adjudged , that in the principall case the words were not actionable , because that the purpose or intent of a man , without act is not punishable by the law. my l. cooke in the close of this case sayes , note well this case , and the casue and reason of the judgment . certainly reader there is somwhat more than ordinary in this ( nota be●e ) of my lord cookes ; and the reason of the case seemes to intimate as much unto us ; which is , that the purpose or intent of a man , without act , is not punishable by the law , which is a certain truth . but i conceive it is as true , that where that purpose or intent is manifested by an overt act or attempt that that is punishable . mich. . of king iames in a case in the kings bench , this was agreed for law ; to say of a man , that hee lay in waite to assault i. s. with an intent to robbe him , or to murder him , an action lyes , because that hee doth accuse him of an act , viz. the preparation and lying in waite to assault him , but if hee had said that he would have murdered , or would have robbed i. s. an action would not lye , because hee only guesses at his imagination . and in harris and dixo●s case in the kings bench , that case was allowed for law by tanfield iustice , where hee sayd that if one say of another , that hee lay in waite to murder i. s. an action lyes , because such lying in waite is punishable by the law . by this case it should seeme , that to charge a man with an attempt only to commit felony , as to say of a man that hee offered to rob , or to poyson , or to murder i. s. that these should be actionable ; for i think the like punishment is in these cases , as in the former , which i conceive is only the good behaviour , or at most indictable for it , and thereupon fined . and if an action should lye in such case ; by the same reason , to say of a man , that he is a common quarreller , breaker , or perturber of the peace , or that hee is a riotter or the like would beare an action , because that for these likewise the good behaviour is grantable , and likewise a man may bee indicted for them , therefore quaere of the former cases . seventhly , words which are apparently impossible , will not be actionable . benson brought an action against morley for these words ; thou hast robed the church ( innuendo ecclesiam sic alhagi extra , creplegate london ) and hast stollen the leads of the church ; upon not guilty pleaded it was found for the plaintiffe and it was moved in arrest of judgement ▪ that the words were not actionable , because the church shall be intended the universall church , and not any materiall church , and the church militant cannot bee robbed , and so the words are impossible , but by popham , chiefe iustice , and tanfield iustice , the action will well lie , and so it was adjudged , because the words in this case cannot be intended of an invisible church , as is objected , but of a materiall church , as is explained by the subsequent words ; and hast stollen the leade of the church : which cannot bee understood of the invisible church . in this case reader you may observe that it is admitted , that to say of a man that hee ha●h robbed the church ▪ generally will not bee actionable ; because that it shall be understood of the invisible universall church , and so the words impossible , because that cannot be robbed . so , i conceive to say of a man , that he hath robbed a church will be actionable ▪ because this must of necessity be understood of some perticular materiall church . dickes a brewer brought an action against f●nne for these words ; i will give a picke of malt to my mar● , and leade her to the water to drinke , and shee shall pisse as good beere as dickes doth br●w ; adjudged the words were not actionable , because impossible , and therefore they could be no scandall to the plaintiffe . britteridge brought an action for these words , britteridge is a perjured old knave , and that is to bee proved by a stake parting the land of h. martin , and m. wright , adjudged the words were not actionable because that it was impossible that a stake could prove him perjured . lastly , where it doth appeare that the speaking of the words could bee no dammage to the plaintiffe , there likewise no action will lye . the plaintiffe shewes in his count , that the defendant hath a wife yet in life , and that the defendant said of the plaintiffe , thou hast killed my vvife ; adjudged that the words were not actionable , because that it doth appeare by the plaintiffes declaration , that the wife of the defendant was in life , so that by these words the plaintiffe could not bee in any jeopardy nor scandaled , or damnified by them . the like case was put in 〈◊〉 thomas h●lt and taylors case pasch. . of king iames ; if one say of a woman . that she hath murdered her husband ; and shee and her husband bring the action , it will not lye , because it doth appeare by the record , that the slander is not prejuditiall . and as when it doth appeare by the record that the speaking of the words could be no dammage to the plaintiffe , no action will lye . so where the speaking of the words might bee a dammage to the plaintiffe yet if the ground of t●at damnification doe not sufficiently appeare by the record , the action will not lye . a br●ught an action against b. for saying that hee kept false waytes by which he did cousen , &c. and declared that hee gained his living by buying and sel●ing , but did not shew of what profession he was ; adjudged that the action would not lye , because it cannot appeare ( without shewing of his profession ) that the speaking of the words could bee any dammage to the plaintiffe . a. brought an action against b. for these words ; thou hast killed my brother [ innuendo g. &c. fratrem , &c. nuper mortuum ) adjudged that the words were not actionable , because the plaintiffe did not averre , that hee was dead at the time when the words were spoken , and if hee were living , then the speaking of the words could be no slander or damage to the plaintif ▪ so where a man brings an action for welsh words or the like which are scandelous , and doth not aver , or set forth that they were spoken to one who understood the meaning of them , the action will not lye , because it doth not appeare by the record , that the speaking of the words could be any damage to the plaintiffe . for if they were spoken to one that did not understand the meaning of them , no action would lie , because they could bee no scandall to the plaintiffe . and now i shall adde to the rest , only this one ground where words shall not be actionable , and that is in this case . vvhen a man is charged with a crime or offence by scandalous words , where it doth not appeare by the words , that he had notice or knowledge of the ground or occasion of the crime or offence in such case no action will lie for such words . bridges brought an action for those words he ( prefat bridges innuendo ) is a maintainer of t'heeves and he keepeth none but theeves in his ●ouse , and i will prove it , upon a writte of error in the chequer chamber , it was holden the words were not actionable , because he might maintaine theeves without notice , and therefore the first judgement was reversed . like the case in my lord hobarts booke where an action was brought against another , for saying that the plaintiffe kept men which did robbe upon the highway , adjudged that the words would not beare an action , because that he might keepe them and not know them to be such persons . in the case of reade and saule which was mich. . e● . of the queene , this case was remembred by walmesley iustice ▪ a man brought an action in that court for these words he [ meaning the plaintiffe ] is a receiver of theeves , and he said that in this case the plaintiffe could have no judgement , because that he might receive theeves , and yet not know them to be so . a. said of b. that he kept false waites for which b. brought his action ; adjudged that the action would not lie , because that it did not appeare that he did use them ; and besides , for that hee might keepe false waites , and not know them to be so . the case of miles and iacob cited before is likewise to this purpose , where an action was brought for these words , thou hast poysoned smith , adjudged that the words would not beare an action , because that it did not appeare that he did it wittingly . stanhop brought an action against blith for these words ; mr. stanhop hath but one mannor , and that he hath got by swearing and forswearing , resolved that the words were not actionable , for this reason amongst others ] for that hee might recover or obtaine a mannor , by swearing and forswaring , and yet he not procuring or assenting to it . and now i am come to the second part or clause of that generall rule layed downe before , where i am to shew you . that scandalous words which touch or concerne a man in his liberty will beare an action . by the bookes in the margent the law is plaine , that if i publish and claime b. to be my villeine , that in such case no action will lie , because i my selfe claime an interest in him , and the law will not in such case punish a man ; for then no man durst claime his owne for feare of an action . but upon these bookes i conceive the law is evident , that if a man had published another to be the villein of i. n. that in such case an action would have layne , because these words tend to the inslaving of him and his posterity , and to the utter deprivation of his libertys , which the law so much favours , for , as it is well knowne , he that was a villaine , he was subject both in person and estate to the will of the lord , so● that he might seize all his estate reall and personall , and vassalise his person at pleasure , so that he did not kil or maime him . but i conceive that at this day an action in such case will not lie , because that time and inconvenience hath quite abolished and worne out this bondage , our books have little upon this ground therefore i shall thus passe it over . scandalous words which touch or concerne a man in member , or in any corporall punishment , will beare an action . a man brought an action for calling him theefe , and that he had stollen . sheepe from b. the defendant justifies the calling of him theefe , for that the plaintiffe did steale the sheepe ▪ and it was good by the whole court , without expressing the value of the sheepe , for if they be not worth twelve pence , so that it is but petty larceny , and not capitall , yet it is fellony in its nature . by this it is evident , that to say a man hath stollen six-pence from b. will beare an action , though it be but petty larceny , because the offender by law may be imprisoned and whipt for it . if a man say of another that he is perjured , or that he hath forsworne himselfe in such a court , an action will lie for these words . for by the statute of . eliz. cap. . a man convict of perjury forfeits . l. and is to have six moneths imprisonment and his testimony taken away while that conviction stands ; and if hee have not goods and chattels to the value of . l. then he is to be put in the pillary , and his eares to be nailed , so that you see here is an immediate corporall punishment given by this statute , which is imprisonment . and if a man say of another that hee can prove him perjured , an action will lie , though it be but an implied affirmative . hearle against tresham thou hast taken a false oath in the session of , &c. resolved the words were actionable , for the court shall intend this to bee a court of record , as records of which they ought to take conusance . adams against flemming , he hath forsworne himselfe before the counsell of the marches of vvales in the suit i had against him there for perjury ; adjudged actionable . in lelicke and vvrinskemores case mich. . of king iames in the kings bench , one cossimans case was cited , which was thus , thou wast forsworne in such a bishops court , it was said that these words were adjudged actionable , & so it was agreed by the court. it was moved by williams in arrest of judgement for these words , thou art a forsworne knave , thou wast forsworne in ilcon court ( innuendo the court leete there holden ) it was agreed that the ( innuendo ) should not stretch the words further then they were spoaken : and vvilliams put this case , which was in the kings bench , thou art a forsworne man thou wert forsworne in white church court , which was affirmed by all the serjeants to be adjudged not actionable which case i conceive , cannot bee law , because it is adjudged ( as i have put the case before ) that if one say of another that he hath forsworne himselfe in such a court , that the words are actionable , and in this case judgement was given accordingly . if a man say of a woman that shee hath a bastard , an action wil lie for these words , because that shee is punishable by the statute of . of the queen cap. . at the discretion of the iustices , who alwayes inflict a corporall punishment upon them , as imprisonment , whipping or the like . morgan and rookes case morgan said of the wife of rookes shee is a bawde , and keepes a bawdy house , adjudged that the words were actionable , upon a writ of error brought by morgan : to reverse the judgement given in the common pleas , and judgement was affirmed . chambers and his wife against ryly for the same words ; chambers his wife is a bawd , and keepes a bawdy house . adjuded the words were actonable , and in this case it was agreed that to say of a woman shee is a bawde , will not beare an action ; because shee is not punishable by the law for it , but to say of her that shee keepes a bawdy house , will be actionable , for that shee is punishable by the law for keeping a house of bawdry . a prohibition was prayed , because that elizabeth thorne had libelled in court christian against turnam for defamation for these words , thou art a bawde and dost keepe a bawdy house , and it was granted by the whole court , because that an action lies at common law for these words . the reason why an action lies in these cases , is , because the party may be indicted for keeping of a bawdy house ; and if shee be thereupon convicted , shee shall be imprisoned and most ignominiously carted , which are corporall punishments . if a man say of another that hee hath forged a leafe , obligation , release , or accquitrance , or the like , an action will lie for these words : because that by the statute of . of the queene cap. . there are great and grievous corporall punishments inflicted upon such offenders , if it bee to disturbe a title , the punishment is the greater , but if onely in the cases aforesaid , the offender is to be put in the pillory , one of his eares to be cut off , and to bee imprisoned for a yeare . hawes brought an action for these words ; my cousen hawes hath spoken against the booke of common prayer , and said it is not fit to bee read in the church . heath iustice was of opinion that the words were actionable , though the offence be● onely against a penall law , for the statute of . of the queen cap. . gives a penalty only for speaking against the booke of common prayer ; but in default of payment thereof imprisonment . and hee held that all scandalous words , which if they were true , would make a man lyable either to a pecuniary or a corporal punishment , would beare an action . but mallet iustice , and bramston chiefe iustice were of a contrary judgment , and their reason was because that if this should be law , it would be a great occasion to increase and multiply actions for words , which the law labours to suppresse as much as may be for then all words spoken of any man , which if they were true would subject him to a penalty , either by the common , or the statute law would beare an action , as to say of a man that hee hath erected a cottage , or committed a ryot or the like , would be actionable , which the law will not suffer for the reason aforesaid , and judgment was given accordingly . mallet justice in the arguing of this case said , that there was an action then pending in the common-pleas , for calling of a man recusant , and hee said that his opinion was , the action was not maintainable , i never heard what became of that case , but i conceive the law to bee with justice mallet ; for though there bee many penalties and forfeitures provided by statutes against recusants , yet no corporall punishment is given by any of them ; no not after conviction . thorneton brought an action against iobson , and layed that he was a carrier , and of good same , and that the defendant said of him , that hee was a common barretor . in this case the booke sayes , that the court was of opinion , that if these words were spoken of a justice of peace , or publike officer , or of an attorney , or the like , that they would beare an action ; by which it is evident the court did incline against the action in this case . in an action upon the case for words , the words were , i am sorry for thy wife and children , thou art a common barretor , and i will indict thee for it a● the next assizes , &c. adjudged the words were not actionable , and by yelverton justice , the action will not lye for saying that , hee is a barretor , no more then for saying that he is a riotor , a peace breaker , or the like , and an action , will not lye for saying , that a man is a rogue . to say of an attorney , that hee is a champertor , will beare an action . but i conceive upon the case aforesaid , that to say of one , who is no attorney , justice of peace , nor other publike officer that he is a champertor , or a common maintainer of suites , will not be actionable , nor is it actionable in case of the atorney to say that he is a common maintainer of suites . the reason of these cases may bee , because that though any man may bee indicted for being a common barretor , champertor , or maintainer of suites , and thereupon fined and imprisoned ; yet the punishment is only the fine , and the imprisonment as a consequent or incident thereunto . and as it is said before in hawes case , if an action should lye in these cases , then in all cases , where a man shall charge a man with a crime or offence , for which a man might be indicted and fined , an action would lye ; which would occasion multitudes of suites of this nature , that the law labours so much to suppresse . and now i have shewn you what words , which touch or concerne a man in member , or any corporell punishment , will beare an action . i shall in the next place shew you what words in such case will not be actionable ; and that may be in these cases , either by reason of the doubtfull or indifferent meaning of them ; or of the incertainty of the words themselves , or of the persons of whom they are spoken , or of the subsequent qualification of them ; or upon the other grounds and reasons which i have layd downe before . for we must know ( that i may speak once for all ) that all those grounds which are before set downe , wh●re words shall not be actionable , which touch or concerne a mans life ; will agree with all actions for words whatsoever , whether that the words touch or concerne a man in corporall punishment as before ; or in his office or place of trust or in his calling or function by which he gaines his living , or the like , as is manifested likewise in part before , and shall bee more fully hereafter ; but to the point , what words in this case wil not be actionable . box and barnabies case cited before , to say of an attorny , that he is a champertor , will beare an action . but to say that he is a common maintainer of suites , will not b●are an action , for there is maintainance lawfull and unlawfull ; an attorney may , and ought to maintaine his clyents cause ▪ and an attorney may well bee said a common maintainer , because he is common to as many as will retaine him , thus you see , words of a double intendment , shall be taken best for the speaker , for the words in this case shall not bee intended of any unlawfull maintenance , but of a lawfull maintaining of his clyents causes . stanhope brought an action for these words . master stanhope hath but one mannor , and that hee hath gotten by swearing and forswearing : adjudged the words were not actionable , for this reason [ amongst others ] because , that for ought appeares hee might bee forsworne in ordinary communication , and not in any juditiall proceeding , which is not punishable by the law , and where the words are of an indifferent meaning , the law will ( as is said before ) take them the best for the speaker . smith brought an action for these words ; thou art forsworne , and hast taken a false oath at hereford assizes : by the opinion of iones , and bartley iustices [ the other justices absent ) the action will not lie , because that hee might be forsworne in ordinary communication , otherwise if hee had said that he had taken a false oath in the assises , for there it shall be intended that he forsworne himselfe in a juditiall proceeding . in a case that i have cited before , which was mich. . & . of the queene in the common pleas ; this case was remembred by willi●ms , thou art , &c. thou wert forsworne in the kings bench , he said that in this case the plaintiffe could have no judgement , because of the double intendment of the words , for they may bee taken that he was forsworne either in the court or the prison , and the best shall be taken for the speaker , viz. that he was forsworne in the prison . weaver brought an action against cariden for these words , he is detected for perjury in the starchamber , adjudged that the action would not lie , because that an honest man may be detected , but not convicted , and every one who hath a bill of perjury exhibited there against him is detected ▪ here the words do not positively affirme him to be perjured , and therefore not actionable . thomas brought an action against axworth for these words ; this is iohn thomas his writing , he hath forged this vvarrant ; adjudged the action would not lie . harvy brought an action against duckin , for saying that the plaintiffe had forged a writing , adjudged that the words were not actionable , the reason of these cases , is because of the incertainty of the words , vvarrant and writing ▪ and as i have given you the rule before , the scandall must bee certaine and apparent in the words themselves , otherwise they will not be actionable . by tanfield iustice in wisemans case cited before , if a man say that one of his brothers is perjured no action will lie , because of the incertainty . in the case which i put you before , moved by williams , mich. . & . of the queene in the common pleas , this case was remembred by walmseley iustice , one of you forged a sub-p●na out of the chancery ; ( innuendo the plaintiffe ) he saith that judgement was stayed in this case ; because he which is greeved ought to be certainly defamed and the ( innuendo cannot make the words more certaine here likewise you have examples ▪ that where the person is incertaine that is scandalised , no action will lie . powell brought an action against winde for these words , i have matter enough against him , for mr. harley hath found porgery , and can prove it against him : resolved the words were not actionable , because they were too generall and utterly incertaine . britteridges case cited before , britteridge is a perjured old knave , and that is to be proved by a stake parting the land of h. martin , and master wright adjudged the words were not actionble because of the subsequent words which extenuate the former , and explaine his intent , that he did not intend any juditiall perjury , and because that it is impossible that a stake should prove him perjured , here you have words that are not actionable by reason of the qualification of the subsequent words , thus you may see , that the grounds formerly laid downe , may serve as a touchstone for all cases of scandalous words . the third part of that rule or ground which i have laid downe before , and which i am now to handle is this . that scandalous words spoaken of a man , which touch or concerne a man in his office , or place of trust , will beare an action . skinner a manchant of london said of manwood chiefe baron that hee was a corrupt judge , adjudged the words were actionable . stucley a justice of peace brought an action for these words , mr. stucley covereth and hideth felonies , and is not worthy to be a iustice of peace , adjudged the action would lie , because ▪ it is against his oath , and the office of a iustice of peace , and good cause to put him out of commission , and for this he may be indicted and fined . pridham and tuckers case , to say of a constable that he is a concealer of fellons , adjudged actionable . stafford iustice of peace brought an action against poler for these words ; william web being arrested as accessory for stealing his own goods , master stafford knowing thereof discharged the said vveb by and agreement of . l. which master stafford was party , whereof . s. was to be paid to master stafford , and was paid to his man by his appointment upon a vvrit of error brought in the chequer chamber , it was holden the words were actionable . cotton iustice of peace brought an action against morga● for these words . hee hath received money of a theefe that was apprehended and brought before him for stealing of certaine sheep ▪ to let him escape , and to keepe him from the goale , adjudged the action would lie . morris gilbert iustice of peace brought an action against adams for these words ; mr. gilbert hath done me wrong in returning the recognizance of podger in . l. where it was taken in tenne , and the suerties in . l. a peece by the whole court , the words are actionable . if a man say of a iustice of peace , that he is a common barret or , champertor , or maintainer of suites , the words are actionable . carre brought an action against rande for words , and declared that hee was steward to divers great lords of their court barrons , and of the leetes with in their mannots , and that he was steward of one a. of his court barron and of the leete within his mannor , the defendant of this not ignorant , said these words mr. carre hath put a presentment into the iuries verdict against me of s . d . for sueing of peter vvest forth of the court contrary , &c. without the consent of the iury by the whole court the action lies , because he doth accuse him of falsity in his office ; but by the better opinion if he had not alledged in his count that he was steward , the action would not have layen . sir george moore brought an action against foster for scandalous words , and sets forth that he was a iustice of peace in the county of surrey , and that there was a suit depending in chancery betwixt the defendant , and one richard king , and that a commission was awarded to sir george moore and others , to examine witnesses in the said cause , and also to heare and determine it , and that he with the others , dealt in the execution of the said commission , and that the defendant said of the plaintiffe these words ▪ sir george is a corrupt man , and hath taken bribes of richard king ; and at another time , king hath set sir george moore on horseback with bribes , where by to defrande equity iustice and good conscience , resolved that the words were actionable ; because that though the plaintiffe bee neither officer ●or iudge , nor is sworne yet because it is a place of great trust reposed by the king in the plaintiffe , and for that he is punishable for bribary or corruption in the execution of the said commission , in the court out of which it issues not deserving ( if the words were true ) to be imployed in the like commission or any other , for these causes the words were held to be actionable , and popham chiefe iustice in this case made no difference , where the commission issues to one , and where to many ; nor where they are nominated by the court , where by the party , for in the first case ( he said ) the confidence of the court is all one ; and in the last , though that they be nominated to the court ; by the party , yet they shal not be commissioners without the approbation of the court. sir richard greenefield brought an action against furnace for these words thou ( innuendo captaine greenfield ) hast received money of the king to buy new saddles , and hast cousened the king , and bought old saddles for the troopers . it was objected that the action would not lie , and it was likened to these cases , which i will cite , because they are worth the knowing . . car. the major of tivertons case ▪ one said of him that the major had cousened all his brethren , &c. adjudged not actionable . . iac. in the kings bench , the overseer of the poore hath cousened the poore of all their bread , this was likewise said to be adjudged not actionable ; but i doe some what doubt of this case , because the words doe scandall the plaintiffe in his office of overseer , but to this it may be said that this is an office of burden and trouble , and not of profit . . of the queene in the kings bench ▪ kerby and vvalters case , thou art a false knave and hast cousened my two kinsmen , adjudged the words were not actionable . . of the queene in the kings bench ; serjeant fenner hath cousened me , and all my kindred , adjudged the words would not beare an action . out of which cases , wee may ( by the way ) observe this for law ; that if a man say of an other ( without any precedent communication of his office , place of trust , or profession ) that he is accusening , or a cheating knave● , or that he hath cousened any man thus and thus , that no action will lie for such words generally spoken , otherwise if they be spoken in reference to a mans office , place of trust , or profession . and in the principall case it was resolved by heath iustice , and bramston chiefe iustice , ( the other iustices being absent ) that the action would lie ; because the words did scandall him in his place of trust , and they said it was not materiall what imployment the plaintiffe had under the king , if by the speaking of these words , he might be in danger of loosing his trust or imployment . bray brought an action against hayne and declared that where he had beene bayly to sir vvilliam m. kt. for three yeares last past of his land in c. and had the selling of his corne and graine , the defendant said these words unto him , thou art a cousening knave , and thou hast cousened me in selling false measure in my barley , and the country is bound to curse thee for selling with false measures , and i will prove it , &c. adjudged the words were not actionable , for every falsehood charged upon a man in his private dealing will not be actionable . and in this case it doth not appeare that these words were spoken of any sale of corn whilest he was in his office of bayliffe , nor of his masters corne , nor to the damage of his master . but it was agreed in this case , that if he had beene a common rider or badger , and had beene charged with selling false measure , it would have borne an action ; which is evident , because it is a slander to him in his function by which he gaines his living . and my lord hobart puts this case ; if a man [ saith he have a bayliffe , to whom he commits the buying and selling of his corne and graine , and gives him the greater wages in respect of that trust and imployment , and charges him to have deceived him in his office , by buying and selling of false measure , to his losse or damage ▪ this will beare an action , because this discredits him in his office , and may not only , because to put him out of that service but to be refused of all others ; this case is evident reader , because the words doe charge him with selling with false measure , whilst he was in his office. in the debate of sir george moore , and fosters case before cited , these cases were put by vvilliams iustice , if one say of an arbitrator that he hath done corruptly , and hath taken bribes , no action will lie , the reason may be , because being chosen by the parties themselves , and not being sworne , such corruption is not puni●hable by law , nor can the countermaunding of his power be any damage to him . but if a man say of a wayer in a market or faire appointed to way betwixt the buyer and seller , that he hath done corruptly , and hath taken bribes to make false waite , an action lies for these words , because hee is an officer . miles fleetwood generall receiver of the court of wardes for the king , brought an action against curbey for these words ; mr. deceiver hath deceived and cousened the king , and dealt fals●y with him , adjudged the words were actionable . the like case , where one said of an auditor , that he was a frauditor , was adjudged actionable . an action was ●rought for calling of the plaintiffe false justice of peace vil his similia . i do conceve that thesewords are not actionable because , though they doe re●●ect upon his office , yet they are too generall . but the booke saith that these words ( his similia ) were ordered to be expunged or drawne ou● of the booke , for the incertainty ; and well they might indeed ; for certainly if a man shall bring an action against another , and shall declare that the defendant said of the plaintiffe that hee was a rogue and a theese , or words like these , or to this effect , the action will not lie , because the words upon the very face of the declaration are utterly incertaine . the law affords very few cases , ( reader ) where words shall not be actionable that scandall a man in his office or place of trust upon those grounds which i have formerly layd downe . but note this , that all those grounds ( as i have said before ) are as a touchstone for all actions for words whatsoever , and therefore if you meet with scandalous words , which touch a man in his office or place of trust , examine them by those rules , if they be too generall or not s●fficiently possitive , or if of a double intendment , or doubtfull in meaning , or incertaine in themselves , or the person of whom they are spoken , or the like in such cases they will not be actionable , and therefore those rules ought especially to be observed . the fourth part of that generall rule which i have laid downe before , and which in course i must now speake of , is this . that words spoken of a man , which scandall him in his profession or function by which he gaines his living , will beare an action . yardleys case , there being a communication or discourse of him in his profession of attorney , one said that hee was a bribing knave . boxes case , one said of him , being an attorney , that he was a champertor . byrchlyes case an attorney ; there being speech of his dealing in his profession one said to him , you are well knowne to be a corrupt man , and to deale corruptly adjudged in all these cases ; that the words , because they scandall a man in his profession by which he doth acquire his living , were actionable . so , by the opinion of the court , in thornton and iobsons case cited before , to say of an attorney that he is a common barretor will beare an action . dawtry an attorney in the court of ipswich brought an action against miles for these words ; dawtry is a knave and a cousening knave , and hee did take fees of both hands in a suit betweene me and greene , and by knavery suffered me to be condemned at ipswich at greens suit willfully being attorney for me . the only words held considerable in this case were these ; the defendants saying that the plaintiffe tooke fees of both hands , and whether this would amount to as much as if he had said the plaintiffe was an ambidexter was the question . popham and yelverton , iustices that the action would not lie , because that the words in this case may have a double intendment , for it may be intended that hee tooke fees with both hands lawfully , but if he had said that he was an ambidexter , an action would lie , for this is vox artis , and cannot bee otherwise intended . fenner and williams iustice ▪ that the action would lie , for that the words amount to as much as ambidexter , and are the english of it & a direct affirm●tion and no metaphor , if a man say of another that he hath the pox , no action will lie , because it shall be intended the small pox ; but if a man say of another that he hath beene laid of the pox , there an action will lie , because it is the phrase for the french pox. i do rather incline to the latter opinion , because ( as hath beene said ) these words are but the english and proper meaning of ambidextery ; and to construe them to a taking fees with both hands would be to make a construction against the expresse meaning of the words ; which i conceive the law will not permit ; and the rather as this case is , because that hee doth charge him with knavery in suffering of him wilfully to be condemned in a suit , being his attorney : i do not find any judgement in the case , therefore i shall leave it to the juditious reader . philips parson of d. brought an action against badby for these words thou hast made a seditious sermon , and moved the people to sedition this day : in this case , notwithstanding the first part of the words were utterly adjective , and the latter were but a motive to sedition , and it doth not appeare that any thing ensued thereof ; yet because they scandaled the plaintiffe in his function , it was resolved that they were actionable . if a man say of a merchant that he is a bankrupt , or that he will be a bankrupt within two dayes , the words are actionable . edmunds a marchant brought an action against whetston for these ; words he would prove that master edmunds had beene a bankrupt , and had agreed with his cred●itors for a noble in the pound . it was moved in arrest of judgement by hucham that the action would not lie , because that the speech referres to a time past , and though that he were once a bankrupt , yet it may be now that he is of credit . but it was resolved that the action would lie , because that it was an impeachment of his credit for if he were once a bankrupt , every man will be the more suspitious and feareful● of him . a marchant brought an action for calling of him cousening knave ; by iones and barkley , iustices [ the other justices absent ] the action will not lie because that the words are too general . but if they had touched him in his profession they would have borne an action . and therefore to call a marchant bankrupt , will beare an action ; but to say of a lawyer that he is a bankrupt , will not be actionable the reason may be , because that a lawyer cannot bee a bankrupt , for that he doth not acquire , his living by buying and selling as the statutes speake . iones iestice in the former case put this case . there being a communication of serjant heale in his profession one said of him these words , he hath undone many , adiudged that the words were actionable , because they touch him in his profession . a. shoomaker brought an action against one for calling of him bankrupt adjudged upon a writ of error in the chequer chamber , that the action would lie . axe a dyer brought an action against moode for these words , thou art not worth a groat , and averres that in such a place , where they were spoken they have the common acceptation , and are equivalent to the calling of a man a bankrupt , resolved that the words of themselves were not actionable , because that many men in their beginnings are not worth a groat , and yet their credits are good in the world . and that the averrement was idle and could not make them actionable , because that the words have a plaine and proper significant meaning of their owne , and therefore cannot be taken in another sence or meaning . a journeman and foreman of a shoomakers shop brought an action for these words , it is no matter who hath him , for he will cut him out of doores ; and averres that the common acceptation and intendment of these words , inter calceareos , is that he will begger his master , and make him run away ; and averres a perticular damage by the speaking of them , resolved that the action would lie , note reader , here the averrement is good , because the words cutting out of doores , are of a doubtfull meaning and intendment , and so may be aided by an averrement , so that the difference betweene this and axes case cited before , is evident . knightly an attorney brought an action against childoner for these words spoken to his sonne ; my father was not cast over the barre as thy father was ; the parties were at issue , and in this case walmesley iustice said that he conceived the words were not actionable . box and bar●abies case before , the defendant said of the plaintiffe being an attorney these words ( amongst others which were held actionable ) that hee would have him throwne over the barr the next tearme : in this case ( agreeing with the opinion of walmesley before ) the opinion of the court was , that these words were not actionable , because of the incertaine sence and meaning of them . dickes a brewer brought an action against fenne , and declares that the defendant having communication with some of the customers of the plaintiffe concerning him in his profession , said these words of him ; i will give a peck of malt to my mare , and lead her to the vvater to drink , and shee shall pisse as good beere as dicks doth brew ; adjudgeed the words were n●t actionable , because that they are comparative only ; and besides they are impossible , and therefore , they can bee no scandall to the plaintiffe . in this case , it was said by rolls serjeant that it had beene adjudged actionable , to say of a brewer that hee brewes naughty beere ; which was agreed by the court , because that he is presentable in a leete for it . and likewise in this case it was said by bartley iustice that where one said of a lawyer , that hee had as much law as a munkey , that these words were adjudged not actionable because that he hath as much law & more also then the monkey hath , but if hee had said that he had more law then a monkey , these words would be actionable . one said of a counseller at law , that he was a concealer of the law adjudged actionable . sanderson and rudds case the plaintiffe being a lawyer and standing for the stuardship of a corporation , the defendant said of him that he was an ignorant man ; the court in this case inclined that the words were actionable . snag a counceller at law brought an action against peter gray for these words ; goe yee to him to be of your counsell , he will deceive you , he was of counsell with me , and revealed the secrets of my cause . adjudged the words were actionable , because that this cannot be intended of a lawfull revealing to the iudge by way of motion before whom it was tried , for this were a commendation for him , but the words are to be taken as they were spoken , that is , conjunctim , and uno halitu , and then his intention appeares contrary , for he said before , he will deceive you , &c. also the plaintiffe declared that they were spoken malitiose : and these words revealed the secrets , &c. are to be intended revealed to those from whom they ought to be concealed , and every man is to make the best of his cause , and therefore secreta sua non sunt revelanda ; and also the words touch the plaintiffe in his art and science , which requiers men of great trust & confidence , and so the words before being spoken in derogation of the confidence and fidelity of the plaintiffe , are a great slander to him ; for these causes judgement was given for the plaintiffe . vpon this case i do conce●ve , that to say of a lawyer generally that hee revealed the secrets of his clyents cause will beare an action . one said of a doctor of phisick that he was a monntebanke an empericke , and a base fellow ; adjudged the words were actionable . paine brought an action upon the case for words and shewed how that he was a farmer and used to sow his land , and to tell the corne upon it , and by this per majorem partem he maintained his family : and that the defendant said these words of him , he keepes a false bushell by which hee doth cheat and cousen the poore , and averres the losse of his custome by the speaking of these words . in this case it was moved by gotbolt serjeant in arrest of judgement that the words were not actionable , because it doth not appeare that the plaintiffe kept a false bushell s●ienter , knowing it to be false . but it was resolved that the words were actionable , for ( as this case is ) it must of necessity be taken that hee kept a false bushell , knowing it to bee false , for otherwise it could be no co●senedge . and this case plainly differs from the case where an action was brought for saying that the plaintiffe kept false waites generally , without further saying in this case the words were adjudged not actionable , because that it doth not appeare that he used them , or knew them to be false . the fifte part of that generall rule , which i have laid downe before , and which now i am in course to speake of , is this . that words spoken in scandall of a mans title , or which tend to a mans disinheritance , will beare an action . henry mildmay brought an action against roger standish for saying and publishing that certaine land was lawfully assured to one iohn talbot & oliffe his wife for a . yeares , and that they of the interest of the tearme were lawfully possessed , whereas in truth there was no such matter , and so for slandring of the estate and title conveyed to his wife by certaine indentures , and shewed all in certaine , and how hee was prejudiced by the said words , he brought the said action . the defendant pleaded a proviso in the same indentures and the said limitation for yeares , according to the said proviso , as he pretended ( whereas in trueth the said limitation was void in law ) by force of which he saith that the said oliffe had an interest for a yeares , and so justified the words , upon which the plaintiffe demurred : adjudged that the action would well lie ; though that the said iohn talbot and oliffe his wife had such a limitation de facto for a yeares , which occasioned the defendant being unlearned in the lawe so to publish it , yet for that he hath taken upon himselfe notice of the lawe , and medled in that which did not concerne him , and hath affirmed and published that oliffe had a good estate for a yeares in slander of the title of the plaintiffe and to his preiudice , for this cause judgment was given for the plaintiffe . sir thomas gresham knight brought an action against robert gunsley clark , and shewes how his father was seised of divers mannors and lands . and amongst them of the mannor of tittesey , which he did by his will amongst other lands devise to beatrice his wife for life , the remainder to the plaintiffe and the heires males of his body begotten , and had issue william gr●sham his eldest sonne , and the plaintiffe the younger , and dyed , and that william after this death confirmed to thomas his estate , and that beatrice died , and the plaintiffe entred into the said manour of tittesey . and further shewes that william had issue elizabeth his heire apparent , and that the plaintiffe had a wife and sonnes and daughters ; and that he had an intent to conveye some of his lands to his wife for her ioynture , and some to his sonnes and daughters for their advancement and to exchange parcell with others , and to make a lease of another parte , but doth not shew to whom , and that the defendant premissorum non ignarus in derogation of the title and estate of the plaintiffe , said these words to the plaintiffe . as i before said to your wife , i say now that your brother was afoole and never borne to doe himselfe any good , for that he could not hould his hands from ratefying and subscribing to his fathers will : bnt yet notwithstanding i have that to shew in my house that if his heire doe not any such act as hee hath done , it shall bring her to inherit tittesey , by which words he saith , that hee was hindred in the conveyances aforesaid . in this case it was resolved that the action would not lie , first because that the words themselves are not scandalous to the title of the plaintiffe : the words considerable are onely these , that he had that in his house , &c. that shall bring her [ that is the daughter and heire of william ] to inherit tittesey ; which is apparently feasible , for the plaintiffe being donee in taile of the guift of his father , the daughter and heire of the eldest brother is inheritable to the revertion in fee ; and so no prejudice to the plaintiffe , to say he hath that which shall bring her to inherit . besides the action will not lie because that he doth not shew any special damnification by the speakeing of these words as that he was upon a sale of these lands to i. s. who by reason of the speaking of these words refused to buy them , or the like ; and in this case , here was nothing but a purpose or intent of conveying some of these lands . and popham iustice said , that there is a difference when a man declares his opinion of the title of another to land this is nothing , and he shall not be punished for it , but if he doth so publish it , that it comes to the hearing of any one that intended to buy the land in such case an action lies , but he must shew specially in his count in what he was damnified , otherwise the action will not lie . banister brought an action against banister for that the defendant said of the plaintiffe ( being sonne and heire to his father ) that he was a bastard , resolved that the action would lie , for this tends to his disinherision of the land which discends to him from his father . but in this case it was resolved , that if the defendant pretend that the plaintiffe was a bastard , and that he himselfe was next heire , there no action lies . so if a man say that another hath noe right to land , an action lies ; but if a counseller say that his client hath the better right , this will not beare an action . mich. . jac. in the kings bench per curiam , if one say to me that i am a bastard , if i have land by discent , i shall have an action upon the case , and thought that i have land by discent , and this tends to my disinheritance , if i sue in court christian for it , a prohibition lies , because that the tryall there may be to my disinheritance . and if one say to another that hee is base borne , an action will not lie , for the words shall be taken in meliori sensu . and if one say to his sonne that he is a bastard , or a leaper , hee shal not have an action neither in court christian , nor at common law. sir gilbert gerrard brought an action against mary dickinson , and declares how that he was seised of certaine lands in fee , and that hee was in communication to demise them to ralph egerton fot . yeares for . l. fine and a . l. rent per annum , and that the defendant ( premissorum non ignara ) said , i have a lease of the mannor and castle of h. ( which was the same lands ) for ninety yeares , and shewed and published it , &c. by reason of which words ( he saith ) the said ralph egerton did not proceed to accept the lease &c. in this case it was resolved , that no action would lie for the said words , though they were false , because that the defendant pretended an interest in the said land . so if the defendant had affirmed and published that the plaintiffe had not any right to the said land , but that she her selfe had right to it , in this case because that the defendant pretends title to it though , that in truth , shee hath not any , yet no action lies . for if in such case an action should lie , how could any one make claime or title to any land , or commence any suit or seeke advise and counsell , but hee should be subject to an action ; which would be very inconvenient . agreeing with these cases , in . e. . and . e. . it is resolved that no action upon the case lies against one for publishing another to be his villeine . the sixt part of that generall rule which i have laid downe before ; and am now to speake of is this . that scandalous words which tend to the hinderance or losse of a mans advancement or preferrement , or which cause any particular damage , will beare an action . anne davies brought an action against gardiner for these words , spoken to one b. a suiter to the plaintiffe and with whom a marriage wss almost ' concluded . i know davies daughter well , shee did dwell in cheape side and a grocer did get her with childe , &c. and shee saith that by reason of the speaking of these words , the said b. utterly refused to take her to wife , so that thereby she lost her advancement , &c. adjudged that the action would lie , because that if shee had a bastard she was punishable by the statute of . of the queene cap. . but it was in this case further resolved , that if the defendant had charged the plaintiffe with bare incontinency only yet the action would have laine , by reason that by the said slander shee was defeated of her advancement in marriage . and it was in this case likewise resolved , that if a divine be to bee presented to a benefice , and one , to defeat him of it , saith to the patron that he is a heretique or a bastard , or that he is excommunicated , by which the patron refuses to present him ( as he well might , if those imputations were true ) and he loses his preferrement , that in this case an action will lie . dame morrison widdow brought an action against william cade esquier and dec●ares that shee was of good fame , &c. and that henry earle of kent was in speech and communication with her for marriage , the defendant premissorum non ignarus , said these words , arscot hath reported that hee had the use of the lady morrisons body at his pleasure ; ubi rever● , a●scot never reported it , and alledged that the earle of kent upon the hearing of the words surceased his suit by which she lost her advancement , &c. upon not guilty pleaded it was found for the plaintiffe , & in this case it was resolved , that though the words charge the plaintiffe with bare incontinency only , which is an offence ecclesiasticall , and not civill ; nor punishable by our law , yet because of the temporall damage , viz. the losse of her advancement in marriage the action would well lie , which agrees with the judgement in an davies case . sanderson and rudds case cited before ; the plaintiffe being a lawyer , stood for the stew●r●●ship of a corporation , and the corporation being assembled to elect a steward , the plaintiffe was motioned to them ▪ whereupon the defendant being one of the corporation 〈◊〉 to his brothers , he is an ignoran● 〈◊〉 , and not fit for the place ; and 〈…〉 that by reason of these words ▪ they did refuse to elect him st●ward , so that he th●reby lost his pre●errement , &c. the court in this case inclined that the action would lie . and now i am fal●en upon a question very necessary to be resolved , and that is . what words are actionable of themselves only ? and what are not actionable , without alledgeing of a particular damage ; i take this for a rule , that scandalous words which touch or concerne a man in life , liberty , or member , or any corporall punishment , or which scandall a man in his office or place of trust , or in his calling or function , by which he gaines his living , or which charge him with any great infectious disease , by reason of which hee ought to seperate himselfe or to be seperated by the law from the society of men ; all such words will beare an action , without averring or alledging of any particular damage by the speaking of them . yet i do not deny , but that it is best to alledge a particular damage , if the case will beate it ; and it is usuall so to doe in these cases , for the increase of damages . bramston chiefe iustice in the arguing of hawes case which i remembred before tooke this for a rule , that if words did import a scandall of themselves , by which damage might accrue , in such case the words would beare an action , without alledgeing of a particular damage . but now on the other side , words which doe not touch or concerne a man in any of the cases aforesaid , will not beare an action , without alledgeing of a particular damage . words spoken in scandall of a mans title will not beare an action ; without averring of a particular damage , as appeares by the cases before cited upon that ground . there are many words , which are words of passion and choler only , as to say of a man that he is forsworne generally , or that he is a villain , or a rogue or a varlet , or the like , these words are not actionable of themselves ; yet i doe conceive that in these cases an action will lie with an averrement of a particular damage by reason of the speaking of them . there are other words which concerne matter meerely spirituall , and determinable in the ecclesiasticall court only ; as for calling of a man a bastard a heretique a scismatique , an advo●vterer , a forni●ato● or for calling of a woman a whore or charging her wit● any particular act of incontinency ▪ or the like , yet in these cases with an averrement of a particular damage , an action will lie at the common law as it is adjudged in anne davies case cited before . by popham chiefe iustice if one say of a woman that is an inholder , that she hath a great infectious disease , by which she loses her guests , an action will lie , this must bee taken with an averrement of that particular damage ; otherwise an action will not lie , unlesse the disease be such for which shee ought to separate her selfe , or to be seperated by the law from common society , as i shall shew you hereafter . axe and moods case cited before , the plaintiffe being a dyer brought an action for these words , thou art not worth a groate , adjudged that the words were not actionable , because that many man in his beginning is not worth a groat , and yet hath good credit with the world . but in this case it was agreed that if the plaintiffe had averred specially that he was thereby damnified , and had lost his credit so that none would trust him with such an averrement the action would have layen . in the case of the foreman of a shoomakers shop cited before , for these words ; it is no matter who hath him , for he will cut him out of doores , the plaintiffe averred that the common acceptation of these words , inter cal●eareos is , that he will begger his master , and make him run away ; and shewed a speciall damage by the speaking of these words , and it was adjuged that the action would ●ie , which i conceive was only for the particular damage , for to say of a servant that he doth chea●e , cousen or defraud ; or that he will begger his master , or the like , will not beare an action , without an averrement of a particular damage . and in this case it was said by the court that for some words an action will lie , without an averrement of any particular damage , as for calling of a man theefe , traytor , or the like , and some words will no● beare an action , without an averrement of a particular damage . as if a man shall say of another that he kept his wife basely , and starved her , these words of themselves will not beare an action ; but if the party of whom they were spoken , were to bee maried to another , and by these words is hindered ; in such case , with an averrement of the particular damage , an action will lie . so likewise in the case of dickes and fenne which i also cited before , where one said of the plaintiffe being a b●ewer , that he would give a peck of malte to his mare , and ●ead her to the water to drink , and she should pisse as good beere as the plaintiffe brewed ; it was resolved that the words themselves were not actionable , because of the impossibility of them . but it was agreed by the court , that if there had beene a speciall damage alledged ▪ as losse of custome or the like , the action would have laien . hawes case cited likewise before , one said of him , that he had spoaken against the booke of common prayer and said that it was not fit to bee read in the church for which he brought his action , and shewed how that by reason of the speaking of these words by the defendant ▪ he was cited in to the ecclesiasticall court and had paid and expended severall summes , &c. adjudged that the words themselves were not actionable ; because if they had beene true ▪ they charge him only with an offence against a penall law , which doth not inflict corporall p●nishment , but for non payment of the penalty . but it was resolved that for the particular damage the action would lie , and of this opinion were heath and mallet iustices . but bramston chiefe iustice , ( the other justice being absent ) was of a contrary judgement , and hee tooke this for a rule , that if the words did not import a scandall in themselves ( as hee conceived they did not in this case ) in such case the averrement of a particular damage should not make them actionable . but with all due respect to the judgement of this learned judge , i doe conceive that the words are in themselves scandalous ; because that they do charge a man with faction and opposition to established law , and settled government . but if they were not in themselves scandalous , yet i conceive ( according to the judgement of those reverent j●dges ) that for the dammage only the action will lie ▪ for otherwise the plaintiffe shall suffer through the default of the defendant , and be without remedy , which i conceive the law will not permit ; but i submit this to the judgement of the learned reader . lastly , words which charge a man with any dangerous infectious diseas● , by reason of which he ought to seperate himselfe , or to be seperated by the law , from the society of men , will beare an action . if a man say of another that hee hath the french pox , an action will lie . taylor brought an action against packins for these words , thou art not worthy to come into any honest mans company , thou art a leaprous knave , and a leaper . adjudged that the words are actionable , because that it is cause of seperation by the law of god and man. so by tanfield iustice to say that one is infected with the french pox , will beare an action , but to say that one h●th the falling sicknesse , is not actionable , except that it disables him in his profession , as to say that a lawyer hath the falling sicknesse , an action lieth ▪ because that it disableth him for his businesse . vpon this ground i conceive , to say of a man that hee is infected with the plague , will beare an action , because this also is a dangerous infectious disease , and a cause of separation . i have now finished my task of shewing you what words are actionable in the law , and what not ▪ and yet reader i shall not end this treatise here , for there are many things not worthy the knowing ( which i could not aptly introduce before ) and therefore not to be omitted . there are two things or grounds very remarkable in all actions upon the case for words . first causa dicendi , the ground or occasion of the speaking of the words : and that must be collected out of the precedent discourse or communication concerning the plaintiffe ; or else out of the relation that the words themselves have to the defendant , or otherwise , as the case shall fall out to be . the next thing is the affection of the speaker , that is to say whether the words were spoken ex malitia , or not ? first , for the first , causa dicendi , the ground or occasion of speaking of the words . and here i shall lay downe this as a ground , that scandalous words which of themselves singly would beare an action yet being joyned to other words or discourse , and so causa dicendi , or the subject matter being considered , they will not beare an action . for sensus verborum ex causa dicendi accipiendus est , &c. and words must ever be construed according to the subject matter . henry lord cromwell brought an action de scandalis magnatum against edmund denny , vicar of n. in the county of norfolke , &c. for these words : it is no marvill that you like not of me , for you like of those that maintaine sedition against the queens proceedings ; the defendant pleaded a speciall justification , in effect thus ; that the defendant being vicar of n. the plaintiffe procured i. t. and i. p. to preach there , who in their sermons enveyed against the booke of common prayer , and affirmed it to bee superstitious ; wherefore the defendant inhibited them , for they had no licence nor authority to preach , yet they proceeded through the encouragement of the plaintiffe , and the plaintiffe said to the defendant , thou art a false varle● i like not of thee ; to whom the defendant said , it is no marvill though you like not of me , for you like of those ( meaning the aforesaid i. t. and i. d. ) that maintaine sedition [ meaning that seditious doctrin ] against the queens proceedings . in this case it was adjudged that the justification was good . for though that in this case , taking the words singly of themselves as the plaintiffe hath declared , they might have beene actionable ; because that then they could not be construed otherwise then of a publike and violent sedition , as the word it selfe doth import . yet now the ground and occasion of the words appearing , by which it is evident , that the defendant did not intend any publike or violent sedition , but only that seditions doctrine against the proceedings of the queene , viz. the statute de anno primo , by which the common prayer was established , and god forbid [ saith the booke ] that words by a strict and grammaticall construction should be taken contrary to the manifest intent of the speaker , therefore it was ruled upon the coherence of all the words , that the justification was good ▪ and so the words not actionable . and in this case it was ruled , that if a man bring an action against another , for calling of him murderer , and the defendant will say that hee was speaking with the plaintiffe of unlawfull hunting , and that the plaintiffe confessed that he had killed divers hares with certaine engines , to whom the defendant answered and said , thou art a murtherer [ meaning the killing of the said hares ] that this was a good justification , and so upon the whole matter the words not actionable . byrchley an attorney brought an action against one for these words ; you are well knowne to bee a corrupt man , and to deale corruptly : resolved that the words were actionable , but in this case it was ruled that if the precedent speech had beene that byrchley was a vsurer , or that he was executor of another , and would not performe the testament , and upon this the defendant had said these words , upon a speciall justificatio●● as aforesaid● , they would not beare an action . banister and banisters case resolved that if i call an heire a bastard , an action will lie ▪ but if the defendant pretend that the plaintiffe is a bastard and that he is next heire , there no action will lie . the reason of this is plaine , because causa dicendi , or the occasion of speaking of these words , is not to defame the title of the plaintiffe , but only to justifie the title of defendant , and it is lawfull for any one to speak in justification of his owne title , though hee do thereby seeme to slander the title of another man , agreeing with this case is gilbert gerrards case cited before . molton brought an action against clapham and declares how that there being a cause pending in this court betwixt the plaintiffe and defendant , upon reading of certaine affidavids of the plaintiffes in court , the defendant said openly in present●● & auditu iusticiariorum & juris peritorum , &c. there is not a word true in the affidavids , which i wil prove by forty witnesses : and alledges that the words were spoken malitiose . yet it was resolved by the court that they were not actionable , because as they are usuall words upon the like occasion ; so they are spoken in the defence of the defendants cause , and this case was likened to the case of the bastard immediatly before . and bartley iustice said that there are two things mainely considerable in words , the words themselves , and causa dicendi ; and therefore somtimes though the words themselves would beare an action yet causa dicendi being considered , they will not be actionable , as in this case . now as my lord cooke ses in cromwels case before remembred , so i say to you . in these cases , reader , you may take notice of an excellent point of learning in actions for slander ; to observe the cause and occasion of speaking of them , and how this may bee pleaded in excuse of the defendant . but before i passe this , reader , i shall observe unto you that the defendant in these cases might take the generall issue , if he would , viz. that he is not guilty modo & forma , as the plaintiffe hath alledged , and so give in evidence the coherence and connection of the words , and the occasion of speaking of them , and have them specially found , if it be conceived to be necessary . or the defendant may [ as the case shall require ] justifie the speaking of other words , and traverse the speaking of the words in question ; and so likewise upon the evidence have the words specially found . and hereupon ; where the speciall finding of the iury will warrant the declaration of the plaintiffe , and maintaine the action , and where not ? may be very questionable , and worthy the knowing . the defendants plea is that which must guid us in these cases , if hee plead not guilty ▪ the words are [ as i have said before ] modo & forma as the plaintiffe hath alledged , and if the justifie the speaking of other words , and traverse the words in question , he doth it thus , absque hoc , that he spake the words in the declaration modo & forma as the plaintiffe hath alledged . now where the words that are founde by the iury shall bee said to agree modo & forma with the words in the declaration , this is the question , here i shall lay down this as a ground . that where the words that are found do not agree with the declaration in the substantiall and essentiall forme , that in such case , they do not warrant the declaration . but if they do agree in the substantiall and essentiall form● , though they agree not in every word , yet they doe well warrant the declaration , and by consequence maintaine the action . sydenham against man for these words ; if sir iohn sydenham might have his will , he would kill all the true subjects in england , and the king too , and he is a maintainer of papistry and rebellious persons . the defendant pleaded other words , and traversed the speaking of the words modo & forma , &c. the iury found that he speak these words , viz. i think in my conscience , that if sir iohn sydenham might have his will , he would kill , &c. and find all the subsequent words before alledged , and whether the defendant were guilty of speaking of the words in the manner and forme as they are alleadged by the plaintiffe in his declaration , was the question resolved against the defendant . and upon a writ of error in the chequer chamber , the court also inclined against the defendant , for the matter is in effect the same , and the forme must be understood the essentiall forme , not according to every word , here you have the ground laid downe before . yet the booke saith that pasch. . though the court inclined that either of the words would beare an action , yet it was agreed that the words were not found so absolute as the declaration , neither moved credit in the eare so fully , which is the force of a slander ; and then they are not the same words in force and effect , as if the words were laid , i know him to be a theefe , and it were found , i thinke him to bee a theefe . for my part reader , i doubt in this case whether the finding of the jury do warrant the declaration , because they are not the same words in force and effect ( as is said before ) and i conceive they are not the same in the essentiall forme of them , for i question , ( ●as i have don before ) if a man should say of another , that he doth think if he might have his will , he would kill all the kings true subjects , and the king too ; or that he doth think such a one to be a theefe , whether these words be actionable or no , because the words are no positive charge out only the thought or opinion of the defendant . but to this it may bee said that if such words as these should not be actionable , this would open a gap for scandalous tongues to slander a man at pleasure ▪ and yet no action lie , which were very mischievous ▪ therefore i shall leave it to the judgement of the reader . fenner against mutton in an action upon the case for words , which were thus ; nicholas fenner procured . or . of his neighbours to perjure themselves , the defendant pleaded not guilty ; and the iury find that the defendant said that nicholas fenner had caused . or . of his neighbours to prejure themselves , and if this verdict were found for the plaintiffe , or the defendant ▪ was the question , and the doubt was whether this word ( cause ) amount to as much as procure . tanfield iustice seemeth that it doth not , for hee might be a remote cause , as causa fine qua non , and yet no procurer , as if a notary writ a writing , and put to this a seale , and another take it and forge and publish it , the writer was the cause that this was forged , and yet no procurer of it . i find no judgement in this case , therefore quaere of it . chipsam against ieeke for these words chipsam is a theefe , for he hath stollen a lambe from a. and geese from b. and killed them in my ground , issue was joyned whether the defendant spoake the words modo & forma , &c. the jury find that the defendant said that the plaintiffe was a theefe , for hee hath stollen a lambe from a. and killed it in my ground , but they find that hee spoake nothing of the geese , yet it was resolved that the finding of the jury did well warrant the declaration of the plaintiffe , because that the substance of the words is , that he is a theefe , and thee for hee hath , &c. only a demonstration in what he is a theefe , which is as well in stealing of the lambe , as of the geese ; and then if it bee found that he said any of them , it sufficeth , and judgement was given for the plaintiffe . norman and symons case , the plaintiffe brought an action for words and declared that they were spoaken false & malitiose ; the iury find the words spoaken falso & injuriose and it was adjudged that the action would not lie , because the finding of the jury doth not warrant the declaration in the substantiall forme of it , for if the words were not spoaken out of malice , they will not be actionable , as i shall shew you hereafter . brugis brought in action for these words , brugis is a maintainer of theevs and a strong theefe himselfe , issue was joyned whether the defendant spoake the words modo & forma , and the iury found all the words except the word [ strong ] and in this case the plaintiffe had judgement . here we may observe that though every word alledged in the declaration , be not found , yet the essentiall and substantiall forme of the words being found , that is sufficient to maintaine the declaration . this i say you may observe not only by this case , but the cases also before put . barbar brought an action against hawley for these words iohn barbar and his children be false theeves , men cannot have their cattell going upon the common , but they will kill them , and eat them , &c. issue was joyned whether the defendant spoake the words modo & forma , and the iury fonnd that he spoak these words , viz. men cannot have their cattell going upon the common , but iohn barbar and his children will kill them with barbars doggs in this case it was adjudged for the defendant . the reason is plaine , because the words found by the iury do vary in the essentiall and substantiall forme , from the words in the declaration . for the words in the declaration do charge the plaintiffe with tneft , for which an action would lie , but the words found by the iury charg him only with trespasse , for which no action will lie , i have sufficiently proved the ground laid downe before , and therefore i shal now proceed to the second thing [ which i have touched before ] very considerable in all actions for words , and that is . quo animo , with what affection the words are spoken , whether ex malitia or not ? for if it do appeare that they were not spoken out of malice , they will not be actionable . ralph brook , york harrauld brought an action against henry mountague , knight , recorder of london for saying of the plaintiffe that he had committed felony . the defendant p●eaded how that he was a counseller and earned in the law and that he was retained of counsell against the plaintiffe at such a tryall , and set forth all the matter in certaine , and that hee in giving evidence to the jury spoake the words in the count ( which words were pertinent to the matter in issue ) in this case ▪ it was resolved that the action would not lie , because that the words were not spoken out of malice ; for that they were spoken to the purpose , and being to the purpose , though the words were false , no action will lie against the defendant . as in an appeale of murder , if the counsell with the plaintiffe saith that the defendant committed the murder , though it be not true ; yet he shall not he punished for it , because that what he said was pertinent , so that it cannot be taken to be spoken out of malice , but only as of counsell for the plaintiffe . but if that which he saith be impertinent , in scandall of him against whom he speaks it , as in trespasse of battery to say that the defendant is a felon , there an action will lie , for that they cannot be otherwise taken , but to bee spoken out of malice . and in this case it was further said , that if a counseller be informed of any matter of slander apt to be given in evidence , and hee speakes it at other places , and at another time , then in evidence an action lies for it , for the same reason . in confirmation of the former case , there was this case put and agreed for law , which was the case of parson prit in suffolke , the case was thus . in the acts and monuments of mr. fox , there is a relation of one greenwood of suffolke who is there reported to have perjured himselfe before the bishop of norwich in the testifying against a martyr in the time of queene mary , and that afterwards by the judgement of god , as an exemplary punishment for his great offence , his bowels rotted out of his belly . and the said parson prit being newly come to his benefice in suffolke , and not well knowing his parishoners , preaching against perjury , cited this story for an example of the justice of god and it chanced that the same greenwood of whom the story was written , was in life , and in the church at that time , and after for this slander , brought an action , to which the defendant pleaded not guilty , &c. and upon evidence all the matter appeared , and by the rule of anderson justice of assise he was acquitted , because it did appeare , the defendant spoak the words without malice , and this rule was approved by the kings bench in this case . in the arguing of sanderson and rudds case which i remembred before , these cases following were cited by gotbolt serjeant , who was of counsell with the defendant , and agreed by the court for law. iames and rudlies case , the defendant spoake by way of advise to his friend , telling him that the plaintiffe was full of the french pox , and therefore advised him not to keepe him company , adjudged ( he said ) that no action would lie for these words of advise , the reason is , because that these words were not spoken out of any malice to the plaintiffe , but meerely cut of good will to his friend . norman and simons case remembred before , the plaintiffe brought an action for words , and declared that they were spoaken falso & malitiose ; the jury find the words , and that they were spoken fals● & injuriose , judgement was given that the action would not lie , because that they did not find the malice ; for if the words were not spoaken malitiously , no action will lie . and therefore i conceive that if a man bring an action for words , and do not declare that the words were spoken malitiose as well as falso that the action will not lie . in the case of the lady morrison that i have cited before this case was put by popham chiefe iustice : if one say in counsell and good will to his friend , that it is reported that he hath done such or such an ill act , and advises him to purge himselfe , and avoid such occasion afterwards , it se mes ( saith he ) that an action will lie for such counsell , but quaere saith the reporter , for it is without malice . and truly for my part i conceive an action will not lie for that reason , but i submit it to the judgement of the reader . and now i have finished my labour of shewing you what words are actionable in the law , and what not . it will , in the next place , be very necessary to be knowne , where a mans suit or prosecution at law , shall subject a man to an action , and where not , and here i shall lay downe this as a rule . that for any suit or other legall prosecution in course of iustice [ if not out of malice and touching a mans life ] no action will lie. a man broug●t a writ of forger of false deeds against a lord , pending which writ , the lord for the slander of the said forgery by the said suit brought his action de scandalis magnatum : the defendant justifies the said flander by bringing of the said writ , by the better opinion there [ which is also agreed for law in bucklies case in my l. cokes . booke the justification was good , for [ saith the booke ] no punishment was ever appointed for a suit in law , though that it were false and for vexation . cutler and dixons case , adjudged that if one exhibit articles to a justice of peace against a certaine person , containing divers great abuses and misdemeanours , not only touching the petitioners themselves , but many others , and all this to the intent that he should be bound to his good behaviour , in this case the party abused shal not have for any matter contained in such articles , an action upon the case , because that they have pursued the ordinary course of justice in such case , and if actions should be permitted in such cases , those which have good cause of complaint , will not dare to complaine , for feare of infinit vexation . o●en wood exhibited a bill in the starchamber against sir richard● buckley , and charged him with divers matters examinable in the same court and further that he was a maintainer of pirates and murderers , and a procurer of murders and pyracies ( which offences were not determinable in the said court ) upon which sir richard buckley brought an action . in this case it was adjudged , that so the said words not examinable in the said court , an action would lie , because this could not be in course of justice for that the court hath not power or jurisdiction to do that which belonges to justice , nor to punish the said offences , &c. also by the law no murder or pyracy can be punished upon any bill exhibited in english , but the offender ought to be indicted of it , and upon this to have his tryall ; so that he that preferred this bill hath not onely mistaken the proper court , but the manner and nature of prosecution , so that it hath not any appearance of an ordinary suit in course of justice . but if a man bring an appeale of murder returnable in the common bench , for this no action lies ; for though the writ is not returnable before competent judges , which may doe justice , yet it is in nature of a lawfull suit namely by writ of appeale . scarlet brought an action against stiles for these words ; thou didst steale a sack. the defendant pleaded that there was a sack of a mans unknowne stolen and that the common fame was that the plaintiffe had stolen it , whereupon the defendant did informe thomas kempe a iustice of peace , that hee had stolen it , and in complaining and informing the said iustice thereof hee did there in the presence of kempe , and of the plaintiffe say unto the plaintiffe & of him thou diddest steale , &c. whereupon the plaintiffe demurred in law. there is nothing spoken to the case in the booke ; but i conceive the law will be somewhat strong for the plaintiffe , that the demurrer is good , and that the action notwithstanding the defendants justification will well lie . for though common fame [ as it is agreed in c●udington and wilkins case be a sufficient warrant to arrest for felony , though the same be not true , as also to charge a man with felony [ as it is agreed in bland and masons case ] because these tend to the advancement of iustice ▪ yet it doth not warrant any man to say he is a felon , or a theefe ; or though common fame be such yet ●he party suspected may be innocent . nor doth it any way difference the case , that the words were spoken before a iustice of peace , because , though common fame may ( as i have said ) warrant him to charge him with felony before a iustice of peace , yet it cannot warrant him to call him felon . a man brought an action against another for ca●ling of him theefe ; the defendant pleaded that there was a robbery done , &c. & communis vox & fama patriae was that the plaintiffe was guilty of it , and so justifies ; but the justification was held nought , for common fame that a man is a theefe , wi●l nor justifie any man in the calling of him so . but there it is agreed , that it would defend a man in arresting and imprisoning another for it . cuddington and wilkins case adjudged that to call a man a theefe after a generall , or speciall pardon , though the defendant knew it not , will beare an an action , but there it is agreed , that to arrest a man for felony after pardon if he knew it not may bee justifiable ; because it is a legall course and an act of justice . in iustice crooks case it was agreed by the court , that though it be lawful for a man to preferre a bill in the star-chamber against a judge for corruption , or any other , for any grand misdemeanour , because it is a proceeding in an ordinary course of justice . yet if the plaintiffe will publish the effect of his bill in a taverne or other place openly , by this meanes to scandall the defendant , this is punishable in another court , notwithstanding the bill pending in the star-chamber , because this tends meerely to scandall , and not to a pursuing of the ordinary course of justice , and so iones justice said it had bin adjudged . owen wood , and buckleys case cited before doth in effect make good that which justice iones said ; the case was thus , owen wood exhibited a bill in the star-chamber against sir richard buckley , and charged him with very great misdemeanours : afterwards buckley brought an action against owen wood , for publishing that the said bill and matters in that contained were true , and had judgment , [ which was afterwards reversed in the chequer chamber , because that the plaintiffe layed that the defendant published the bill to be true , without expressing the matters in particular conteyned in the bill , upon which the action was intended to bee founded , so that those which heard only the said words , that his bill was true , cannot without further saying , know the clauses which were slanderous to the plaintiffe . so that it is in this case plainely admitted , that if hee had published the particular matters contained in the bill , and this had beene shewen by the plaintiffe , ] there the action would have layen . note reader , i have inserted this clause , in the rule before layd downe [ where the prosecution in course of justice , is not out of malice , and touching a mans life ] for this reason . because i doe conceave , that in case where a man is scandaled in his reputation , and his life in question , by a malitions prosecution in course of justice , that in such case an action will lye . if two falsly and malitiously conspire to indict another , and after hee that is so indicted , is acquitted , a writ of conspiracy lyes . so if one only falsly and malitiously cause another to bee indicted , who is therupon acquitted , an action upon the case in nature of a conspiracy , lyes against him for it ; and so it hath bin often adjudged ; i shall only remember one case in point . marsham brought an action against pescod , and declares how that he was of good fame and report , and that the defendant intending to defame him , fals● & malitiose procured the plaintiffe to be indicted of felony , & to be arrested and imprisoned , quousque fuit acquietatus ; so that the alleaging of the acquittall was insufficient , for that hee ought to have said that he was legitimo modo acqui●tatus , the defendant pleaded not guilty and it was found for the plaintiffe , and richardson said in arrest of judgment that this action will not lie , if it bee not alledged that hee was lawfully acquitted and said that f. n. b. had the like writ , and there it is alledged expresly that hee was lawfully acquitted , and so it ought here . tanfield iustice , a conspiracy , nor an action in nature of a conspiracy wil not lie , if the plaintiffe bee not legittimo modo acquietatus ; but if one procure another to be ind●cted arrested and imprisoned , falso & malitiose nee shall have an action upon the case for the slander and vexation , though that hee be never acquitted ; and he said that the like action upon the case had beene adjudged to lie well , though that the plaintiffe were never acquitted ; and the justices relied much upon the words falso & malitiose ; and after judgement was given for the plaintiffe . thus you may see that where a man is falsly and malitiously procured to be indicted , if he be acquitted a writ of conspiracy , or an action upon the case in nature of a conspiracy , as the case shall be , will lie , and though he be not acquitted , yet an action upon the case will lie for the slander and vexation . yet in all these cases there is a prosecution in course of justice ; but because this prosecution was malitious , tending much to the slander and scandall of the plantiffe therefore the action lies . but here i would have you observe , reader , that the plaintiffe ought in these actions to declare , that the defendant , falso & malitiose procured him to bee indicted , because the malice is the ground of the action ; and if upon the tryall it doe appeare that there was probabilis causa for the indictment and prosecution therevpon , the action will not lie . thus much shall suffice to shewe you , in what case a legall prosecution in course of iustice shall subject a man to an action , in what not . in the next place i shall shew you , which i cannot omit . for what scandall of a noble man , or great officer , &c. an action de scandalis magnatum will lie upon the statutes of . e. . cap. . or . r. . cap. . for a suit or other legall prosecution in course of justice against a noble man , or great officer , no action lies , as is adjudged in the case of forger of false deeds cited before , so that as to this , there is no difference betwixt a noble man ▪ and another person , but what scandalous words may be actionable in case of a nobleman , for which an action de scandal●● magnatum will lie , and what not , may bee very considerable . i shall cite only one case to this purpose , which will be as a light to all cases of this nature , and therefore give me leave to give it you wholly [ without dissection or abbreviation ] as i find reported . the earle of lincolne brought an action de scandalis magnatum upon the statute of westm. . cap. . against one iohn righton , and recited the statute , and said that the defendant said of him , my lord is a base earle , and a paltry lord , and keepes none but rogues and raseals like himselfe . vpon not guilty pleaded it was found for the plaintiffe , and it was moved in arrest of judgement that the words were not actionable , for though they were unseemely & immodest yet they were not such defama●ory words upon which to ground an action , for though they were true , the earle could not incurre any prejudice by them , crook cont . this action de scandalis magnatum , is not to be compa●ed to other actions upon the case , for words spoken of any other persons for this is inhibited by act of parliament ; and if the words bee such that any di●cord may arise by them betwixt the king and his subjects ▪ or his nobles , or any slander to them to bring them into contempt , this action lies , and i have seene a record of a case in . h. . of such an action brought by the duke of buckingham , for such words which might cause him to be in contempt , which were holden sufficient upon which to ground an action , hobart attorney generall for the plaintiffe also ; who said that though an action doth not lie for words betwixt common persons , but in case where they are touched in life or member , or much in reputation ; yet if one speake any scandalous words of an earle or other peere of the realme , which impeaches their credit , because that they are of the great counsell of the king and state , and a principall part of the body politique , so that their discredit or disparagement , is a disparagement to all the realme , therefore every thing which trenches only to their discredit is a cause of action , and this was the cause of the judgement in the case of the ducke of buckingham in . h. . fe●ner iust. it seemes to me that the action lies for they are words of great slander to the earle . but where the statute of marleb . is that lord shall not distraine the beasts of the subject of the king , and carry them into castles so that they cannot be replevied ; and if one say that a lord hath so done , yet an action will not lie , tanfield iustice concesset but he saith if one say of a lord that he used to distraine and put the beasts in his castle , ut supra , an action lies ; for one act against law wil not bring him into contempt : but if it be usuall for him so to do , this is a cause to make him contemptible . in the case of the earle of arundell , who had made commissions to his servants to make leases and improve rents , one said of him , my lord hath sent his commissioners to spoyle the country , it was adjudged that this action would lie , and yet in case of a common person it would not lie without doubt , yet because that it may cause the lord to be in contempt with the king and the people , this action lay , and so it seemes to me that it will here , williams iustice to the same purpose ; and that the earle is conservator pacis at common law and comes regis , and if any one speake of them any thing which may make them to bee contemned of the king or his people , an action lies upon this statvte . yelverton iustice was absent , judgement was respited to the intent that the defendant by his submission might give satisfaction to the earle . here you see the difference between words actionable in case of a noble man , and of a common person . for words only of descredit to a nobleman , and which may bring him to contempt with the king or his people are sufficient to maintaine an action de scandalit magnatum , otherwise in case of a common person . i have now reader , quite finished my labour of shewing you for what scandals an action will lie , for what not . but before i conclude , there are two things yet in all actions for words worthy the knowing , which i cannot omit . the first is to declare unto you the use or office of an ( innuendo ) and the next is , to shew you where an averrement will be necessary , and where not . for the first , you may take this for a certaine and infallible rule . that an ( innuendo ) shall never make words actionable , which of themselves are not actionable . and therefore , if words be of a double or indifferent meaning ; and in the one sence actionable , in the other not ; in such , case an ( innuendo ) shall never make them actionable . as if a man bring an action against another for saying that he hath the pox [ innuendo the french pox ] or for saying that the plaintiffe burnt his barne [ innuendo a barne with corne. ] in these cases the [ innuendo ] where the words are of an indifferent meaning , and may be taken so as not to be actionable , shall not straine them to such an intendement , as to make them actionable ; and therefore the [ innuendo ] in these cases is idle and to no purpose . so if the words be incertaine of themselves , or the person of whom they are spoken , an [ innuendo ] shall never make them actionable . if a man bring an action against another for saying that the plaintiffe tooke away money from him with a strong hand [ innuendo felonice ] here the words being incertaine in the intendment , whether of a trespas , or felony the ( innuendo ) cannot extend them to an intendment of felony , thereby to make them actionable , and so it was adjudged . so if a man bring an action against another , for saying that hee forged a warrant [ innuendo quoddam warrantum , &c. as thomas and axworths case is cited before , or for saying that he forged a writing innuendo such a writing ] as harvy and duckins case is likewise cited before . in these cases , because the words themselves are utterly incertain , adjudged that the [ innuendo ] shall never make them actionable . a servant of b. brings an action against one for these words ; one of the servants of b. ( innuendo the plaintiffe . is a notorious felon , or traytor , &c ) and if an action be brought for these words , i know one neere about b. that is a notorious theefe , ( innuendo the plaintiffe : ) in these cases , because of the incertainty of the persons intended by the words the [ innuendo ] shall not make them actionable . i could multiply cases upon this ground , but because these will bee sufficient ; i will adde onely the office of an ( imnuendo . ) the office of an [ innuendo ] is onely to containe and designe the same person , which was named in certaine before : as thus , two are speaking together of b. and one of them saith , hee is a thiefe ; there b. in his count may shew that there was a speech of him betwixt those two , and that one of them said of him , hee ( innuendo the plaintiffe ) is a thiefe . or else to declare the matter or sence of the words themselves , which was certainly expressed before ; as thus , a. and b. speaking of c. a. said that c. was a traytor , to whom b. said that he was so too ; in this case if a. bring an action for these words , he may shew in his count , that there was a speech betwixt him and the defendant of c. and that the plaintiffe said to the defendant that c. was a traytor , and that the defendant said then to the plaintiffe , that hee ( innuendo the plaintiffe ) was so too [ innuendo a traytor . ] in both these cases the ( innuendo ) is good , becuase it doth its office , in designing of the person , as also in declaring of the matter or sence of the words which was certaine before . but an [ innuendo ] cannot make a person certaine , which was incertaine before , nor alter the matter or sence of the words themselves ; for it would be inconvenient , that actions should bee maintained by imagination of an intent , which doth not appeare by the words , upon which the action is founded ; but is utterly incertaine , and subject to deceaveable conjecture . for by this meanes , if i should bee suffered to be the declarer of the meaning or intendment of the incertain and doubtfull speeches of another man ; i might judge him to speake that , hee never thought or intended , and so punish him for that wherein he never offended . the next and last thing to be considered is where an averrement will be necessary in these actions , and where not : and here i shall lay downe this as a ground . that in all cases for words where there is any thing that is the cause or ground of the action , or tends necessarily to the maintenance of it , in such case the action will not lie , without that thing be expresly averred to be , or not to be , as the case requireth . miles brought an action against iacob for these words ; thou ( innuendo &c. ) hast poysoned smith ( quendam , sam. smith ad tuuc defunct . innuendo ) adjudged the action would not lie for this reason [ amongst others ] because that did it not appeare that smith was dead at the time of the words spoken ; and the ( innuendo ) for that purpose is no sufficient averrement . the li●e case was trin. . of this king ; a. brought an action against b. for these words , thou hast killed my brother ( innuendo c. &c. fratrem , &c. nuper mortuum ) adjudged the action would not lie , because the plaintiffe did not averre that he was dead at the time when the words were spoken , and it was ruled that the innuendo was not a sufficient averrement . the reason of these cases , is , because the death of the party is the ground of the action , and if hee were not dead ( which shall the rather bee intended , without the plaintiffe do expresly aver him to bee dead ) then the plaintiffe could not bee indamaged by the speaking of the words , and by consequence no action will lye for them . i must confesse that i have a report of a case which was . of king iames adjudged against the former cases , sir tho. holt brought an action against taylor for these words , sir thomas holt hath killed his cooke , &c. and did not averre that he had a cooke , nor that the cook was dead , and this was moved in arrest of judgment ; and by the whole court the declaration was moved good , because it shall not bee intended , that there is any such purgation of the slander as this is , except it doth appeare in the record ; as the life of a man , which is reported to be dead . but if it were expressed in the record , that the party reported to be dead , was in life , it were otherwise . as it words were spoken of a woman , that she had murdered her husband , and she and her husband bring the action , in this case the action will not lye , because that it doth appeare by the record , that the slander is not prejuditiall , but is purged notoriously , by the apparent being of the husband in life , like snags case in my lord cookes . booke quaere tamen , for i doubt reader the law of this case , because of the cases before adjudged . a. saith that b. told him that c. stole a horse , these words with an averrement that b. did not say any such thing to a. will beare an action , like the lady morrisons case which i have formerly cited , fo . . b. whether welsh words , or words in english doubtfull in sense , yet equipollent , and of a common intendment and acceptation iu some certaine place with words actionable , will beare an action , without an expresse averrement of the importance of them , or no ? quare & vide fo . . a. hasselwood and garrets case cited before , whosoever is hee that is falsest theefe and strongest in the country of salop , whatsoever he hath stollen , or whatsoever he hath done , thomas hassellwood is faller then he resolved that the words were actionable , with an averrement that there were felons within the count● of salop ; but for default of such averrement the judgement given in the common pleas was reversed in this court. note reader , if there were no felons in that county ( which will rather bee intended , if it be not averred that there were some ] then the speaking of the words could be no slander to the plaintiffe , and so no action can lie . blands case cited before , hee brought an action against a. b. for saying that he was indicted for felony at a sessions holden , &c. and did not averre that he was not indicted , and after a verdict for the plaintiffe , judgement was stayed , because there was no avetrement , ut supra . note if hee were indicted , which he doth tacitly admit , then no cause of action . iohnson against dyer , the defendant having communication with the father of the plaintiffe , said to him , i will take my oath that your son stole my henns ; and the plaintiffe did not averre that he was his sonne or that hee had but one sonne , and therefore adjuged that the action would not lie . in this case if he were not his sonne , then no cause of action . one clarke said that he had a sonne in nottinghamshire who had his chest picked , and a hundred pounds taken out of it , in one lock . smiths house ; and i thank god i have found the theefe who it is , it is one that dwelleth in the next house called robert kinston : upon which kinston brought an action and had a verdict , and it was moved in arrest of iudgement , because that he did not averre that hee dwelt in the next house , crooke one said that prichards man robbed him , who brought an action ; and did not averre that he was prichards man , and therefore it was held that the action would not lie . aud the iustices in this case would not give judgment . non constat in this case that the plaintiffe was the party of whom the words were spoken ; for there might be another of the same name dwelling else where : and therefore hee ought to averre that he dwelt in the next house , that he may be certainly intended to be the same person of whom the words were spoken . where words shall not be actionable without an averrement of a speciall dammage see fo . . i have cleerely proved the ground before laid downe , and by these cases you may bee sufficiently instructed , where an averrement will be necessary and where not . and so i have quite finished this small treatise . may the reader find as much profit and delight in the reading of it , as the anthor had in composing of it , such is the ardent desire of your affectionate friend iohn march . arbitrement . the next thing reader , that i have undertaken to discourse of , is , arbitrements , the learning whereof will be very usefull to all men ; in regard that compremises or arbitrements were never more in use then now . and most men either have been or may be arbitrators , or at teast have done , or may submit themselves to the arbitration of others . and as long as differences and contentions arise among men , which will bee to the worlds end , certainly the learning of arbitrements will well deserve our knowledge . which being well observed and learnt by all men , will be a good meanes to prevent many suits and contentions in the law for the future which are now daily occasioned through the defects of arbitrements which rather beget and raise new controversies amongst the parties , then determine the ould . the only cause whereof is the ignorance of men in this learning . the composer hereof , reader , tooke this paines , only out of a desire of the common good , that none might bee ignorant of that which concernes all . and if it shall effect that for which it was made , the instrvcting of the ignorant , and the good of the publike ; the author hath his ends , and abundant recompence for his labour . which that it may accomplish is the earnest and affectionate desire of the true servant to the publike . io march . in my lord dyer it is said that to every award , there are five things incident . . matter of controversie . . submission . . parties to the submission . . arbitrators . . rendring up of an arbitrement . reader , my purpose is ( god willing ) to prosecute every one of these parts or incidents of an award [ though paradventure not in the order before set downe ] conceiving them to be as exact a discription or delineation of those things that are requisit to every award , as possibly can be made : and indeed teaching to all the cases in the law , which do principally or chiefely concerne awards or arbitrements . first then there must be a matter of debate , question and controversie . secondly , this matter of debate question and controversie must bee submitted . thirdly , there must be parties to the submission . fourthly , there must be arbitrators , to w●om the matter in controversie must be submitted . and lastly the arbitrators must make an award or an arbitrement . vpon these severall branches , i shall raise severall questions , and debate and cleare them as i goe , and first . who may submit to an arbitrement and who not ? i take this to be regularly true , that no person , which is not of ability in judgement of law to make a grant , &c can submit himelfe to an arbitrement as men attainted of treason , felony , or a praemunire , ideots , mad men , a man deafe dumbe , and blind from his nativity ; a feme covert an infant , a man by duress●e for a submission to an arbitrement must be spontanea voluntate . persons ontlawed ; for they have no goods : a dean without the chapter , a major without the commonalty ; the master of a colledge or hospitall without his fellowes , or the like . all these as they are incapble to graut , so i conceive , that they are not of capability to submit to an arbitrement , but that the submission will bee absolutely void in these cases . the reason of these cases may be , because that they have not power of them selves to dispose of their interest or property , and therefore they cannot transferre such power over to another ; for the rule is , quod ●er me non possum , necper alinns . and hill . of this king in the kings bench , betwixt rudsten and yates , it was adjudged , that the submission of an infant to an arbitrement was absolutely voyd . but now on the other side , i conceive that all persons whatsoever that are not fettered with these naturall or legall disabilities ; but are of capacity to make a grant , that such persons may submit themselves to an arbitremen , as persons not attainted , compos mentis , deafe dumbe , or blinde , femes sole , men of full age ; and the like , the submission of such persons to an arbitrement is good ; but enough of this ; in the next place i shall consider . what things may be submitted to an arbitrement , and what not ? that is to say , what things are in law arbitrable , and what not ? things and actions which are meerely personall , and incertaine , as trespasse , a ward taken away , and the like , are arbitrable . but things which are of themselves certaine , are not arbitrable , except the submission be by deed , or that they be joyned with others incertaine , as debt with trespasse , or the like . the reason that is given in . h. . is , because the nature of an arbitrement is , to reduce things to a certainety , which are in themselves incertaine , and not to make things more certaine , which are certaine already . and the reason likewise that is there given , why a thing certaine , which is joyned with a thing incertaine should be arbitrable , is because that the arbitrement is intire , and therefore cannot be good as to that which is arbitrable , and voyd for the residue ; ( which you must understand being of things within the submission ) but being good for the part which is incertaine , it will make the rest also arbitrable . cha●tels reals or mixt , are not of themselves alone arbitrable , as charters of lands , leases , or the like , without the submissien be by specialty . debt upon the arrerages of account before auditors , because such debt is due by record ; annuities , nor freeholdes , none of these are of themselves arbitrable , without the snbmission bee by specialty . i must confesse that some of these bookes say , that arbitrators may award a freehold without deed. others say that the submission must be by specialty [ as you may observe before ) and some say that the arbitrement in these cases must be by deed and that then the arbitrement may be pleaded in barre of an action . bnt i take this as a generall rule , that no chattels reals , or mixt , no debts by deed , or record no annuities nor freeholds are of themselves arbitrable though that the submission bee by deed ; and i shall prove it thus . if they were arbitrable of themselves , then upon an action brought in any of these cases , an arbitrement were a good plea in barre of the action but an arbitrement in such case is no plea in barre of the action as appears by the books before cited therfore i conceive that the argument is plaine & evident that these are not of themselves arbitrable . but for further proofe of this ground that i have laid downe ; it is taken as a generall rule in blaks case in my l. coke . book , that an arbitrement is no plea when an action is founded upon a deed , when it is in the realty , or mixt with the realty , but in such cases only , or at least , regularly , where damages alone are to be recovered . i shall conclude this with the booke of . e. cited before , that an arbitrement that the one party shall have the land our of the possession of the other , doth not give a freehold ; and if hee refuse to permit him to have the land , he hath no remedy , if hee hath not an obligation to stand to the arbitrement . by this case wee may learne , as also by that which i have told you before , that though these thing are not of themselves arbitrable ; & so the arbitrement not pleadable in barre of an action . yet a man may in such cases bind himselfe by obligation to stand to an award [ as it is usuall so to do ] and for the non performance of the awrd , the bond will be forfeited . and this is the submission by specialty so often spoaken of in the bookes before . and therefore i conceive that the opinion of greuill and pollard in . h. . is no law , who say that where there is a submission of the right , title , and possession of land , [ without any other parsonall difference ] to an award , that an arbitrement in such case is void ; and that an obligation to obey such an arbitrement is void . it is true , the booke makes a quaere of it ; because that others were , ( as the booke saith ) cleere of another opinion . and certainely the bond is good ; as common experience teaches ; i shall put a case like it , which i conceive will plainely prove it . a man makes a feoffement upon condition that the feostee shall not take the profits , the condition is absolutely repugnant and void . but a bond in such case conditioned that the feoffee shall not take the profits , is good . so i say in this case , though the thing it selfe be not arbitrable ; yet if a man in such case , will bind himselfe to stand to an award , the bond is good . lastly , causes matrimoniall are not arbitrable ; neither are offences criminall as treasons , felonies , &c. because it concerns the commonwealth that such offenders be punished . but of this sufficient ; the nature or kindes of submissions is now to bee considered . submission to an award may be either generall , or speciall . absolute . or conditionall . a generall submission . a generall submission is of all matters , suits , debts , duties , actions , and demands whatsoever . a speciall submission . a speciall submission is only of some certaine matters in controversy , as such land then in question ; or all actions of debt , trespasse , or the like , here i could observe unto you the difference betwixt a generall submission conditionall , and a speciall submission conditionall ; but because it will be more apt and agreeable in case where i shall shew you , what will be a good arbitrement and what not . i shall referre it thether without further saying . an absolute submission . an absolute submission , where the circumstance of time , when ; the manner of the arbitrement , howe ; whether sealed or unsealed or the matter of the arbitrament ; viz : to arbitrate part or all or the like , are wholy left to the arbitrators . a conditionall submission . a conditionall submission , is , where the submission is with an ita quod or proviso &c. the award be made and delivered under in hands and seals of the arbitrators , before such a time ; in such case , if the time manner and matter , are not all exactly obserued , the arbitrement will be void ; but of this more fully hereafter . note reader , that a submission may be by word onely as well as by deed or specealty but the submission by deed is better , for then though the submission be of things not arbitrable , the party forfeites his bond if he doe not obserue it whereas if the submission were by word onely there were no remedy in such case to inforce the party to performe the award who may be arbitrators and who not ? i conceive it most fit , that such onely should be arbitrators who , as they are indifferently chosen ( as it is said in the condition of the obligation ) are men indifferent , just and upright , swayed neither with favoure feare or affection to either party men likewise hauing sufficient parts , and competent understanding and knowledg in the matter or busines referred to arbitrement having neither legall ( as persons attainted , convicted of perjury &c. ) nor naturall impediments , as infants , ideots , madmen , or the like . these qualifications in arbitrators being duly observed a man need not dout of a iust and upright sentence the want of the obseruation of which , causes many vnjust and undue sentences in arbitrations . but i doe not find in our law that either leg●ll ar naturall disabilities , doe hinder any man from being an arbitrator ; or avoide his sentence and certainely they doe not for this differs much from a submission to an arbitration for in such case a man ties his interest and binds his person which every one is not of capacity to doe ; but in this case what he doth as an arbitrator , is onely to charge or discharge others . and besides they are chosen by the parties themselves , and if they they be not competent jvdges , the fault is theirs that chose them . and now i shall proceed to shew you what arbitrators are and their power by which you will easily perceiue , of what high concernement it is to men , to have a speciall care of the choise of arbitrators . what arbitrators are and there power . an arbitrator is as our bookes say , a judge indiff●rently chosen by the parties , to end the matter in controversy betweene them , ad arbitrium and therefore they are said to be arbitrators because they have an arbitrary power , and may judge according to there will aud pleasure , so that their judgment be according to the submission & these judges are not tied to any formalities , or punctuallities in law neither are they s●orne , as other judges established by publike authority are . besides , their power is farre greater , for as they may judge as they please keeping themselves to the submission , so their sentence is absolutely definitive and conclusive from which there lies no appeale ; as it was excellently well said by heath iustice , in arguing of the case of rudston and yates cited before the judgement of arbitrators said he ( provided that they keepe themselves to their jurisdiction ) is higher then any judgement given in any court for if they erre , no writt of error lies to reverse their judgement , no , not so much as equity against them . this is true where they keep themselves close to the submission ; but if they do not , in such case ( though no writt of error lies to reverse their judgement ) upon an action brought upon a bond or promise for not performing an awa●d , if the defendant plead that the arbitrators made no award , and the plaintiffe replies that they did make an award and sets it forth in speciall , if it do appeare that the award is void ( as it may be in many cases which i shall set forth hereafter ) the action in such case will not lie as every dayes experience teaches , and in which our bookes are plentifull . by that which i have said before , it is manifest , how it concerns every man to have a care what arbitrators hee makes choice of ; but of this sufficient . the next thing considerable , is , whether the power of arbitrators be assigenable or not ? the law is cleere that arbitrators cannot assigne over their power , the reason is , because that it is but a nude power or authority ( which is evident in that it is revocable , as i shall shew you hereafter ) and therefore by the law not assignable . to which may be added , that it is a power coupled with a great trust and confidence , and therefore not assignable . i confesse that the booke in . e. doth tacitely admit this power to bee assignable where the case is thus , in debt , the defendant pleaded that they submmitted themselves to the arbitrement of two persons , who did award that they should stand to the award of w. p. which w. p. made an award which he hath performed , &c. here it is tacitely admitted that the arbitrators might award that they should stand to the arbitrement of another , but brooke in abridging this case saith , the law seemeth contrary . in . e. . prototam curiam except yelverton , where a man is bound to stand to the award &c. who award that an action shall be commenced betwixt the parties by the advise of vv. and p. this is a good award for by this w : & p. are not arbitrators , but onely executors of the arbitrement . and in this case the arbitrators judged the title to bee tryed betwixt them ; but know not what action should be brought . but if they had awarded , that the parties should stand to the arbitrement of w and p. this had beene void , because that they cannot assigne ouer their power . yelverton held in the first case , that the award was void for the incertainty because that w. and p. are to give their advise , which is not certaine vntill it be notified , and in this case he hath made them judges . i confesse that i doe somewhat doubt of the case , because the judgment of the arbitrators ought to be finall , and this is no concluding of the matter in controversy ; but a trans●erting of their power over to the lawe , to determine it . besides , w. and p. may never give their advise , or may refuse to doe it , and in such case the arbitrement will prove idle . and i do not conceive this case to be like the case in . e. . where the arbitrators awarded a certaine sume , and in surety of payment thereof , to be bound by the advise of counsell , for here their judgement of the matter in controversie is certaine , and finall , and here is a some certaine awarded for which an action will lie , only the security is to be advised by counsell ; which is no assignement of their power , but of this more hereafter . emery , and emerys case the chiefe point whereof was thus ; the arbitrators award that the plaintiffe should make such a release as one of the arbitrators should like of ; in this case the arbitrement was held to be void , because this was an appointing of an authority committed to them all , unto one which they cannot do . i shall conclude this point with samons case in co●kes . . booke , where the case is ●hus : arbitrators award that the defendant should enter into an obligation to the plaintiffe , and doe not judge of what some the bond shall be adjudged the arbitrement was void for the incertainety , and that the arbitrators could not assigne over their power but that themselves ought to determine it ; and therefore neither the plaintiffe nor the defendant could assesse the some● the next thing considderable is . vvhether the authority of arbytrators be countermandable or not ? in his case also the law will bee strong and evident , that this authoritie is countermandable at any time before the award made ; but not after , because then the authoritie is executed , and cannot be countermanded , and so are all our bookes but . e . where it is said that if a man be bound to stand to the arbitrement of i n he cannot discharge the arbitrator , contrary if he were not bound to stand to his arbitrement , yet brooke upon this case saith , that it is cleere that he may discharge the arbitrator in both cases ? but in the one case he shall forfeit his bond in the other he shal loose nothing , because that ex nuda submissione non oritur actio , so likewise it is resolved in vinyors case which i shall put you presently . in . h . by ashton iustice if there be two plaintiffs and one defendant or two defendants and one plaintiffe put themselves to the award of other neither the one plaintiffe with out th●● other , nor the one defendant without the other , may discharge the arbitrators , the reason is obvious , because that they were chosen by the joynt authority of both , and therefore cannot be countermanded by one alone . but that which is the last and best authority , is vinyors case ; where it is resolved that though a man be bound to stand to the arbitrement , &c. yet he may countermand the arbitrators ; the reason that is given is , because a man cannot by his own act make such an authority , powr , or warrant ; not countemandable which by the law , & its ow● proper nature is countermandable , a●● i make a letter of attorney to ma●● livery or to sue an action in my 〈◊〉 or if i assigne auditors to take an account , or if i make one my factor , o● submit my selfe to an arbitrement though that these are done by expresse words irrevocable , or that i grant , or unbound that al these shal stand irrevocable , yet they may be revoked ; so if i make my testament or last with irrevocable , yet i may revoke it . but in this case it was further resolved that by the countermand or revocation of the power of the arbitrator , the bond ( according to the opinion of brooke before cited ) is forfited , because he was bound to stand to his award , which he doth not doe when he discharges the arbitrator . i have sufficiently cleered it , that the authority of arbitrators is countermandable ; but hence arises two questions more , the first is . whether the authority of arbitrators be countermandable without deed , or not ? the resolving of which doubt i conceive will stand upon this difference , where the submission is by deed ▪ and where without deed ; where it is by deed , in such case i conceive the authority cannot be countermanded but by deed and so is . e● . but where it is without deed , there the authority may be countermanded without deed and this i ground upon that rule of law codom modo qu● 〈◊〉 creatur dissolvitur . it is but agreeable to naturall equity , that every thing should be dissolved by the same me●nes or power that it was created . and in vinyors case which i have ●●ited before , there the submission 〈◊〉 by deed , and the countermand pleade● by deed , the second , and last do●●● or question considerable in this countermand of the authority of arbitrators i● whether there ought to be notice of the countermand or no ? there must be notice of the countermand , fer without notice , it 〈◊〉 no revocation or abrogation of the authority and so it is resolved in the bookes which you : have in the ma●gent . vinyors case cited before was th●● he brought an action of debt upon bond against wilde , conditioned for ●he standing to an award , to which the defendant pleaded that the arbitrator made no award , the plaintiffe replied , that after the making of the said writing obligatory , and before the feast of &c , the defendant by his deed &c. rovocavit & abrogavit 〈◊〉 authoritatem &c. which he had given by his writing obligatory to the arbitrator , upon which the defendant demurred . t is true , that in this case it was resolved that the plaintiffe need not averre that the arbitrator had notice of the countermand ; but the reason that is given , is not because that no notice is requisite , but because notice is implied in these words , revoca●n & abrogavit , is in the words feoffavit , dedit & dimisit , a livery is implied . but it was , resolved that without notice , it is no revocation of the authority ; and therefore if there were no notice in this case ( saith the booke ) the defendant ought to have taken issue quod non revocavit &c , and if there were no notice it shall be found for the defendant . i have done with the countermand of the authority the next thing to be considered is . what an arbitrement is . an award or an arbitrement , is nothing else but the order judgment and decree of the arbitrators upon the matter or thing in controvercy referred or submitted unto them by the parties for their determination , thus in short you see what an arbitrement is , the next and maine seruple or question will be . what arbitrement is good in law and what nor ? an award or an arbitrement may be void in law in severall respects , and first . where the award is not according to the submission . and this threefould either in respect of the persons things submitted , or the circumstances of the submission . and first , an award may be void where it is not according to the submission in respect of the persons ; that is where it doth award a thing to be done by or to a stranger who is not party to the submission . in . h. . the case is thus ; in debt upon a bond to stand to an award the defendant pleaded that the arbitrators did award him to pay shillings to r. a stranger , which he paid , in this case by the opinion of the whole court , the award was void . so in . e. two submitted themselves to the arbitrement of i s of all trespasses &c. who awarded that the one should pay to the other l. l. in hand , and that he should find three severall sverties , every one of them to be bound with him in l. to pay the . l. residue at a certain day , by the whole court , the award was void , as to the finding of the suerties which were strangers to the submission . and therefore certainely that oppinion in . h. . cannot be law , where it is admitted that an award to make a feoffement to a stranger is good moore and bedels case was thus , bedel recovered by default in an action of wast against moore l. damages , after which judgment , they submitted themselves to an award , the arbitrators award that moore should pay to bedel l at certaine daies , and l. at certaine other dayes , and that for the payment of the l. one william salter should be ready to seal● and deliver obligations &c. and that the said william salter should doe other things , not within submission . in this case it was adjudged that as to all that was to be done by william salter , being a stranger to the submission , the award was void , for they are not bound to performe any award but that which is within the submission , so likewise it was adjudged betwixt ecclessield and maliard in the kings bench. two submit themselves to the arbitrement of a. who arbitrates thus , the award of a. indifferently chosen by i. for the behalfe of the obligor of one parte , and the oblige of the other parte , &c. the doubt was whether the award were betwixt the parties o● no , but it was ruled that it was , because that i. was not party to the award , but a deputy or factor &c. a. and b. were bound to stand to the arbitrement of i. s. concerning a matter in controversie which did arise of the part of the wife of b. before covertute , i. s. awarded that a. should pay so much to b. and his wife . in this case it was moved by seriant rolls that the award of paiment of mony to the wife was out of the submission , and therefore nought . but by the whole court the award was held good , because it doth appeare upon the submission that the controversy did arise on the part of the wife . secondly , an award may be void , where it is not according to the submission , in respect of the things or matters submitted . if one be chosen arbitrator to make an arbitrement upon one thing , and he makes an arbitrement upon another thing , the abitrement is void . in the case of moore and bedel cited before , who submitted themselves to an arbitrement of all matters in varience betwixt them ; the arbitrators award ( amongst other things ) that whereas bedle being possessed of a certaine coppy hould ●oulden of the mann●r of l. in the country of b. had made a lease for years of the said copihould by indenture contrary to the custome , that one william salter pro posse suo should cause that no advantage should be taken of the forfeiture , in this case it was adjudged that the award concerning this coppihould not being within the submission was void . two submitted themselves by recognisance to an arbitrement , of the right and interest of . acres of land , &c. the arbitrators award that the defendant should have brakes during his life in the land , resolved that the award was not according to the submission , because that , that was of the right and interest in the land ; and the award is only of parcell of the profits out of it . if i. n. and three others put themselves upon an award of i. s. of all actions and demands betwixt them . in this case the arbitrator hath good authority to make an award of all joynt matters betwixt them , and of all severall matters also : but he cannot arbitrate any matter betwixt the three only , because they are one party against the fourth , but he may determine betwixt any of the three and the fourth . in . e. . two submitted themselves to the arbitrement of one i. l. de omnibus actionibus personalibus sectis & querelis , &c. betwixt them , &c. who awarded that , because the defendant had committed divers offences to the plaintiffe , and that the plaintiffe was seised of such a house in fee , that the defendant should release to the plaintiffe , all the right which he hath in this house , &c in this case i conceive the better opinion to be , that the arbitrement is void , because that the power of the arbitrator who is a judge privatly chosen by the parties , shall be taken stricti juris , in that thing onely of which the compremise is , and not in another thing ; and here the compremise was but of a thing personall , and the arbitrator hath awarded a satisfaction reall , to wit , a●release of a right to a house , which was not comprised within the submission . and littleton in this case said , that if he had awarded that the defendant should serve the plaintiffe two yeares , this would be void . and by choke if we put our selves in arbitrement de jure , titulo , & possession● manerij de dale , and the arbitrator makes an award of the mannor of sale , this is void . haynes against a●nsteed in debt upon an obligation to stand to an arbitrement in all causes that have bin depending betwixt the parties ab initio mundi , the award is that the defendant shall release all causes to the plaintiffe from the beginning of the world , usque &c. tanfield iustice that the award is void for it is , that the defendant shall release all causes generally ; and the submission is of all causes depending then , and so the award void , and then the obligation not forfeited , quod curia concessit ; and judgement was given for the defendant . in a writ of error upon a judgement given in the common bench in debt upon an obligation to stand to the award of i. s. concerning an action of account pending , the arbitrator made an award touching the account ; and further awards that every of the parties should release to the other all actions ; the error in point of law was that the award was void , for though the arbitrement may be good in part and void in part , yet if it be void in any part , the obligation is void ; quod non allocatur ; for per curiam when the award is made for more then is submitted ( as in this case ) it is good for the thing submitted ; and void for the surplusage , but if the award bee made of lesse then is submitted , then it is void for the whole . if divers covenants be , and a man is bound in an obligation to performe them , and some of the covenants are void and against law , and the residue good , yet he ought to performe those that are good , otherwise the obligation is forfeited , and this was one alderman lees case , vide . h. . wherefore judgement in this case was affirmed . goffe against browne upon an obligation dated the of february to performe an award of all causes untill the day of the date of the bond. the defendant pleaded that the arbitrators made no award . the plaintiffe replyed that the of march following , they made an award ▪ de & super premissis , that the defendant should pay the plaintiffe . l. at midsummer following , in full satisfaction of all matters between them , and that they then should make the one to the other generall releases of all matters betweene them , and assigned the breach for the non-payment of the . l. the defendant demurred ; because the award did seeme to exceed the submission , being for discharge and satisfaction of all matters to the day of the award , which was more then was submitted , for it may bee that the arbitrators might meane some part of the . l. in discharge of the causes that might arise betweene the . of february , and the . of march , which were not within their power , and so for the release . yet judgment was given for the plaintiffe either because de & super premissis may import a restraint to the thing submitted , or else that no new causes shall be supposed except they were alledged . * as in pleading of awards of causes they neede not averre that these were all , &c. there was a case which was betwixt robert tiderby the father and robert tiderby the sonne , which was thus ; they bound themselves to stand to the award of i. s. concerning all controversies , quarrels , and debates right title , and possession of , or concerning the mannor of dale . i. s. awarded a convayance of the mannor of dale to certaine uses , and that robert tiderby the father should deliver all evidences , and charters concerning the mannor . in this case it was objected that the delivery of the evidences was not within the submission ; for they are neither the right nor title , nor possession of the land . to which it was said that the chart●rs are the nerves and sinewes of the land , and therefore with in the words right and title , for without the charters , neither of these can be maintained also by h. & e. . where arbitrators have power over the principall , they have power over the accessory ; and therefore the right and title of the land being put to the award of i. s. which is the principall , he hath power to make an award of the charters which are the accessory . againe , an award may in some cases be void , where it is made of parte onely of things or matters contained in the submission and not of the whole . in . h. two submitted themselves to an award upon the right title and possession of land ; the arbitrator made an award of the possession only ; which was objected by yelverton to be nought , because it was of part of the thing in submission onely . but by newton if two submit themselves to an avvard of al actions reals and personals , and an award is made of all actions personals onely , this is good and so was the opinion of the whole court. in . h. . by prisot where two or three things are put in arbitrement joyntly , and an award is made of part , and not of the whole , this is a void award . and in e. . where the submission is of all trespasses , betwixt a. of the one part , and c. and d. of the other part ; and an award is made , that a. shall pay l. to c. and saith nothing of d. yet it is a good award : for it may be that a. hath offended c. and hath not offended d. which books , and all others to this purpose , must hee understood with these differences : first , where the submission is by deed , and where without deed : where it is without deed , there the award may be made of part only , and good . again , where the submission is by deed , there is this difference to be observed ; where the submission is generall of all matters , &c. or in speciall , of some particular things only , with an ita quod , or proviso , the award be made de premissis ; or that the said award be made and given up by such a time : and where the submission is general or special , without such a conditional conclusion . for in the first case the award must be made of all the matters submitted , because of the conditionall reference , and in the last the award may be made of part only , and good . so it is ( where the submission is not conditionall ) in case of divers particular persons ( as the case is put before ) if two of one part , and one of another part submit themselves , the arbitrator may make an arbitrement , betwixt the one of the two of the one part , and the other of the other part , and good . but note reader , that there is this difference to be observed betweene pleading of an award upon a submission general conditional , and pleading of an award upon a submission special conditional . for in the first case , if an award be pleaded de premissis modo & forma sequentibus ; and alledged to be upon one single matter in controversie , this is good ; because it is shown that the award was made de premissis , which doth import an award of all that which was referred to the arbitrators ; and so it shall be intended , untill the contrary be shewn by the other party : for when the submission is generall , generale nihil certi implicat ; and it may well stand with the generality of the words , that there was but one cause depending in controversie betwixt them . but in pleading of an award upon a submission special conditional , there the award must be expresly alleaged to be made of all things within the submission , or otherwise it is nought , because upon the very face of the award it will appear , whether it were made of all things in the submission or no. for if the submission be of several things in special , and an award pleaded only of one , it is apparent that the award is not of all matters contained in the submission . again , if upon the pleading of an award upon a submission general conditional it doth appear either upon the shewing of the other party ( as hath been said ) or by the award it self , that it was not of all matters in controversie in such case also , the award will be void , though the submission were general , because that it was conditional . mote and menerels case in my lord dyer was thus , they were bound to stand to the award of a. for dilapidations , &c. and all other suits , quarrels &c. ita quod , the said award were made , &c. who made an award of the delapidations , with a protestation that hee would not meddle with the rest . in this case the opinion of the book is , that the award is nought , for that it did not extend to all the points in the submission , for he made no arbitrement of the suits and quarrels , &c. but made an expresse protestation that he would not meddle with them ; by which he hath disabled himself to be an arbitrator in the premises , because that he refused to make an arbitrement according to the submission of the parties , who chose him for to arbitrate , conditionally ut supra : viz. so that the same award , &c. which is as well of suits and quarrels , &c. as of dilapidations . in this case ▪ though the latter part of the submission were generall , yet because it was conditional , and it did appear by the award it self , that it was not made of all things submitted , therefore the award was not held void . but in this case i conceive , that if the award had been of the dilapidations generally , without the protestation , that it had been good enough , because that the latter part of the submission is general : and therefore if the award had been pleaded de premissis , and aleage the award of the delapidations , it shall be intended that this was all the matter in controversie betwixt them , untill the contrary be shewed . there is one thing yet in baspoles case worth the noting , which i cannot omit : where it is adjudged , that though there are many matters in controversie , yet if one only be notified to the arbitrator , he may make an award of this ; for the arbitrator is in place of a judge , and his office is to determine secundum allegata & probata ; and the duty of the parties which are grieved , and know their particular griefs , is , to give notice of the causes of controversie to the arbitrator , for they are privy to them , and the arbitrator a stranger , and every one ought to do that which lies in his notice . and if other construction should be made , most arbitrements might be avoided : for the one might conceale a trespasse done , or other secret cause of action given him , & so avoid the arbitrement , & expedit ▪ r●ipub . ut sit finis litium . i shall cite , but one case more upon the former ground , and so passe this , which is thus . barnes brought debt upon an obligation against greenly , dated the of september , to performe an award of all causes , till the day of the date : the plaintiffe pleaded the award de premissis , viz. of all causes till the of december , and assignes a breach : the defendant maintained the bar , that the arbitrator made no award , and verdict for the plaintiff & judgement : here the award was a day short of the submission . upon this a writ of error was brought , but what issue it had , that my lord hobart saith , he doth not know . i doe conceive , reader , that the difference formerly taken , will resolve this case ; for if the submission were conditional , then i think the award is nought , being not so large as the submission ; but if it were absolute , in such case i think it good . but to this it may be said , that the law will not intend any other matter of controversie to arise betwixt the third of september & the fourth , without it be shewn ; and for ought appears , the award is of all causes to the fourth of september , because no other cause appeares then what is awarded : therefore quaere . thirdly and lastly , an award may be void , where it is not according to the submission in respect of the circumstantes of it . page and parkers case was thus , in debt upon a bond conditioned for the performance of an award , so that it be delivered in writing sub manibus & sigillis , &c. the defendant pleaded the delivery of it in writing , and doth not say sub manibus & sigillis , and a performance , the plaintiffe alleaged a breach , and judgement given for him , which was reversed in the chequer chamber , because the defendant did not plead the award sub manibus & sigillis ; for if an arbitrement bee not made according to the submission , it is no arbi●rement ; if no arbitrement , no cause of action . so in this case i conceive , if the award had been pleaded sub manibus , and not sub manibus & sigillis , it had been nought . so likewise , if it had not been pleaded that it was delived in writing , it had been void . and where there is a submission to an award , so that it be made and delivered to the parties in writing , at or before such a day : in such case , if it have not all the circumstances , that is , though it be made , yet if it be not delivered ; and though it bee made and delivered , yet if it be not delivered to the parties , and though it be made and delivered to the parties , yet if it be not in writing ; and though it have all these circumstances , yet if they be not all done , at or before the day , in any of these cases the award will be void , as appears by the books in the margent . and if the arbitrators award any thing after the time limited , it is void . two of one part , and two of another submit themselves to an award , so that the award be made and delivered to both parties , &c. a delivery in this case to one of either party is not sufficient , but it must be to both the entire parties . the reason of all these cases may be because ( as i have formerly said ) that it is but a bare power or authority which is giveu to an arbitrator , and therefore it must be strictly executed according to the qualifications and conditions annexed to it . but the reason that comes more close is , because that the submission is condit●onal ; ita quod , or proviso , the award of the premises , or the said award , &c. now it cannot be an award of the premises , or the said award , if it be not in every thing matter , and circumstance , agreeable to the submission . and now i have done this part , of shewing you where an award shall be void , in regard that it is not according to the submission . i shall now shew you before i go any further , what i intend by saying that the arbitrement is void , and hereupon i shall makes this qua●re . in what case an arbitrement shall be totally void , and where in part only . and here i shall lay down these three several grounds or differences , all warranted by our books . first , where the award is of one single matter only , or of many things , all out of the submission , in such case the award is totally void . secondly , where the award is of one single matter only , or of many things , all within the submission ; yet if it be not lf all submitted , where the award is conditional , or not agreeing in circumstances ( as i have shewed you before ) or if it be uncertain , impossible , &c. though but in part ( as i shall shew you hereafter ) in such cases likewise the award will be totally void . thirdly , and lastly , where the award is of one thing onely , or of severall things , part within the submission , and part out , there the award is void onely as to that which is out of the submission , and good for the residue . to these cases that i have cited , i shall only adde one case remembred before , and that is ▪ cornelius lawrence and carres case , which was thus : they submitted themselves to the award of i. s. concerning an action of account pending ; the arbitrator made an award touching the account , and further award , that every of the parties should release to the other all actions . in this case it was adjudged that the award was good , as to the account , which was submitted , and void for the surplusage . see fol. . b. but note , reader , that though an arbitrement may be void in part , and good in part as in the cases aforesaid , yet it cannot be totally void , as to one of the parties to the submission , and good against the o●her ; for as the award must be on both sides ( as i shall shew you hereafter ) so i conceive the award must be equally and reciprocally obligatory to both parties , and if it be void against one , it will be void against both . and i conceive that moore and bedels case cited before , will warrant this : the case was thus , bedel recovered by default in an action of waste , against moore . l. damages , and had judgement , after they submitted themselvs to an arbitrement , and an award is made that moore should pay to bedel l. at certain dayes , & l. at certain other dayes ; and that for payment of the l. one william salter should bee ready to seal and deliver obligations , and the award was of other things also out of the submission : and in consideration thereof , that bedel should discharge moore of l. parcel of the said l. recovered in the said writ of waste , and that upon the readines of william salter to seale and deliver the said obligations , bedel should release to moore all actions and demands , &c. in this case moore brought an action against bedel , & shewed how that he payed the l. &c. and assigned a breach of the award , that the defendant had not made the release upon request . it was resolved , that though that many things are awarded to be done in satisfaction of another , ( as in this case ) and some are within the submission ( as here the payment of the mony ) and some out ( as in this case , all to be done by salter being a stranger ) and so void ; and though that all were intended by the arbitrators to be one full and entire recompence , for the things that the other should doe in consideration of this ( as here the discharge of the l. and the release by the defendant ) notwithstanding if any to be done or to be given to the party , though that it be of small value be within the submission , the award is good ; so in this case judgement was given for the plaintiffe . in this case it is apparent , that if what was awarded on the plaintiffes part , had been all out of the submission , and by consequence void , that then the defendant in such case had not been tyed to perform what was awarded on his part , for an arbitrement void against one , is void against both . rudston and yates● , case cited before : an infant and one of full age submitted themselves to an award , it was adjudged that the submission , and by consequence the award , were absolutely void as to the infant ; and being void as to the infant , that it was likewise void as to the man of full age ; for that the award ought to be equally binding . and now i have showne you where an arbitrement shall be void in the whole , and where in part only : it will be necessary that i shew you , where a bond for not abiding such an award shall be forfeited , and where not . where an obligation shall be forfeited for not performing of an award , which is void in part or in the whole , and where not ? the law as to this , takes this difference , betwixt an award void in the whole , and an award void in part only . where the award is totally void ▪ there the bond can never be forfeited or the non-performance of it : because , that a void arbitrement and no arbitrement , are both one in the judgement of law. and therefore no more then a bond can be forfeited , where there is no award made can it be forfeited where there is a void award made . for as in the first case , he cannot observe tha● which is not ; so in the last , the law requires not the observation of that which is void . as for the book in hen. . where there was a submission by bond , and an award to pay s. to a stranger ; and it is there said , that the judgement of the court was , that though the award were void , yet it ought to be performed by reason of the bond ; for otherwise the bond is forfeited : and therefore saith the book , the plaintiffe traversed the award , quod mirum , sayes brooke for this is no award between the plaintiffe and the defendant . well might he wonder at it indeed , for certainly this cannot bee law : but because it is sufficiently refused by my lord coke in his tenth book , the place cited before , i shall thus passe it . but now on the other side , where the award is void in part only , there the bond may be farfeited for not observing the award , for as much as is within the submission , though not for that which is not contained in the submission : and therefore if a breach be assigned in that part which is void ▪ the action will not lye . in emery and emerys case cited before , glanvile cited a case betwixt hellier and rendals in the kings bench in which he said , he was of counsel , where the plaintiffe assigned his breach at a void matter , and after verdict for the plaintiffe this was spoken in arrest of judgement ; and judgement quod quer . nihil capiat per billam . but now a breach may be assigned as to that which is within the submission , and the bond forfeited for it . in e. . it was ●awarded that one of the parties should pay l. to the other , l. in hand : and that he and three others should be bound for the payment of the thirty pound residue . in this case by brian , neale , and choke , though that the award be void , as to the strangers , yet it is not , void as to the party which submitted , but he must plead the award verbatim , as the arbitrators gave it , and in performance of it he must say , that he himself was bound for the payment of the l. rest at a day , and shall not speak of the sureties . so in cornelius lawrence and carres case cited before ▪ it was adjudged , that where there is an award of more then is submitted , it is good for that which is submitted , and void for the surplusage , and that the bond is forfeited for not performance of that which is within the submission . see fo . . b. in h. . by vavisor and fronick . if a. b. be bound to stand to the award of certain persons of , &c. who award that the said a. b. and e. his wife shall levie a fine of the same lands to the other party , though that the award be void as to the wife of a. b. yet the said a. b. is bound upon pain of forfeiture of his bond , to do it . and agreeing with these cases , is moor● and bedels case so often remembred before . and we must observe , that where a man is tyed by promise to stand to an award , it wil be the same with the obligation , as to those things before laid down , as you may see in moor● and , bedels case . and now having declared unto you in what case a bond shall be forfeited for not performing of an award , and in what not . it will be necessary in the next place ( before i proceed ) to clear the point of notice of the arbitrement ; that is , whether the compromittors which have bound themselves to stand to an award , are bound to take notice of it at their own peril or not ? this very point is as much controverted and debated in edw. . the dutches of suffolks case , by all the judges in the chequer chamber , as it is possible for a case to be : and thee ●s as much variety of judgement and opinion in it , as ever i met with in ●ny one case of the law. and though i do conceive the better opinion in that case to be ( for it is not resolved ) that the party who 〈◊〉 bound himself to stand to the ●ward , must take notice of it at his own perill : because as catesby saith ●●cellently well , though that a man by reason shall not be compelled to 〈◊〉 a thing without having notice of 〈◊〉 , yet a man may binde himself by his deed to do a thing , the which by reason he should not be bound to do . yet i conceive the judgement of these learned men , viz. fairfax , starkey , yelverton , and others , ought not to be so undervalued , especially upon no lesse then four severall debates of the point , as to be called a sudden opinion , as it is in fraunces case in my lord cokes book . but for the law in this point , certainly it is now setlet and in peace , that the compromittor must take notice of it at his own perill , having bound himself to stand to and observe the award . in hen. . the opinion was clear ( saith the book ) that the obligor● ought to take notice of the award at his own peril , because he hath bound himself so to do . and in e. . by brian , vavisor , and catesby , justices ; where an award is made , the party ought to take notice of it at his own perill , and they say , that so it was adjudged in the time of the same king , in the kings bench. which cases are agreed for law in my lord cokes book , as also in his book fraunces case , where it is said , that so is the law without question . and the reason given there is , because when a man bindes himself to do or performe any thing awarded by a stranger , he doth by this , take notice at his perill , of all things incident to this , for the saving of his obligation . and therefore wee may safely conclude the booke in . h. . where there is an opinion to the contrary , to be no law : but of this sufficient . i shall now proceede to shew you in what respects or for what other rea●ons an award may be saide to be void in law : the first ground i layde downe , was where the award is not according to the submission , the next shall be the incertainety , where an award shall be voide in lawe for the incertainety ; in all cases where the award is uncertaine , it is void : for the arbitrators ( as i have shewed before ) are iudges , and their judgement must be certain ; for judicium debet esse cer●●● . and the law doth in all cases abhorre uncertainty , because it is the mother of confusion . samons case ; the arbitrator awarded , that the one of the parties should enter into a bond to the other , and doth not award in what summe the bond shall be , adjudged void for the incertainty . for , as the book saith , the arbitrators are judges of the case , and their judgement awarded , ought to be certain , so that by this the controversie be decided , that it may not bee the cause , through the uncertainty of new controversie . martham and iennings's case , in debt upon an obligation to stand to the arbitrement of poly of grayes inne , for the title of coppy hold in question betwixt the parties ; poly awarded , that iennings should pay to the plaintiffe marks , viz. l. . d . super vicesimum primum diem maii ; and l. s. d . at the feast of st. michael next following : and that the plaintiffe should release to the defendant all his right in the coppyhold , super predictum primum diem maii ( omitting vicesimum ) where there was no first day named before . the defendant pleaded , that there was no award made : the plaintiffe replyed , that there was an award made , and sets it forth ; and that the defendant hath not paid the l. . d . upon the first day of may : the defendant demurred , intending that the arbitrement was void for the uncertainty , viz. in that it was to be paid super predict . primum diem mitij , where there was no first day named before . tanfield justice , the arbitrement is void in the whole , because that the day to which the release is referred to be made it uncertain , and so it doth not appear when it shall be made : and for that it doth appear , that the intent of the arbitrator was , that it should be made at a day certain , and this is not certainly expressed , it is void . and though that the arbitrement consists upon divers parts , and some are certain , yet if any part be uncertain , all is void , if it be materiall and concern a party to the submission , as here it doth . and it is not like the case of e. . . for there the award which was void for part , that part concerned a stranger not party to the arbitrement , but here it concerns both parties to the arbitrement . and though that there be another clause , that the plaintiffe shall make further assurance ; yet his intent was , that the other should be also done : and because that that is void for the uncertainty , all is void : for an award is like a judgement , which if it be imperfect in any part , it is void for the whole ; and after , judgement was given for the defendant . note here reader , that if an award be made of severall things , all within the submission ; if it be uncertain in part onely , it is totally void , which doth agree with the differences which i have formerly layd down . in e. . cited before , by yelverton : if an award be made , that an action shal be conceived betwixt the parties , by the advice of s , and f , the award is void : because saith he , every arbitrement ought to be full and certain , and so it is not here , untill the said s , and f. limit the action . i must confesse the greater opinion in this case is , that the award is good : but i conceive the opinion of yelverton ( as i formerly said ) to bee the better opinion ; because the judgement of arbitrators ought to bee finall ( as i shall shew you hereafter ) and nothing ought to be referred to the judgement of other persons or to the law : for by the submission ( which must be their rule ) they themselves are to end al suits & controversies betwixt the parties ; and if they do not , their award is not according to the submission , and therefore void . rudston and yates's case ( which i have put often before , though to other purposes ) was thus : an infant and a man of ful age submitted themselves to an award ; the arbitrators award , that the infant should pay . l. to the other party , for quite rents and other small things , &c. t is true , that in this case it was adjudged ( as i have formerly said ) that the submission of the infant was absolutely void . but it was also adjudged , that the award in this case was void , because of the uncertainty of those words , other small things , it not appearing what those other things were : and it may bee they were such things , for which an infant by the law may not be chargeable : and by the same reason they have assessed l. they might have assessed l. here likewise note reader , that the award being of things within the submission , was adjudged totally void for the uncertainty of part only . two submit themselves to the award of i. s. who awards , that one of the parties should pay a certaine sum to the other , and that the other in consideration of this , should discharge him of a bond in which they two were bound to a third person in an . l. out t● circit●r . in this case it was objected , that the arbitrement is void , because the arbitrators have arbitrated a thing uncertain ; by reason that it doth not certainly appear of what summe the bond was in which they were bound , and the ●o circiter is utterly uncertain . but the opinion of the whole court was , that there was a sufficient certainty ; because that lyes not in the power of the arbitrators to know the direct sum , and a small variation is not materiall , and therefore the award was held good . nichols and grummons case ▪ there the arbitrators award , that one of the parties should pay l. . to the other , and doth not say for what ; so that it may appear whether it concerned him or no , it was held void for the uncertainty . and if this should not be void , it might be very mischievous to the party ; for by this means he might be doubly charged . for in an action brought for the same thing , for which this money is awarded to be paid , i doubt the arbitrement could be * no plea in bar of the action ; because it cannot appear , whether it were for the same thing or no. and the avertement of the party can never declare the intent of the arbitrators , and so help the uncertainty or other imperfection in the arbitrement , as it is agreed in this case , and resolved also in and of the queen , dyer : and in girling and gosnolds case , here immediately following . girling and gosuolds case in the kings bench was thus : debt was brought upon a bond for not observing of an award ; which was , that the defendant should pay to the plaintiffe l. per annum , during the continuance of two leases for yeares in being of the parsonage impropriate of yarmouth , &c. and it was not showne in the award for what tearm the leases were ; but the plaintiffe shewed for what tearme they were , and the continuance of them ; and alleaged a breach for non payment of the l. &c. in this case it was objected , that the award was void for the uncertainty , because that it did not expresse for what time or tearme the leases for yeares were , and that it could not bee aided by the averrement of the party : and for the uncertainty samons case was cited ; for the averment my l. dyers case which i put you before . but by popham chief justice the award is good : he agreed that where the award is uncertaine , it is void : and that the parties can never aid it by an averrement ; to shew the intent of the arbitrators , if it be not expressed in the award , either directly , or by circumstance . bu● he said that if samons case in cokes . book had been , tha● the party should be bound in such a sum , as hee was bound in to stand to the award , or by other reference , so that it might be reduced to a certainty , and this infallibly ; in such case the award had been good . and in this case the payment of the l. per annum is referred to the continuance of the leafes , which is certain ; and therefo●e he conceived the award to be good . of the same opinion were williams , yelverton , and tanfield , justices . here reader you may observe that an award which is referred or may be reduc'd to a certainty , is good enough , agreeing with that rule in law , certum est quod certum reddi potest . this shall suffice , to shew you in what case an award shall be void for uncertainty . the next thing considerable is , where an award shall be void in law for impossibility . wheresoever the arbitrators award a thing impossible to be done , in such case the award is void , and by consequence the bond not forfeitable for the non-performance of it ( as i have shewed before ) for it were a most unjust and unreasonable thing for to make a man incurre a penalty for the not doing of that which is in it self impossible to be done . in e. . by yelverton : if an arbitrement be made to do a thing impossible , the party for the nonperformance of this shall not lose his obligation , notwithstanding that hee bee bound to stand to the arbitrement , because he cannot by any possibility do it . as if they award that i shall make the thames to run over the seller of westminster within a day : or that i shall pull down pauls steeple with my hands within an hour , or the like impossibilities ; because i cannot performe it , i am excused of my obligation . so in e. . by moile : if the arbitrators award a thing impossible , as if i put my self upon an arbitrement this day , and they award , that i shall pay a sum certain at a day which was before the submission ; i shall not forfeit my obligation for the non-performance of this arbitrement , because that it was impossible to be performed . in e. . by genney : if an award be , that i shall release all the right which i have in the mannor of i , s. in the county of m. to pigot , or levie a fine to him , and in truth there is no such mannor ; this award is void , because it is impossible . so if the award be , that he shall release his suit against b. and he hath no suit against him , this is a void award . but note reader . where the thing awarded is in it self feasable and possible to be done , though in relation to him that is to do it , it may not be possible ; yet because it carries with it no apparent impossibility , the award in such case is good . if the arbitrators award , that hee shall pay a marks presently , he is bound to do it : and it is the folly of the party to put such confidence in the parties that are chosen arbitrators . so they may arbitrate things , the party cannot do ( which are the very words of the book ) as that the defendant shall pay l. in money , where peradventure hee never had d. or that he shall pay tunnes of wine , or the like ; where he hath not one : in these cases the award is good . in debt upon a bond , to stand to an award ; the defendant pleaded , that the arbitrators did award that the defendant within eight-dayes after the award should go to the house of sir henry collet , and that he should bring a bale of woad , &c. and the defendant saith that there was not any bale of woad in the house of the said henry collet , within eight dayes after the said award . by keble this plea is not good ; because he hath bound himself to stand to the award , and to perform it , which he must do , otherwise his obligation is forfeited . besides this is a thing feasable , for though sir hen , collet had not any bales in his house , if he would have performed the condition , he ought to have bought certain bails , and to have brought them to the house of sir henry collet , &c. and then departed &c. and because he hath tyed himself to perform the arbitrement , he ought to do it , if it may be by any possibility done . the reason of all these cases is , because it is the folly of the parties to make choice of , and to put so great confidence in such persons , whom they chose to be their arbitrators , and it is no newes that a man should suffer through his owne folly . againe , where the thing awarded is in it selfe possible , and possible also as to the party who is to do it , yet , where the thing awarded lies not in the power of the party himselfe , without the aide of a third person , in such case the award is void . two submit themselves to an arbitrement , the arbitrators . award that one of them shall make i. s. to pay . l to the other the award is void : because in this case ▪ it lies in the will of i.s. whether he will do it , or no and the party hath no meanes to enforce him . two submit themselves to the award of i.s. who doth award one of the parties to pay to the other l. . l. in hand , and for the l. residue that he finde three severall persons to be bound every one in . l. to the party . in this case by the opinion of all the iustices , the : award was void . and there it is said that in an arbitrement the law intends , that the arbitrators should be indifferent and equall judges betwixt the parties : bu● what indifferency is this , to cause a man to make such a thing to bee done , which lies in the will of a stranger whether he will do it or n● . as put the case ( saith the book ) that an arbitrator wil award that i must cause the king to giue the tower of london to the other , such an award is clearely void . and by brian in e. . an arbitrement that the party before such a day shall levie a fine before us , is good ; but if the arbitrement be , that he shall command us to sit here , and to make him levie a fine this is void for he hath not power to do it . so in h . an award that the parties shall discontinue and make retraxits of their suits , is good : the reason of these cases , i conceive may be , because that though these things cannot be done without the act of court , yet heere is concurrence of the act of the party also , which doth produce the act of the court. and 〈◊〉 cheife justice in e. . takes the true difference , sayes he there , where the act may be done by my selfe , without the aid of a third person , in such case i ought to do it ; but where it cannot be done without the aid of a third person , there it is otherwise . there was a case which was of this king , which i cited before to another purpose , which was thus ; an award was made , that one of the parties should pay a certaine summe to the other , and that the other in consideration of this , should acquit him of a bond , in which they were both bound to a third person in a l. &c. in this case , the award was held good , and this diversity was taken by the court : where the arbitrators arbitrate a party to do a thing which lies in his power without the aid of a third person there the award is good , otherwise , where it lies not in his power without the aid of a third person . and here it was agreed that the thing awarded was feasable by the party himself , without the aid of the oblig●e , and this difference was taken by the court , where the bond was forfited , and the penalty incurred and where 〈◊〉 where the day of payment was not incurred ; there the payment of the● money , at the day would bee a good discharge of the bond , and by consequence a good acquit 〈◊〉 of the party , but where the bond was forfeited , there it could not . and ion●● iustice said that he might compell the oblige● upon payment of the money , though the bond were forfeited , to de●iver the bond by subpoen● in chancery ; or that he might suffer an action to be brought against him , and then discharge and pay it . according to the opinion of iustice iones in his former case it was ruled , that where arbitrators doe award , that whereas such a one was seised to my use , that i should cause him to make a release to the other being in possession , that the award was good ; because that i have such an interest & power that ▪ i may compell my feoffees to do it by subpoena in the chancery . thus you see ; that where i may do the thing awarded my self , without the aid of another , or may inforce it to be done , in such case the award will be good : the next thing to be considered is , where an award shall be void by reason of the not indifferency of it , or because it is made of out side only . as arbitrator● are indifferently elected , so the law intends ( as it is said in e. . ) that the arbitrators should bee indifferent and equall iudges between the parties , which they cannot be , if they do not giue satisfaction to both sides , and therefore in such case , where the award is not mutually satisfactory , it is voide . it was an ingenious saying of hearu an emery & emerys case cited before ; arbitrators , saith he , are indifferently chosen , so that both the parties may have recompence in regard of their bond , which is equale pondus to both ; and an arbitrement , saith he , is like a fine , wherein the iudges are arbitrators , one hath the land , & pro hac concordia the other hath money . if the defendant plead an arbitrement made betwixt him and the plaintiffe of all quarels between them , &c. who award that the defendant should goe quit of all actions and quarrels had by the plaintiffe against him ; aud nothing is spoken of the quarels which the defendant hath against the plaintiffe , the arbitrement , is void . so , if two submit them selves to an award of all trespasses , and an award is made , that the one shall make amends to the other , and nothing is awarded that he shall do to him againe , this is a void award , because all is for the one party , & nothing for the other . in trespesse for taking away of goods , the defendant pleaded an arbitrement , which awarded , that because the defendant had taken away the goods of the plaintiffe , that he should re-deliver them in satisfaction of the trespasse , which he did and ●here by the better opinion the plea is nought , because that re-delivery of his owne goods , can be no satisfaction for the taking and detaining of them . an arbitrement is no plea in trespasse , if the defendant doe not say that the arbitrators awarded that he should giue something to the plaintiffe more , or lesse , in satisfaction for that is a satisfaction to neither side ; the plaintiffe is not satisfied for the trespasse done him , nor the defendant discharged thereof without some satisfaction for the wrong done by him . in trespasse for goods , the defendant pleaded an arbitrement that he should retaine part of the goods , and should deliver the rest , which hee hath been alwaies ready to deliver and demands judgment ; this is , conceived to be no plea : and this case was put , in debt of l. the defendant pleads an arbitrement that he should pay part , and not the rest ; or to pay the moity and retain the other moity , this no plea. ●tis true , that brooke makes a quere of the case , because it was not adjudged ; but withall concludes , that it seems it is no plea : and certainly so is the law. for if an award for the re-delivery of all the goods could be no plea , because no satisfaction ( as the case is in h. . cited before ) much lesse an award for the re-delivery of party only : for this is no other then to endeavour to satisfie one wrong with another . for the latter case , as it is said by keble , in h. . that it is against the law for the arbitrators to award the party to pay more then of right hee ought to pay . so certainly it is as much against the law , to award the party to pay lesse then of right hee ought to pay , for there is no equality nor satisfaction for that which is more or lesse in either case . nichols and grummons case , cited before : there was an award , that the defendant should depart from his house , wherein he dwelt , &c. and should pay l. s , to the plaintiffe , and it doth not appear for what , &c. in this case it was adjudged , that the award was void , because it was of one side only . but now , where there is either an acquittall or an expresse satisfaction on both sides , or of one side only , with an implyed discharge of the other ; in such case the award will be good . it is a good award , that because that the one party hath done more trespasse to the other , then the other to him , that he shall give a penny in satisfaction , and that the other shall be quit against him . an arbitrement , that the one hath done trespasse to the other , and that the other hath likewise done trespasse to him ; and therefore that the one shall be quit against the other , and that the other likewise shall be quit against him , is a good arbitrement . in trespasse for the taking away of goods , though an award that he shall re-deliver the goods to the plaintiffe in satisfaction , be no good award ; yet by keble and tremaile , if the award had been that he should carry them from such a place to such a place at his own costs , this had been good . and by keble , if a man take my horse from me , and we put our selves upon arbitrement : in this case , if the arbitrators award that he shall keepe the horse untill the feast of easter , and then to deliver the horse ; this is a good award , for he shall be charged with the meat of the horse which is a profit and availe to me : and i am discharged of the keeping and the meat of the horse , which is my proffit . thus you see , that a small or seeming satisfaction only , so the award be on both sides , may be good enough . so in dyer it is said , that there must be something done by either party to the other , commodious in apparance at the least . the reason of these cases , may be , because that the arbitrators are made judges of the matters in controversie betweene the parties : and therefore where the submission is of things uncertaine , as trespasse ▪ or the like ; in such case if the arbitrators shall adjudge the offences to be equall where they are not so , and so a mutuall discharge on both sides : or shall award the payment of l. where there was not . s. damage ; or but a peny , where peradventure there might be l : damage . in such case there is no remedy because you have made them your judges , and tied your selfe to stand to their judgment . otherwise it may be where things certaine are submitted , as debt ; or the like , as i have shown you before . and now i shall put you a case or two to the former , where there is an expresse satisfastion of the one part , and an implied discharge of the other only , and yet the award good . an arbitrement , that the defendant shall pay a penny to the plaintiffe in satisfaction of all manner of actions , which he hath paid , is a good harre . nichols and grummons case cited before , if an award be , that an obligor in a single obligation shall pay the debt ▪ this is a void award without there bee a provision for his discharge ; because payment is no discharge in that case without an acquittance . but if the award be , that he shall pay l. for a trespasse , it is good ▪ because a satisfaction implyes a discharge . so an award , that the defendant shall pay a debt that was due to the plaintiffe , which he also promised to pay , is good ; for there the award is as well of the one side as the other ; because the one receives the money , and the other is discharged of the debt , and of his promise to pay it . thus you see , that where an award is expresly of one side , and implyedly only on the other , that in such case the award is good . the next thing to be considered is , that though the award be on both sides , yet , where there is no means by law for either party to attain unto that which is awarded him , the award is void . in trespasse , the defendant pleaded an award , that the plaintiffe should pay to the defendant l ▪ and release to him all actions of trespasse , & after the defendant should release to the plaintiffe all trespasses , which he was alwayes ready to doe , and is yet , if the plaintiffe had paid the l and released . in this case this was held no good plea ; because , that if the plaintiffe had paid the money and released , he could have had no remedy to inforce the defendant to have released ; and therefore this award is no bar of the action . so in a writ of forger of false deeds , the defendant pleaded an arbitrement , that the plaintiffe should be non-suited in that writ ; and that the defendant who hath an assize against the plaintiffe should be non-suit in this , and saith , the day is not yet come , and demanded judgement : in this case the plea was held nought , because , that if he had bin not-suited in this action , he had no remedy by specialty , or otherwise to inforce the defendant to be non-suit in the assize . and here newton said , should this be a good plea in a writ of forger of false deeds for the defendant , to say that there was an award , that the plaintiffe should have an acre of land of the defendant in amends : i say ( saith he ) that it could not , if he doth not say , the which he hath conveyed to him ; for there is no remedy in this case to constraine him to convey it to him . if an arbitrement be that the defendant shall be bound by such a day , which is not come ; he shall not plead this in an action of trespasse , for then the plaintiffe should be barred , and should have no action to compell the defendant to make the obligation . note reader , that these cases must be entended where the submission is without specialty , otherwise he were not without remedy , in this case , there are these three grounds observable , and warranted by the books . first , where the award is for payment of money at a day to come , there the award is good , because an action of debt will lye for the money upon the arbitrement if it be not paid , or the party may resort to his action againe , if he please . secondly , though the award be of a collaterall thing for which there is no remedy , yet if it be executed , it is good . thirdly , and lastly , where the award is of a collaterall thing not executed ; yet if the submission be by speciallty , the award is good . upon these grounds you may observe these four rules to direct you where an arbitement shall be a good plea in barre of an action in these cases . first , where the award is for the payment of money , for which you have remedy , and the day of payment not past ; in such case the award is a good plea in barre of the action . secondly , where the day of payment is past ▪ it is no plea in barre of the action without pleading of payment . thirdly , where the day of payment is past , yet if there be no default in the defendant ; in such case , i conceive , the arbitrement not executed , is a good plea in barre of the action . fourthly , and lastly , where the award is of a thing for which the party hath no remedy , though the day be not yet come , in which the thing ought to be done or delivered , in this case the award is no plea in bar of the action . according to these differences it ▪ hath been ruled in a case in the k. bench , which was thus . the defendant in trespasse pleaded an award that he should instantly pay s. to the plaintiffe , and so demanded judgement of the action : by flemming chiefe iustice , williams and crooke iustices it was holden , that the plea was nought , because that he did not shew the money was paid , and these differences agreed . an arbitrement pleaded in bar of an action , where the defendant hath not performed the thing , and the day past , is no good plea. but where the day of the performance of the thing awarded is to come , and the doing of the thing awarded may be compelled by action , there the arbitrement is a good plea in barre of the action . and by flemming if the arbitrement be ●o make a release , or such other collaterall matter , which the defendant cannot be enforced by action to do , in such case the arbitrement is no good plea in barre of the action , though the day of performance be not yet come . and you must know reader , that where the arbitrement is to make a release , or such other collaterall thing , and the day to come , though the sumission were by specialty , yet the award would be no plea in barre of an action ; because that cannot inforce the doing of it , though it may be forfeited for the thing not done . and so saith nedham in e. . though the arbitrement be void to this intent that the plaintiffe hath no action to compell the defendant to make the release ; yet it is good to this intent , if the party do not performe it , that he shall forfeit the penalty of the obligation . but enough of this , the next thing considerable , is , where an award shall be void because it is not finall ? the arbitrators ( as i have often told you ) are iudges of the matters in controversy referred vnto them , and their award is a judgement : now ●udicium , must not only be certum ( as is said before ) but determinatum also , it must determine the matter in controversy . t is true , an award may in some cases ( as i have shewed before ) be good of part of the things only submited , but we must vnderstand this so that the award must be finall as to that parte , or else it will be void . an award that either party shall be non-suit against the other in actions commenced by them is void , because it makes no end of the matters in controversy . and every arbitrement , saith the booke , ought to make an end and finall determination of the things in dispute and controversy ; which it doth not in this case , because that notwithstanding the nonsuits , they may commence their suites , de nove . and vpon this ground , as also the former authority , i conceive that the booke in . h. . is no law ; where there is an opinion that an award of a nonsuit may be good , but it is vpon this reason , because it is not only the act of the court , but the act of the party also . but if it were wholy the act of the party , yet for the reason before given ▪ because it is no final conclusion , i conceive it cannot be good for this is but like blowing out of a candell , which a man may at his own pleasure light againe . so , in all those cases that i have put you before , where the award is of one side only , it is void also for this reason ; because it doth not determine the controversies between them , and the controversies cannot be ended , without they be ended in respect of both parties . so likewise in the cases that i have put you before , where the award is uncertain , it is also voide for this cause , for that it is not finall . for an uncertaine award cannot decide the matter in controversie , but is more apt to beget new strifes and variances , then to conclude the old . in e. . an award is made , that an action shall be conceived betwixt the parties by the advice of s. and f. i do conceive in this case the award is void , because it is not finall : for this concludes not the controversie , but leaves it to the judgement of law : see fo . . b. warley and beckwiths case , in debt upon a bond to stand to an arbitrement : the arbitrators award that the defendant shall pay severall sums to the plaintiffe , which were aleaged by the plaintiffe to be done unto him . and further , that if the defendant at , or before the feast of s. andrew the apostle , then next following ▪ should before the said arbitrators disprove the debt , or any part thereof ▪ then so much should be deducted out of the payment of the severall summes aforesaid , &c. t is true , i finde no judgement in this case , yet i conceive the law will be somewhat strong in it , that the arbitrement is void because it leaves the matter in suspence and undecided , whereas it ought to be finall and conclusive . and besides , this is upon the matter a reserving of power to make a second arbitrement , which i conceive they cannot do . i shall conclude this point with that ingenious conceit of herne , in emery and emeryes case , remembred before ▪ only a word or two more of his added . an arbitrement , saith he , is like a fine , wherein the judges are arbitrators : one hath land , & pro hac concordia , the other hath mony ; therfore fines upon condition are refused ▪ because not finall . so the law doth reject all arbitrements that are conditionall , or which leave the matters in controversie in suspence , or unconcluded . for as a fine is so called because that it doth finem li●●bus imponere : so the proper work or office of an arbitrement , is to put an end to controversie . so yelverton in e. . an arbitrement , saith he , is used for the common weale , for to decide debates and wrongs amongst the people , as fines are ; here hee likewise joynes them both together . and the very words of the condition in every bond to stand to an award , will sufficiently instruct the arbitrators what they are to do in this behalfe ( which certainly prudent antiquity put in to that very purpose ) where the parties doe submit themselves to the arbitrement ; sentence , and finall determination of the arbitrators : and therefore the award is not according to the submission , if it be not finall : the next thing to be considered , is , where an award against law shall be void . it may be aptly demanded , what i intend by an award against law : for every award that is not according to law ; as where it is uncertaine , impossible , or the like ( as i have shown before ) may bee truly said to bee against law : and therefore this will be but actum agere , to shew , that an award against law shall be void . by billing in e. . an award which is impossible is against the law : for ( saies he ) the law is upon possibility and reason , therefore that which is impossible is against law . so by nele and choke , an award which is made in parcels , or which enjoynes a thing not in the power of the party , is against law . by keble also in h. . an award that a man shall pay more then of right he ought to pay , is against law . t is true , that all these , or the like , in a general acceptation of the words may be said to be against law , because they do not agree with the law . but in a more particular and restrained acceptation of the words , that is properly said to hee against law ; which is either malum in se , or malum prohibitum ; that is , either against the commandements of god , or the decrees maxims and principles of the law , as appeares by the books in the margine . and in this sense properly i conceive the law is to be understood , where it speaks of an award against law . and therefore if an award be , that the defendant shall kill or rob i. s. or that he shall maintain the plaintiffe in such a suit : or that he shall be bound to the plaintiffe , being a sheriffe , to save him harmelesse if hee shall imbesi●l a writ , or suffer an escape ; or that he shall forge such a deed or writing for the plaintiffe , or the like : in such cases , i conceive , the award will bee void , because it enjoynes things against the law . but of this sufficient . the next and last thing to be considered is , where an award made at several times , or by parcels shall be void ? an award , that the defendant shall pay a certaine sum of money to the plaintiffe , and that the surety for payment thereof should be by the advice of the arbitrators : this by choke is a void award , because that the arbitrators cannot make their ▪ award twice ; for every arbitrement ought to be made entirely , and not by parcels . and here is first an award for the payment of the money : and then here is another part of the award for the sufficiency of the security , and these at severall times , which cannot be . by danby justice , if the arbitrators arbitrate part one day , and part another day , and give their judgement , there the second is void ; but they may commune upon one point one day , and another , another day : so that they do not give their judgment nisi unica vice for all . and by yaxley , an arbitrement told in part , is void in the whole ; for an arbitrement cannot be made , by parcels . i conceive reader , that this point will stand upon this difference , where there are several awards made ▪ and where but one award made at severall times or by parcels . i conceive they cannot make severall a vards : first , because that were not agreeable to the submission ; in which the parties binde themselves to stand to the award and arbitrement of the arbitrators ; and by these words in the submission , they have no power to make severall awards or arbitrements : and when they have made one arbitrement , they have executed their power and authority , and therfore a second arbitrement will bee void . and again ▪ by the same reason that they might make two awards , they might make twenty , which were very inconvenient . but now on the other side , i conceive that an award may be made at severall times or by parcells ▪ so that it be not delivered vnder their hands according to the submission untill the whole be made . and certainly that which is principaly required in every arbitrement is , that it be agreeable in substance and circumstance to the submission ; which it may well be , though it be made at severall times or by parcells , so that it be made and delivered according to the submission , at the time appointed . and i conceive all that is done by the arbitrators , is but as a comuning or discourse concerning the matters in controversy submited unto them ; for that they may vary in their iudgments , as they shall see occasion , for they have liberty to arbitrate according to their discretions , so they have an eye to the submission . i say , i conceive all as nothing untill they have finished , and delivered the arbitrement , which is the complement and perfection of it . besides , where the submission is ▪ of many things , and those of great difficulty , if the law should be that the arbitrators might not make their arbitrement by parcells , it might be very mischeivous to the parties , especially considering that submissions are most commonly to illiterate men . neither is my opinion groundless or without authority ; for by moile in . h. . an arbitrement may well be made in parcells , so that all be made before any day assigned . i have now finished this poore indeavour of mine of shewing you what arbitrements are good in law and what not . i shall only adde this one rule concerning the vnderstanding or exposition of arbitrements , which will be very vsefull in that particular , and ●o conclude all ; and that is , that an award or an arbitrement shall be construed according to the intent or meaning of the arbitrators ▪ and not according to the words only , as you shall find by the bookes quoted in the margine . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e cooke , l. fol. . b. cor. c. ● verse . cooke , lib. . f. . b. . ass. fol : . e. , , . e. . & . . . h. . & . . h. . br. acton upon the case . . h. . dr. fo . fol. & fol. . fol. ●● . psal. . ver . . . . ass fol . . h. . . & . cooke lib. . fol. . dyer . fol. . ● . & . fol . heb. rep : fol. pl. . & . pl. . cooke . l. . fol. . cooke , l. . fol. . b. pasch. . iac. in the kings bench. mich. . eli● dyer fo . . fol. . mich iac. in the kings bench. pasch. . iac. in rs. rs. rot. . averment pasch. . jac. in the kings bench. words in the second person , though the party be not present , actionable cook lib. . fol. . b hill. ● lac : in the kings benche : hob. rep : pa : . mich. car. in the kings bench. hob. rep. pa : ● 〈◊〉 so . b. cooke lib. . fo . a. b. coke lib. . fo pasch. . car. in the kings bench. averrement . hob. rep. pa : . & pl. . gibs and gin kins case . averrement : . iac. in the kings bench. pasch. . iac. in the kings bench. words slanderous in one county and not in another . pasch. . car. vvords spoken by way of interrogation . by way of report or relation . hill. . lac . in the kings bench rot. ▪ pasch. c●r . negative words actionable . mich. ▪ car. in th● kings bench. words of interrogation . i dream● you stole a horse , actionable pasch. . car. in the kings bench. pasch. . iac. in the kings bench. pasch. . jac. in the kings bench. mich. . jac. in the kings bench. pasch. . jac. in the kings bench. hob : rep. p. . pl. . hob : rep. p. . pl. . pasch. . jac. in the kings bench. rot. . ▪ eliz. chappell and burroughes case . hob : rep : p. pl. . h●b : rep : p. . pl. . fol. ● . ● . & . ● cooke l. . fol. . b. cooke l. . fol. . ● c●●ke , l. . fol. . mich : iac. in the kings bench. hob : rep : p. . pl. . hob : rep ▪ p. . pl. . cook ▪ l. ● . . so . ● . t●in . . car. in the k●ngs b●nch . trin. . iac. in the kings bench , rot. . vvords must be taken according to common int●nt . hill. 〈◊〉 iac. in the kings bench rot. ● words taken according unto common intent . mich : . eliz. dyer fo . pl. ▪ hob : rep. p● . . pl. . coke lib. ● . : b. coke ▪ lib. . . b. ve . fo . . ●● fo . . hob. rep. p● . . pl. . hob. rep. pa. . pl. . mich. . car. in the kings bench. . eliz. in the common . pl●as . coke lib. . fo . . b. coke ibi . hob. rep. pa. . pl. . mich. : in the kings bench. mich. . iac. in the kings bench. hob. rep. pa. . pl. . words certain by relation . cook lib. . fo . . ● b. coke lib. . fo . . ● . b. coke ibi . mich. . & . eliz in the common pleas , mittons case . . e. . dyer , f. . cooke , lib. fol. . a ▪ & . a cooke , lib. . fol. . b. eatons case . mic. . & . eliz. in the kings bench. mich. . jac. in the kings bench. pasch. . jac. in the kings bench. pasch. . jac. in the kings bench. mich. . car. in the kings bench. cooke lib. . f. . a. b. cooke , l. . fol. . a pasch. . iac. in the kings bench. mick . . car. in the common pl. a. trin. . car. in the common pleas. hob. rep. pag. . a pl. . pa. . a pl. . & pa. . pl. . mich. . & . of the queene in the common plea ▪ mich. . car. in the common pleas. hob. rep. pa. . pl. . coke lib. . fo . . . e. . . e. . . e. . . . h. k●ilway fo . . b. . a. hob. rep. pa. . male & . ret● case , & h. . . cook lib. fo . . & . br. action upon the case . hob. rep. pa. . pl. ▪ see fo . . a. b. hil. . iac. in the kings bench. hob. rep. pa. . pl. . . of the queene cossimans case . mich. . & . of the queen in the common pleas. coke lib. fo . . b. yet quaere whether the iudges can intend this a court of record● ▪ cooke lib. . fo . . anne dani●s case . trin. car. in the kings bench. trin : car in the kings bench● ●ill ▪ . iac. in the kings bench. mic. . car. in the kings bench. heb. rep. pa. . pl. . mich. . iac. in the ki●●g● bench. hob. rep. pa , . pl : . box and barnabies case ▪ hob. rep. pa. . pl. . pasch : car. in the kings bench. cooke lib ▪ . fo , a hob , rep pa , , pl : hob. rep. pa. , pl. hob. rep. pa. . pl. . coke lib. . fo . . coke lib. . fo . . a. and . a. cooke , lib. fol. . a pasch. iac : in the kings bench. trin. . of the queene rot : . in the kings bench. pasch. . of the queene in the kings bench. rot : pasch. . iac. in the kings bench. this case commenced trin. : see fo . . a. mic. . iac in the kings bench. sir george moore & fosters case . pasch. ●● ▪ car in the kings bench. . car. in the kings bench. . iac. in the kings bench. . of the queene in the kings bench. . of the queene in the kings bench. see fo . . b. . a. hob. rep. pa. . pl. . note reader this case agrees with the cases immediatly before . hob. rep. pa. . pl. . . e. . br. action upon the case ● hab. rep. pa. . pl. . hob. rep. pa. . pl. . coke . lib. . fo . . a. hob. rep. pa. . pl. . mic● . . ● iac. in the kings bench. p●sch . of the queene in the kings bench. cook lib. . fo . . ●i . . dyer . hitt . . iac. in the kings bench. rot. . pasch. . car in the kings bench. this agrees with the former cases see fol : . a. b tri● : of the queene in cam. icace . osbeston and stanleys case . pasch. . car. in the kings beech. averrement . pasch. . car. in the kings bench. averrement . trin. . of the queen● in the common pleas. h●b . rep. pa. . trin. . car. in the common pleas. trin. of the queen● in the knig● bench. rot. . co●es entries fo . . a. b. pasch. . car. in the kings bench. pasch. . car. in the common pleas. hill. ● . of the queene in the common pleas adjudged and after affirmed in a write of error , mich. . & . of the queene in the kings bench. rot. . hill. . iac rot. . b. r. cookes ent●ies ● . a. trin. . of the queene in the kings bench. coke lib. . fo . . . e. . . . e. . coke lib. . fo . . b. hil : . iac. in the kings bench. rot. trin. . c●r . in the common pleas. mic. . car. in the kings bench. cook lib. . . . b averrement . cooke , lib. fol. . a & fo . . ● . . h. . the register fo . . cook lib. . fo . . ● pasch. . car. in the kings bench. 〈…〉 pasch. . car. in the kings bench. mic. . ca● in the kings bench. mich. ● car. in the knigs bench. coke lib. . fo . . hill. . iac. in the kings bench. coke lib. . fo . . b coke ubi supra . coke lib. . fo . . . coke lib. . l . a. see fo . : b. . a pasch. . car. in the kings bench. coke lib. . fo . . a. coke lib. . fo . . b. . a hob. rep. pa. . pl. . mich. . iac. in the kings bench. hil : . iac in the kings bench. tri● . . car. in the kings bench. . ● . . dyer fo . . fol : . michl ▪ . iac. ●n the kings bench ▪ . & of the queene in common pleas. trin. . car. in the kings bench. sil . iac in the kings bench. . h. . keilway fo . . . of the queene dyer . fo . cok● lib. ● . fo . ● . hob. rep. pa : pl. hob. rep. pa , pl heb rep pa pl hob re● page pl cr pa pl trin : . car : in the kings bench. f. n. b . d. cook lib. fol. . the poulterer● case . pasch. . iac : in the kings bench rot. . coke lib. . fo . ● . b. . a. trin. . iac. in th● kings bench. coke lib. ▪ fo . . b. & . . a. mich. . car. in the kings bench. cited before . hob. rep : pa : pl. hob. rep : pa , pl . coke lib. . fo . b. cook. lib. fol. . b cooke lib. fol. . b hob rep pag. . trin. . car. in the common-plea● . pasch. . jac. in the kings bench rot. . cooke lib. fol. . a pasch. . iac. in the kings bench. rot. . hob rep page mich. . car : in the kings bench. pasch. . lac . in the kings bench. notes for div a -e trin. . of the queen dyer . fo . a . pl. ● . hill. . car. in the kings bench , rot. . see . h. . . . h. . . . h. . . h . . . h. . . . h. . . h. . . g. h. . . . h. . . h. . . h. . . . h , , , h. . . . h. . . h. . . h. . . . h. . . h. . . & . . e. . ass. pl. . . e. . . h. . keilway . . pl. . . e. . . coke lib. . fo . . b. . . . e. . . h. . keilway fo . pl. . coke upon littleton fo . . b. coke lib. . fo . . baspoles case . coke ubi supra trin. . of queen yer fo 〈◊〉 . b. coke . & dyer ubi supra . coke & dyer . ubi supra . dyel fo . . b. pl. . & . pl. . pasch. . of the queene dyer fo . : pl. . h. . . . coke lib. . fo . . a. . e. . . & . mith. . car. in kings bench. . e. . . e. . . & . . e. . ● . mich. . & . of the queen in the common pleas. . h. . ● . . h. . . . e. . . . e. . . . e. . . . e. . . br. arbitrement . . h. . a . b. . h. . . coke lib. . fo . . . . . . . e. . . b. et . a. . h. . . . h. . . et . h. . . coke lib. . fo . . b. . a. . h. . . . e. . . & . . h. . . acc . . e. . . . e. . . . e. . . b. & . ●● . . keilway fo . . pl. mich. . & . of the queen in the kings bench , rot. . pasch. ● at the queen in the kings bench. rot. . trin. . of the queen dyer . fo . ● , b. pl. com. fo . . ● . et . of the q●een dyer fo . . pl. . r. . . b. . e. . . b. coke lib : . fo . . a . e. ● . . b. . e. h. . . et . acc . trin. ● iac. in the kings bench , rot. . mich. . iac. in the kings bench , cornelius lawrence & carres case . an award made for more then is submitted , is good for that which is submitted and void for the residue . hob. rep. pa. . pl. . * coke lib. . fo . . basp●les case . mich. ▪ iac. in the kings bench. h. . . e. . ● r. . . b. ac . coke lib. . fo . . baspoles case . trin. . of the queen dyer . fo . . b. & & . of the queen . dyer fo . . pl. . baspoles case , ubi supra . trin. . of the queen dyer , fo . . b. coke lib. ● fo . . a an arbitrator may make an award of one matter only , if he have notice of no more . hob. kep . p. . pl. . an arbitrement seeming not so large as the submission . page and parkers case in the kin. bench. h. . . & . of the queen dyer , fo . . pl. . h. . br. arbitr . . r. . . pl. . & e. . a. h. . f. coke li. . fo . . hungates case . h. . . h. . . e. . e. . . pl. com . fo . . a. coke lib : fo . . baspoles case . of the queen dyer fo . . b. coke lib. . fo . . salmons case . rudston & ya●e● case cited afterward : . e. . . e. . . b. e. . . e. . h. . keilway & . moore & bedels case before an award voide against one of the parties , i● voide against both . in osburns case . coke l. . f. hil. . car. in the kings bench. rot. . coke lib. . f. . b h. . keilway , fo . a. mich. . & . of the queen in the common-pleas . . e. . fo . . b. . a. stiles case . & . of the qu. in the common pleas , ac . mich. . ioc. in the kings b. h. . keilway , f. . pl & . pl ▪ ● in oshorns case . coke lib. . . b. ● e. . . . . & . coke lib : fo . . b h. . f. . e. . a. coke lib. . fo . . & li. . fo . ● . b. h. . keilway ● . . pl. coke lib. . fo . . b. & . a. mich. . jac. in the kings bench. rot. . ● e. . . ● hil. . car. in the kings b. rot. . e. . . pasch. car in the kings b. hob. kep . p. . pl. * tamen quare , be-because hob. kep . ubi supra seemeth contrary . an averment of the parties cannot declare the intent of the arbitrators . mic. & of the queen , dyer fo . . pl. pasch. . jac. in the kings b. this case commenced pasch. jac. rot. . an award which doth refer , or may be reduced to a certainty , is good . e. . . a. . e. . . b & . b h. . . by keble . . e. . . by nele . & h. . ac . e. . a. e. . . . e. . . by moile . e. . . by nele & choke . h. . . b. . e. . fo a by yelverton h. . . ●c . e fo . b e. fo . e. . 〈…〉 h. . 〈◊〉 . b. ac . where i may do the thing awarded my ●●lfe , or inforce it to be don , the award , is good . h . ubi sup●a . e. ac . . e. fo ●● pasch car. in the kings bench. e. . fo . b. h. fo . . by strang. ● h. . a. ac . h. by dris●●● h. . . e. . e . b. r , arbitrement ● . . h. . a. hob : rep pa. l. p. . . h. . . . h. . . h. . . e. . . a. . h. . . e. . . a . h. . . of the queene . dyer . fo . . a. pl. . h . b. . a. dyer , u●i supta , h. . ● by moile . hob. rep. p. . pl. e. . ac . coke lib ● fo . a. b●ashpoles ▪ case h , b. ac . a. . h. b. . a. e. . . ● . . e. . . h . . h. . . e. . . . e. . . , h. . keilway a . h. . . a by nuton p , . . . a. . , by ascue , & nut●on . e , . , a. qy . nedahm . . h h. . . . h . . . e. . . e. . . . e. . . . e. . et . . h. . . h. . br. arbitrement . . . h. . . . h. . . . e. , . a . h. . mich. . iac in the kings bench e. . . a h. . h. . fo . . coke li. . fo . . a. samons case . e. . . a hob. rep. p. . pl. . & of the qu. in the common pleas e. . . ● e. . . b e. . . a . h. . a. b. coke , littleton , fo . . b. e. . . h. . . h. . e. . ● by choke . . h . . h. . keilway . f. . pl. . h. . . . e. . a. h. . . coke li. fo . . b. an apologeticall letter to a person of quality, concerning a scandalous and malicious passage, in a conference lately held betwixt an inquisitor at white-hall and mr anthony sadler, published in his inquisitio anglicana. / written by jo. hall bishop of norwich, in vindication of himself. hall, joseph, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (thomason e _ ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing h thomason e _ estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; :e [ ]) an apologeticall letter to a person of quality, concerning a scandalous and malicious passage, in a conference lately held betwixt an inquisitor at white-hall and mr anthony sadler, published in his inquisitio anglicana. / written by jo. hall bishop of norwich, in vindication of himself. hall, joseph, - . h. s. [ ], , [ ] p. printed for n.b. and are to be sold at the marigold in s. pauls churchyard, london, : [i.e. ] "to the right reverend father in god, dr j. hall" is signed: h.s. annotation on thomason copy: "nou: "; the in the date has been crossed out and replaced with a . reproduction of the original in the british library. eng sadler, anthony, b. . -- inquisitio anglicana. hall, joseph, - . libel and slander -- early works to . a r (thomason e _ ). civilwar no an apologeticall letter to a person of quality,: concerning a scandalous and malicious passage, in a conference lately held betwixt an inqu hall, joseph c the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the c category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an apologeticall letter to a person of qvality , concerning a scandalous and malicious passage , in a conference lately held betwixt an inquisitor at white-hall and mr anthony sadler , published in his inquisitio anglicana . written by jo . hall bishop of norwich , in vindication of himself . printer's device " alma mater hinc lvcem et pocvla sacra london , printed for n. b. and are to be sold at the marigold in s. pauls churchyard . to the right reverend father in god , dr j. hall , bishop of norwich . r. r. sir , with my respective remembrance : i cannot blame you , if you were much moved with that wrong which was so publickly done to your name , in that mentioned pamphlet ; whereof we that are your friends are so sensible , as that i have been advised by divers of them to publish that letter of vindication , which you were pleased to addresse privately to me : whereunto i have been easily induced to consent . for though i had at the first receipt of it , purposed to conceal it , as supposing it not needfull to take notice of that aspersion , which was thus cast upon you by a namelesse authour , well knowing that all wise men were satisfied long ago , with that full defence that you made for your self , and which was so effectually seconded by those reverend bishops , and learned doctours , who were in the height of reputation for their profound judgement , and out of all danger of suspicion of any popish inclination : yet now , perceiving that the lesse judicious , and common sort of people are apt to take offence at this imputation , which is so confidently laid upon you by some person that would seem to carry authority in his publick employment ; i have thought it requisite to let this your short vindication to flie abroad ( although thus late ) for the satisfaction of those , who either have not seen the resolutions and apologeticall answers of those learned bishops and doctours , or who are not able to judge of the state of this question , raised ( as you have truly said , and bishop davenant before you ) out of a mere misconstruction of words , and not any reall difference in matter . sir , i hope i have done nothing herein that may be displeasing to you ; since what i have done hath been out of a zealous respect to your dear reputation , which herein suffers too much in the weak opinion of vulgar readers . commending all your studies and holy endeavours to the blessing of the almighty , i take leave , and am nov. . . your much obliged friend to serve you h. s. a brief letter of apologie sent by the r. dr hall b. n. to a private friend . worthy sir , in that strange pamphlet which i received from you yesterday , you cannot marvell if i startled to meet so inexpectly with the name of bishop hall disgracefully ranked with priests and jesuites , and the man that was executed the other day . ( for so it hath pleased my unknown accuser , in his great charity , to range my unworthinesse . ) if my pale and wrinkled cheeks could be any whit capable of the tincture of shame , you may well think what change of countenance these words must needs have wrought in me . lord , ( thought i ) what so hainous crime is this , for which i am thus shamefully arraigned before all the world , now on the brink of my grave ! forsooth , bishop hall ( as the rest of those meet complices ) saith , the church of rome is a true church . [ grave crimen caie caesar . ] what an impotent malice is this , to single out my name thus ignominiously , from all the rest of my profession , for an odious paradox ; when i say no more , no other herein , then all the orthodox divines of christendome ? how must the reader now needs think , sure this bishop hall is a man of corrupt principles , singular for his dangerous mis-opinions , a greater friend to rome then all his fellows ? whenas the world knows that i have already , about yeares ago , clearly vindicated my self from this grosse misconstruction , and shewed that , in my sense , there is no knowing protestant divine that agrees not fully with me . you remember that about the time mentioned , when , upon some passages of the old religion , then published by me , mr burton and some others boggled at that expression ; namely , that the church of rome is yet a true visible church , though extremely corrupted ; and that the quarrell began to wax warm , and the presse to complain of being pestred with opposite tractates : in a due care to lay this ill-raised spirit , besides my own full and satisfactorie apology then set forth , i appealed to other unquestionable divines , the oracles of our church ; writing my publick letters to two famously learned bishops , bishop morton and bishop davenant ; and to two eminent and approvedly orthodox doctours , doctor prideaux , and doctor primrose pastor of the french church ; earnestly desiring them to declare their judgements freely and fully concerning this point . all which have not only in their published answers declared this to be an undoubted truth , in the sense proposed , proving it by sound and convincing reasons , and asserting it , not as their own private opinion , but as conceived by them to be the just and common tenet of all orthodox divines and churches : but withall affirming that those men little know what prejudice they do to the protestant cause , that hold the contrary . the instances whereof it were easy for me to give , were it not that i fear and hate to furnish the adversary with weapons to wound our selves . i wis , those our enemies are quick-eyed enough to espy their own advantages , and our exposednesse to the danger of self-wronging consequences , without our intimation . the grave and solid determination of those godly and judicious divines is still extant in a thousand hands : upon the publication whereof , the world then rested satisfied , my self acquitted , the adversary silenced , and the controversie quieted , which is now thus uncharitably and unadvisedly raked up from under the ashes of a wise and just silence . the truth is , nothing but a grosse and inconsiderate mistake is guilty of this quarrell : the homonymy of this word true , ( as master blake in his answer to master tombes ) besides the fore-named authours ( hath truly observed , ) makes all this seeming difference . if we take a true church for a true believing church ; so the church of rome is far from a true church : if we take a true church for a church truly existing in a visible profession of christianity , so it cannot be denied to be a true visible church . a thief is no true man , yet he is truly a man . so the church of rome , though false in too many of her doctrines , yet hath a true visible being . her clients vainly flatter her with the title of catholick , or universall : we expect no thanks from her to say she is universally corrupted , yet a church visible still . those grosse errours wherewith she abounds , have marred her first purity , but do not forfeit her outward church-ship . it were a strange uncharitablenesse to say that a romanist is no christian ▪ though too many of their tenets are justly branded for antichristian . and where there is a society of christians , not directly and obstinately destroying the foundation , ( though otherwise foul , and erroneous in opinion , ) there cannot be denied a visible appearance of a church . let the church of rome then go for as erroneous , impure , false in matter of opinion and practice , as she is : she cannot be denyed the face of a church , how ever rotten at the heart . all which hath been so judiciously , & amply declared by those learned & worthy contests , whom i formerly mentioned , in their publick discourses of this point , that i am confident , if mr sadler had had leisure to have considered , he would rather have distinguished then denied , and the questionist ( who ever he was ) would , upon second thoughts , have thought good to suffer my innocent name to rest in peace ; whereas now , he hath both wronged me , and himself more , in drawing upon himself an opinion of either ignorance , or uncharitablenesse , or both . god forgive him , i do . thus we too well see how apt nature is , even in those who professe an eminence in holinesse , to raise and maintain animosities against those whose calling , or person they pretend to find cause to dislike ; and perhaps also to brand with the black note of unjust infamy , those who concenter not with them in some lighter opinions , ( although indivisibly theirs , in the brotherhood of the same most holy faith , and meekly affecting to hold with them the unity of the spirit , in the bonds of peace . ) truly sir , ( to open my self freely to you ) nothing hath more wounded my soul , nor drawn deeper sighs from me in secret , then to see that , whereas our dear and blessed saviour hath so vehemently encharged all his true disciples with the duty of mutuall love ; and his chosen vessell , with so zealous importunity , cries down strife , and contention , as arguing mere carnality , and utterly inconsistent with the truth of christian disposition and practice : yet no grace is such a stranger to us ( for the most part ) as charity ; nor no imployment so universally rife amongst us , on all hands , as quarrels and brawlings , both verball and reall , arising commonly from false surmises and misconstructions ; and proceeding ( too often ) not to the scratching of faces , but to the ripping of bowels , and to the stabbing of hearts ; to the infinite scandall of the gospell of peace , and to the sport and triumph of gath and ascalon . now the god of peace , whom we all professe to serve , be pleased for his great mercies sake , to pull out of our bosomes all these roots of bitterness , and to compose our mis-alienated hearts to perfect love and concord , to the glory of his great name , and to the comfort of all those that are faithfull in his sion . sir , you will pardon me , if i have thus passionately enough unloaded my self ( into the bosome of so faithfull a friend ) of my justly conceived grief , to be thus scandalously and causelesly traduced . your love will both put the best construction upon these sudden lines ; and where you meet with this blurre undeservedly cast upon my name , wipe it off with a just and friendly vindication : wherein you shall do an office worthy of the thankfull acknowledgement of higham nov. . . your unfeignedly devoted in all christian affection jos. hall ▪ b. n. a word concerning libels and libellers humbly presented to the right honorable sir john moor, lord-mayor of london, and the right worshipfull the aldermen his bretheren / by roger l'estrange. l'estrange, roger, sir, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing l estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a word concerning libels and libellers humbly presented to the right honorable sir john moor, lord-mayor of london, and the right worshipfull the aldermen his bretheren / by roger l'estrange. l'estrange, roger, sir, - . [ ], p. printed for joanna browne ..., london : . reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng libel and slander -- england. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - melanie sanders sampled and proofread - melanie sanders text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a word concerning libels and libellers , humbly presented to the right honorable sir john moor , lord-mayor of london , and the right worshipfull the aldermen his brethren . by roger l' estrange . london , printed for joanna brome at the signe of the gun in s. pauls church-yard . . to the right honorable sir john moor , knight , lord-mayor of the city of london , and to the right worshipful , the aldermen , his brethren . being given to understand that your lordship and the court of aldermen have lately taken into consideration the bus'ness of seditious libells , and papers ; and that for want of particular enformation , the matter proceeded no further at that time , then to a generall admonition ; which extended to the innocent , as well as to the guilty , through the false and malitious practices of the criminalls , for the involving of both forts under the same scandall , and condemnation ; i reckon it my duty to the king , the church , the city , to every honest man , and in the last place , to my self , to present your lordship and the bench of aldermen your brethren , with the means of distinguishing the one from the other ; in full assurance , that your loyalty , generosity , and wisedom ; your love of truth , peace , and common equity , will dispose you to vindicate his majesties crown and dignity ; the royal family , the honour of the government , and all that is sacred in humane society , against all insults whatsoever ; and cause exemplary justice to be done upon such offenders in these cases , as shall be found properly under your authority , and jurisdiction . i shall not clog this paper with instances , either superfluous , or of ancient date ; but keep my self within compass , both for time , and bulk ; citing the book , and the page ; still as i go along with the publishers name in the margent . and it will likewise appear from the pamphlets themselves , that there 's a form'd conspiracy against both church and state , for the destruction of the whole , and of every part of it , root and branch . the book that deserves the first place in this consideration , was printed for john kidgel , at the atlas in cornhill . and publish'd by rich●rd baldwin , in the old-bayly : a bold , and a common agent for the promoting of sedition ; and it carries the designe , in the very title , and face on 't . [ rights of the kingdom , or customs of our ancestors , touching the duty , power , election or succession of our kings , and parliaments , our trve liberty , due allegeance , three estates , their legislative power , originall , judiciall , and executive ; with the militia : freely discussed , through the brittish , saxon , norman laws & histories ] this gallimawfrey of fragments was first publish'd in . in favour of cromwells proceeding , and government : the main stress of the discourse , resting upon these two points . first , that the late king was lawfully put to death . secondly , that the english monarchy is not hereditary , but elective : and so the author , by presidents , either impertinent , unwarrantable , perverted , or misapply'd , supports his pretensions the best he can . finding this treasonous piece to be now re-printed , i could not but bethink my self to what end ? and this curiosity put me upon comparing the two editions , to see , how far they agreed ; wherein they differ'd : or whether this latter impression were the very same with the original . upon the examination , i find severall sly variations , and additions , and many things omitted in the latter copy ; which gives first to understand that this is not the work of a bookseller , or printer , for profit ; but a regular , and industrious disposition of the matter for some other purpose : and what that purpose is may be easily gather'd from the pulse and biass of the treatise ; for the omissions , though many , & large are only such as apply the arguments for the sovereign power of a parliament or the people , to the defence of the late kings murther ; or else such as strike so directly at the subversion of the monarchy ; that the age is not as yet either so mad , or so wicked as to bear it : but his arguments , and reasonings all this while , for the peoples right of calling their kings to an account , remain whole , and vntouch'd ; so that his maintenance of the peoples power over the king , even to the deposing and putting of him to death , stands as good against this king as it did against his father ; and speaks the publisher and the author to be both of a mind in the case . in one word , the two pos●ions of this villanous book , are the two pillars of the associating plot. and if the faction can but first perswade the multitude , that if the king will not do as the people would have him , the people may deal with the king as they please : and secondly , that this is an elective monarchy ; there 's the king's , the duke of york's , and the governments business done at a blow . but i shall leave the author to expound his own meaning in three or four passages omitted in this new edition . i cannot see ( says he ) why it should be a crime for any to desire that an action of such concernment ( putting the king to death ) might be fully clear'd to be just , and acted justly . page . and again . i would gladly have spoken all that i justly might , to have saved him from death , till i had seen that his life could not consist with peoples peace and safety , which i may acknowledge to be the supreme , and highest law humane , p. . further , my work shall be to enquire of matters of law : and how by the laws and customs of this kingdom , it may be known , adjudged and declar'd what is the duty of our king , and whether he hath done it or not ; and in case of failure , how it may be judg'd , who they be that must determine it , so that the subject may and should be quiet , and submit to such an act judiciall and conclusive . pag. . once again . it may seem a short work and soon sayd when the king breaks his trust , the parliament must judge him , and when the lords refuse , the commons might and must , because it was necessity ; but i am loth to hide my self in a dark chaos , i had rather see it cleared in the open sun. p. . this is sufficient to shew the opinion , and the drift of the author ; wherein he declares himself , that the late king was justly put to death , and undertakes by law and reason to prove it ; so that his pretended proofs being now expos'd to the publick , by kidgell , and baldwin , in the very same terms with the original , must necessarily render the late publishers as guilty as the author . there runs a vein of sedition through the whole tract ; but some few instances out of this late impression shall serve the turn . [ let us discusse it ( says he ) by law and reason , what is our legall fcalty ; how made , how limited , how kept , or how dissolv'd . p. . ] so that our allegeance may be dissolv'd , it seems , and is only conditionall . and again . [ allegeance was ad legem to the laws , the kingdom , and the kingdoms good , or profit , together with the king. p. . ] we 'l see now what he says to the point of election or succession . [ in the time ( says he ) of hen. . and hen. . there were some speciall acts of parliament for settling the crown on maud the empress , or her issue . p. . — but all such acts ( for tying the crown to such or such a family ) do not evince a former right of succession . p. . — and then further [ i say not ( says he ibid. ) how often it hath been adjudg'd that affirmative statutes do not annull the common law ; and that one may prescribe against a statute negative , but in affirmance of the common law , — so that if an english king was elective by the common law , the kingdom might prescribe against late statutes , which might erre much more then they could oblige all future parliaments , but they might still be free and most of all in what was due before by common law. ibid. ] and moreover p. . he grounds his pretence upon the speech of hubert at the coronation of king john ( an excellent president for his turn ) [ it is well known to you all that no man hath right of succession to this crown , except , that by unanimous consent of the kingdom , with invocation on the holy ghost , he be elected from his own deserts ; but if any of the last kings race be more worthy and better then others , his election is more proper , or more reasonable , as it now is in earl john here present . — which ( says he , ibid. ) seemeth most rightly to state the nature of succession as it was in this kingdom . so that all did amount but to this , that if a king had such children ; so qualify'd , and so educated , that they were above others in virtue , wisdom , and true worth ( or at least caeteris pares ) they were the most likely candidates for the crown . ] so that his malitious imposture resolves at last wholly into this . he sets the parliament and the people above the king ; and makes the government elective , by the common law , and from thence concludes all those statutes that assert the kings sole sovereignty , and the right of hereditary succession , as nullities , for then repugnance thereunto . ' ●is true that care , and janeway ; ( for they are both one in the impartial ) have publish'd num. . a rude advertisement , as if baldwin had not publish ▪ d this book ; whereas o●e or ●wo of baldwins servants were taken at one a clock on a sunday morning posting up the title pages ; which is as much a publishing them , as if he had sold them openly in his own shop : beside , that t is probable he knew the malice of the book , by the close , and unseasonable course he took for the notifying and dispersing of it . i have been forc'd to speak at large upon this ; but i shall be shorter in the rest , and go on a little upon the same head of sedition . [ all considering people will now see that conventiclers are not punish ▪ d and ruin'd for holding conventicles ; but for being zealous for the protestant religion , and government by advice of parliament , against popery , and clandestine arbitrary councells . ] postscript to remarques upon sr. william smiths speech at hicks hall ; publish'd by baldwin again . here is first a vote of the commons , set up above the authority of several establish'd laws . ly . the king himself charg'd with a design of suppressing the protestant religion , and advancing the interest of popery , in requiring the execution of 'em ; and with clandestine arbitrary councells , over and above . double your watches ( says janeway in his vox patriae ) chain up the streets of the city day and night . suffer not any body of armed soldiers , greater , or less ( other then the trained bands of this city ) to march through any part of the city , p . ] here 's a proposall of keeping his majesty out of louden by force , and the rebells did his father out of hall : and the printing of this paper can have no other end , then to invite and encourage the nation into a tumult . and what 's the ground of this audacious proposall , but the [ surprizing prorogation of the parliament . ibid. ] so that the king shall not exercise the undoubted ' prerogatives of his royall authority , upon pain of janeways denoun●ing war against him . in the same libell p. he has a pretended address from suffex to the knights of the shire , declaring that [ they will stand by and defend them with their lives and fortunes in doing whatsoever they shall judge necessary for the peace , safety , and prosperity of the nation ( if any danger should threaten them . ) and the people of winchelsea undertake as far to their burgesses , p. . thereby disowning their duty to their sovereign , and transferring their allegeance to their fellow-subjects . the burden of the song from one end to the other of this pamphlet being the exclusion of his royall highness , and barring the kings supply , with an intermixture of demanding the artillery , the militia , the regulation of courts ecclesiastical , and civil , a bill of association ; the disposing of all publick offices and charges , &c. the sheriffs case makes [ king , lords , and commons , to be a corporation ] which amounts to no less then a ' deposing of the king. [ that bugbear passive-obedience ( says jo. starkey in the character of a popish successor . p. . ) is a notion crept into the world , and most zealously , and perhaps as ignorantly defended . ] what is this but a papall absolution ? but then in the second part p. . the nail is driven to the head. [ have we not bad a late king of portugal deposed , as delirious and frantick , and consequently render'd by law vncapable of reigning ; and all this done by his own subjects , and those of his own religion , without the least reflection of treason or rebellion , or the aspersion of lifting a hand against the lords anointed ? ] what is this but to tell the people , that there needs no more to the deposing of a prince , then the outcry of the multitude , that he is not fit to govern ? these outrages upon the laws of god and man will never find protection within the walls of this loyal city ; and this licence is not more the shame of the government , then the vile instruments are in truth the dishonour of mankinde . the desperate practices , declarations and positions of the scottish covenanters , even to the barefac'd avowing of it to be their duty to destroy the king , the royal family , and the persons as well as the order of the bishops , is too notorious to be either conceal'd , palliated , or deny'd ; which put the government , in conclusion , upon a test ; as the only expedient for the securing both of the church and state , against the violent , and impious machinations of those diabolical spirits ; and ( in effect ) for preserving the peace of the two kingdoms . just now , upon this very instant of time , when the scottish faction were meditating new commotions ; out comes curtis's cheat , and mockery of the arraignment , tryal , and condemnation of a dogg for refusing the test , and the whole process ridicul'd in the very form and terms of the law ; and dress'd up in so contemptuous a manner that nothing was ever more rudely and spitefully treated then the kings authority , and the wisdom of the scottish nation in that act of state. after these affronts upon the king himself , it is not to be expected that they should treat his royal highness , at a civiller rate : but how this privilege of questioning sovereign authority ; discharging subjects of their allegjance ; and disposing of the crowns of princes , comes to be the subject of every mean , and mercecenary pen ; will be taken i hope into a seasonable consideration . one of the most seditious impostures that has yet seen the light , was a libel that passed under the title of [ bedlo's narrative of the fires , ] which was almost wholly , and verbatim taken out of other scandalous libels of former date , and fobb'd upon the nation under the name , and authority of one of the kings witnesses . care put it together , and it was printed in bedlo's absence . the main scope of the pamphlet , was to possess the people as if the duke of york , the guards , and the court-party , had countenanced , and promoted the conflagration . [ the kings life-guard ( he says ) rescued a man that was taken in the act of firing a house . pag. . ] and again [ one of the life-guard threw fire-balls into a womans lapp . pag. . ] [ the duke of york too a french-man into his custody , and said i will secure him , but he was heard of no more , ibid. : ] four life-guard-men rescued another french-man , &c. ibid. ] another french-man carried before the d. of y. and heard of no more . pag. . and so another in like manner . pag. . there 's another charg'd with burning the city , and his father is said to answer for him ; [ my son doth nothing but what he has a patent from the king for . pag. . ] in the popish courant of jan. . . the same henry care and langley curtis kill two birds with one stone . [ 't is certain every papist is ( implicitly at least ) a rebel , and a traytor . ] here 's no exception of either queen , or duke , nor of the very preservers of his sacred majesty , when the rebellious schismaticks pursued him , to murther him . nay , 't is so far from an exception , that he points with his finger to that he would be at . [ if ever ( says the courantier a little below ) we get a popish successor into the saddle , and the black tantivy-men , to hold the stirrup , whilst his holiness rides the dull beasts at pleasure , we 'll burn all the heretical doggs , &c. ] so that it seems we have a popish clergy too as well as a popish successor . and then to finish his complement , july . . [ we have ( says he ) got a new fry of church-men , prepared by hobbs , and the play-house , that care not a farthing for any religion , provided they may but swagger and domineer , and swear , and damn , and drink healths with a huzza . ] i shall only take a taste here , of that venemous [ character of a popish successor . ] though sufficient to give any honest man horror for the very syllables of it , but much more to see such daring insolencies pass unpunished . he calls his royal highness pag. . [ the greatest , and only grievance of the nation ; the universal object of their hate and fear , and the subject of their clamours , and curses . and a little further , with as much malice to the king as to the duke , he pronounces his majesty as good as lost for his friendship ( as he expresses it ) to [ that one gangreend branch of royalty . ] this is a subject too foul to enlarge upon , and i make no question , but those generous and loyal magistrates that entertained so honourable an indignation for a brutal outrage upon the duke's picture will be answerably sensible of these affronts upon common morality , and justice ; and the honour of their sovereign in the person of his royal brother . how does janeway rage in his vox patriae against the wretched pensioners in pag. . those execrable villains that by receiving pensions betray'd our trusts , and our libertys in the late long parliament , pag. . ] [ those abominable monsters . pag. . ] and what were these pensioners at last ; but a list of honest gentlemen , proscribed as the straffordjans were , upon the entrance into the late rebellion ; for adhering to their consciences , and their duty 's . divers privy councellors , and other persons of value and credit , in their stations , and of unquestionable worth , in the opinion of all that ever knew them ? and the addressers are to be served with the same sauce too . [ a popish and arbitrary design at the bottom . baldwin's tendency of addresses . f pag. . ] [ the scum and refuse of the places where they live . pag. . ] though the most eminent subjects of the nation . [ some little bankrupt tradesmen ; a scandalous and disgrac'd attorney , one whose necessity exposes him to be biassed by crusts of bread and pots of ale. ibid. ] and now to janeway and care in conjunction . [ most of the subscribers ( says the impartial . numb . . ) are ruffjans , and beggerly vermin , drawn in by pots of ale , and not apprentices ] and there 's nothing scapes better that falls in their way . and the impartial again , numb . . [ alderman pilkington , and mr. shute are fit persons to serve the city next year in quality of sheriffs , &c. — but there are a pack of people that scarce know what they would have ; most industriously endeavouring , by caballs , and drunken , factious clubs , to pull up some other persons , &c. ] this is to say , in short ; that whosoever gives his vote for any other man is a drunken , factious rascal . what work has janeway made , ( impartial . numb . . ) with a scandalous , and malicious forgery of a debaucht committed upon michaelmas day last , in the church of all-hallows staining , and the story false from one end to the other ! but it was the spleen of the faction , when they could not disappoint the election , ( though by the meanest practices imaginable ) to be revenged upon those honest gentlemen that were desirous , by ringing the bells , to welcome the person elected into his office. it would be endless , ( and truly as needless ) to run through the history of the scandals upon all those places , and persons , that have acted dutifully and affectionately for the common serof the church and the crown . is not the king twitted for his venison to some of the addressers ? is not norwich , bristol , &c. charged with designs of setting up popery and arbitrary power ? the artillery company of bristol , blasted as an illegal usurpation , and calumniated for a private test , as if there were a popish con●piracy in the bottom of it ? let but any man open his mouth for the king and the government , and he is presently a bogg-trotter , a witness in such a cause , a jury-man in such a one , a judge in another ; and branded for all the villanies which that sink of infamy , the faction can throw upon him . a turn-coat , a fidler , a beggarly rascal ; a drunken , blaspheming wretch ; a sworn papist : one that has whor'd his mother , betray'd his prince , and in short ; 't is but raking of hell for a catalogue of the most damning sins that ever carried any man thither to furnish out the character of a person that honestly interposes betwixt religion , and sacrilege , betwixt sedition and the laws ; betwixt the prince and the regicide , and betwixt order , and confusion . neither are the king's ministers , magistrates , justices , juries , and witnesses , nay , the king himself one jot more respectfully handled in baldwin's two parts of the no protestant plot ; and the scandals run through from one end to the other . janeway ( in his strange news from hicks's hall ) calls the middlesex justices , adulterers , whore-mongers , swearers , drunkards , cheats , pag. . and janeway again in his ignoramus justices ( but of the other day ) takes upon him to arraign and declare law , and to juggle the people into a mis-understanding and contempt of all those wholsome statutes which the wisdom of our fore-fathers hath provided for the security of the protestant religion , and the peace of the kingdom : with this sawcy reflection upon the bench in the very title page [ some directions to the officers that may be threatned , or perswaded to act by such umwarrantable orders from such ignoramus justices . ] it is the opinion of men well vers'd in the trade of book-selling , that there has not been so little as ream of paper spent upon this seditious subject , in this late liberty of the press . but i shall stop here , with an humble recommendation of the whole matter to the right honourable your lordship , and to the right worshipful the aldermen your brethren . i shall not need to suggest that the government of the city can never be fafe , while that of the kingdom ; is in danger for it was notoriously the effect of this intolerable licence , that subjected the regular authority of the city to arbitrary armies and committees ; that stripp'd the magistracy of their privileges and ornaments , and set up thimble-makers , dray-men and coblers for their lords and masters . i need not mind your lordship of the agreement betwixt the past and present degrees , methods and pretences of proceeding , betwixt their godly party , and our true protestants , falsly so called ; nay , i have heard of the same faces now at work again , under the same vizors . it is not a thing forgotten , that when the fear of tyranny was pretended , the very pretenders to those fears exercised the most barbarous tyranny in nature , themselves ; nor was there ever so base and scandalous a vassallage , as that which the unwary multitude drew upon themselves under the hope of liberty . the apprehensions of popery vanished in the destruction of the canonical clergy ; the setting up of a preaching ministry concluded in the plundering , ejecting , sequestring , &c. all the orthodox and loyal divines of the kingdom ; turning the churches into stables , and supplying the pulpits with red-coats and mechanicks ; consecrating at last , the pretended purity of the gospel with the most unchristjan outrages of a barbarous sacrilege . a tory is the name now , for a popish dogg , or a malignant of forty one : and the insolency of the rabble upon captain griffith , in november last , when they cry'd kill him ; he 's a tory , kill him ; knowing him at the same time to be an officer of the lieutenancy , an ancient common council-man , and at that instant , upon his duty , and within his own precinct . that insolence ( with submission ) looks like an earnest of their good will to the subverting of the government in general , and that of the city in particular ; and an essay toward the accomplishing of that work. to say nothing of other inconveniencies that may arise by forcing men upon personal revenges , unless these scandalous liberties may be adverted upon by publick justice . having here laid before your lordship both the quality of the crimes suggested , and the names of several of the criminals ; and all of them persons too , within the reach of your command : it is not so much l'estrange , as the common voice of an injur'd government and people that makes this application . but i am further to represent to your lordship , that at the same time , while these libellous papers and agents go scot-free , the authors and publishers of other books and papers , whose business is only to vindicate the government from the forgeries , calumnies , malice and sedition of the dayly libels of care , curtis , janeway , baldwin , &c. are presented , and the bills found ; as mrs brome particularly , for the observator , by a a c●rtain grand jury , who , according to their oath , could neither see , nor hear of any thing on the other hand ; while yet at the same time , almost every stall is cover'd , and every coffee-house furnished with news-papers and pamphlets ( both written and printed ) of personal scandal , schism and treason . but i shall now desire your lordship and your right worshipful brethren to take notice what it is that the animals of this age call the favouring of popery , and the creating of misunderstanding betwixt his majesty and people . the observator , num. . ( after some remarks upon the practices and positions of a phanatical party ) says to this purpose ; [ never mince the matter ; but instead of demanding this or that , under a disguise , speak plain , and put the sence of the party into the form of a petition : ] and then follows the petition at length , in these very syllables . your majesties most humble and obedient subjects , having suffered many disappointments , by reason both of short and of long parliaments ; and the late executing of the law against dissenters ; the pretences of tyranny and popery being grown stale , the popish plot drawn almost to the dregs ; and the eyes of the people so far open , that they begin to see their friends from their enemies ; to the disheartning of all true protestants , and the encouraging of the sons of the church : we your majesties dissenting subjects , being thereby brought unto so low a state , that without a timely relief , we the godly people of the land , must inevitably perish . may it please your majesty to grant the right of calling and dissolving parliaments , entring into associations , leagues and covenants ; the power of the militia , war and peace , life and death , the authority of enacting , suspending and repealing laws , to be in your liege people the commons of england . and these things being granted , ( whereof your petitioners stand in great need ) if your majesty wants either men or monies , for the support of your royal dignity and government , your majesty shall see what we your loyal petitioners will do for you . the observator above-mention'd , concludes in these words ; [ all the rest is cant and gibberish ; but this is english. ] this personated petition is no more , in fine , than a compendium of their demands and cemplaints , dress'd up in their own hypocritical terms : so that the sedition lies in the defending of the king's crown and dignity , and the laws of the land ; which necessarily implies an allowance and justification of the libellous opposers of the government . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e john kidgel● , and richard baldwin . richard baldwin . richard janeway . richard janeway . suppos'd by baldwyn . john starkey . langley curtis . hen. care. hen. care. langley curtis . jo. starkey . janeway . rich. baldwin . care , and janeway . care and janeway . janeway and care. rich. baldwin . janeway . janeway .