Sect. 1.

IT is an ouer-rigo­rous constructi­on of the workes of God, that in moting our I­LAND with the Ocean he ment to shut vs vp from other regions; For God himselfe that made the Sea, was the Author of Nauigation, and hath therein taught vs to set vp a wooden bridge, that may reach to the very Antipodes themselues: This were to seeke discontentment in the bounty of God, who hath placed vs apart, for the singularity of our [Page 2] happinesse, not for restraint.

There are two occasions where­in Trauell may passe, Matter of trafique, and Matter of State. Some commodities GOD hath confined to some countries, vpon others hee hath with a full hand powred those benefits, which hee hath but sprinkled vpon some. His wise prouidence hath made one Countrey the Granary, ano­ther the Celler, another the Or­chard, another the Arsenall of their neighbours, yea of the remo­test parts. The earth is the Lords which he meant not to keepe in his hands, but to giue; and hee which hath giuen no man his faculties and graces for himselfe, nor put light into the Sun, Moone, Stars for their owne vse, hath stored no parcell of earth with a purpose of priuate reseruation. Salomon would neuer haue sent his nauie [Page 3] for Apes and Peacockes, but yet held gold and timber for the buil­ding of Gods house, and his own, worthy of a whole three yeares voyage: The sea and earth are the great Cofers of God; the disco­ueries of Nauigation are the keyes, which whosoeuer hath receiued, may know that he is freely allow­ed to vnlocke these chests of na­ture, without any neede to picke the wards: Wise Salomons com­parison is reciprocall. A ship of Merchants that fetches her wares from farre is the good Hus-wife of the Common-wealth, and if she were so in those blind voyages of antiquity, which neuer saw needle nor card, how much more thrifty must shee needes be in so many helpes both of nature and Art? Either Indies may be searched for those treasures, which God hath laid vp in them for their fardistant [Page 4] owners; Onely let our Merchants take heed, least they go so farre, that they leaue God be­hinde them; that whiles they buy all other things good cheape, they make not an ill match for their soules, least they end their prospe­rous aduentures in the shipwracke of a good conscience.

Sect. 2.

And for matter of policy, no­thing can be more plaine then that our correspondence with other na­tions cannot possibly be held vp, without intelligence of their estate, of their proceedings; The neglect whereof were no other then to prostrate our selues to the mercie of an hollow friendship, and to stand still, and willingly lie open whiles wee are plaide vpon by the wit of vntrusty neighbourhood. Th [...]se eyes and eares of State are necessarie to the well-being of the head; In which number I doe not [Page 5] include those priuate Inter-lopers of intelligence, that lie abroad on­ly to feed some vaine Cameleons at home with the aire of Newes, for no other purpose, saue idle dis­course; but only those profitable agents, whose industrie either fit­teth them abroad for publike im­ployment, or imployeth them af­ter due maturitie, in the fit seruices of the Common-wealth: Neither my censure nor my direction rea­ches to either of these occasions. It is the Trauell of curiosity wher­with my quarrell shall bee main­tained; the inconueniences where­of my owne Senses haue so suffici­ently witnessed, that if the wise parents of our Gentry could haue borrowed mine eyes for the time, they wou [...]d euer learne to keepe their sonnes at home, and not wil­ [...]ully beate themselues with the [...]taffe of their age: vpon them let [Page 6] my pen turne a little, as those that are more then accessaries to this both priuate and publike mis­chiefe.

Sect. 3.

It is the affectation of too-early ripenesse that makes them prod­gall of their childrens safety an [...] hopes; for, that they may be wi [...] betimes, they send them foo [...] to the world in the minority bo [...] of age and iudgement, like as fon [...] Mothers vse to send forth the [...] daughters on frosting, early in col [...] mornings (though into the mi [...] of a vaporous and foggy ayre) an [...] whiles they striue for a colo [...] loose their health; If they were n [...] blinded with ouer-weening a [...] desire, they could not but see [...] their vnsetlednesse carries in it manifest perill of mi [...]-carriag [...] grant that no danger were thre [...] ­ned by the place, experience gi [...] vs, that a weake-limde childe if [...] [Page 7] be suffered to vse his legges too soone, too mu [...]h, lames himselfe for euer; bu [...] if hee wa [...]ke in vne­uen ground, he is no le [...]se subiect to maimes, then crookednesse. Do they not see how easily a young twig is bowed any way [...] Do they not see that the Mid-wi [...] and the Nurse are wont to frame the gristly head of the Infant to any fa­ [...]hion? May not any thing be writ­ten vpon a blanke? And if they make choice of this age, because it is most docible, and for that they would take the day before them, why doe they not consider that it [...]s therefore more docible of e [...]ill; [...]ince wickednesse is both more [...] and more plausible then [...]ertue, especially when it meetes with an vntutored iudge; and [...]inc [...] [...]here is so much inequality of [...]he [...]umber of both, that it is not [...]ore hard to finde vertue, then to [Page 6] [...] [Page 7] [...] [Page 8] misse vice. Heare this then, yee carelesse Ostriches, that leaue your egges in the open sand for the Sun to hatch, without the feare of any hoo [...]e that may crush them in pee­c [...]s, haue your stomackes resolued to digest the hard newes of the ru­ine of your children? Doe ye pro­fesse anmity to your owne loynes? then turne them (as ye doe) loose to these dangers, ere they c [...]n re­sist, ere they can discerne; but if ye had rather they should liue and grow, bestow vpon them the kind­ly heat of your be [...]t plumes, and shelter them with your owne brest and wings, till nature haue opened a seasonable way to their owne a­bilities.

Se [...]. 4.

Yea let it be my iust complaint in this place, that in the very trans­plantation of our sonnes to the sa [...]er soile of our owne Vniuersi­ties, and Innes of Court, nothing [Page 9] is more preiudiciall then speede. Perfection is the childe of Time; neither was there euer any thing excellent, that required not meet leisure: but besides, how com­monly is it seene, that those which had wont to swimme onely with bladders, sinke when they come first to trust their owne armes? These Lap-wings that goe from vnder the wing of their damme with their shell on their heads, run wilde. If Tutors be neuer so care­full of their early charge, much must be left to their owne disposi­tion; which if it leade them not to good, not only the hopes of their youth, but the proofe of their age lies bleeding. It is true, that as the French Lawyers say merily of the Normans, which by a speciall pri­uiledge are reputed of full age at 21. yeeres, whereas the other French stay for their fiue and [Page 10] twentieth, that Malitia supplet aeta­tem; so may I say of the young­lings of our time, that Precocitie of vnderstanding supplieth age and stature: but as it is commonly seene, that those blossomes which ouer-runne the spring, and will be looking forth vpon a February­Sunne, are nipped soone after with an Aprill-frost, when they should come to the knitting: so is it no lesse ordinary that these rathe-ripe wits preuent their owne perfecti­on, and after a vaine wonder of their haste, end either in shame, or obscuritie. And as it thus falles out euen in our Vniuersities (the most absolute and famous Semi­naries of the world) where the Tutors eye supplies the parents; so must it needs much more, in th [...]se free and honourable Innes (as they are called, for their liber­tie, Colledges for their vse) of our [Page 11] English Gentry, wherein each one is his owne master in respect of his priuate studie and gouernment: where there are many pots boi­ling, there cannot but bee much scumme. The concourse of a po­pulous citie affords many brokers of villanie, which liue vpon the spoiles of young hopes, whose ve­ry acquaintance is destruction. How can these nouices, that are turned loose into the maine, ere they know either coast, or com­passe, auoid these rockes and shelues, vpon which both their estates and soules are miserably wracked? How commonly doe they learne to roare in stead of pleading, and in stead of knowing the lawes, learne how to conternne them? We see, and rue this mis­chiefe, and yet I know not how carelesse we are in preuenting it.

How much more desperate [Page 12] must it then needs be to send forth our children into those places which are professedly infectious, whose very goodnesse is either impietie, or superstition? If wee desired to haue sonnes poisoned with mis-be [...]eefe, what could wee doe otherwise? Or what else doe those parents, which haue bequea­thed their children to Antichristi­anisme? Our late iourney into France informed me of some ordi­nary factors of Rome, whose trade is the transporting and placing of our popish nouices beyond the seas; one whereof (whose name I noted) hath beene obserued to carry ouer sixe seuerall charges in one ye [...]re. Are wee so foolish to goe their way, whiles wee intend a contrary period? Doe wee send our sonnes to learne to be chaste in the midst of Sodome? The world is wide and open; but our ordinary [Page 13] trauell is southward, into the iawes of danger: for so farre hath Satans policie preuailed, that those parts which are only thought worth our viewing, are most contagious; and will not part with either pleasure, or information, without some tang of wickednesse. What can wee pleade for our confidence, but that there is an houshold of righte­ous Lot in the midst of that impure citie; that there are houses in this lericho, which haue scarlet threeds shining in their windowes; that in the most corrupted aire of Po­perie, some well reformed Christi­ans draw their breath, and sweeten it with their respiration. Blessed bee God, that hath reared vp the towers of his Sion, in the midst of Babylon. Wee must acknowledge, not without much gratulation to the Gospell of Christ, that in the very hottest climates of opposition, [Page 14] it findes many clients, but more friends; and in those places, where author [...]tie hath plea [...]ed to giue more aire to the truth, would haue had many more, if the Retor­med part had happily continued that correspond [...]nce in some cir­cumstances wi [...]h the Romane Church, which the Church of Englan [...] hath hitherto maintained. God is my record how [...]r [...]e my heart is both from pa [...]alitic, and pr [...]iudi [...]e. Mine eyes and eares can witnesse with wha [...] approo [...]e and applause diuer [...] of the Catho­liques Royall (as they are termed) entertained the new-tran [...]lated Li­turgie o [...] our Church, as maruel­ling to see such order and regular deuotion in them, whom they were taught to condemne for he­reticall. Whose allowances I w [...]ll saw, might with a little helpe, haue beene raised higher, from the practise [Page 15] of our Church, to some points of our iudgement. But if true religion were in those parts yet better attended, and our young Traueller could finde mo [...]e abet­tors, and examples of pie [...]ie, on whom wee might relie, yet how safe can it bee to trust young eyes with the view and censure of truth or [...]alshood in religion? especially when truth brings nothing to this barre, but extreme simplicitie, and contrarily, [...]alshood, a gaw dy mag­nificence, and proud maiestie of pompous ceremonies, wherewith the hearts of children and fooles are easily taken. That Curtizan of Rome (according to the mann [...]r of that profession) sets out her selfe to sale in the most tempting fashion; here want no colours, no per­ [...]umes, no wanton dre [...]ses; where­as the poore Spouse of Christ can on [...]y say of her selfe, I am blacke, [Page 16] but comely. When on the one side they shall see such rich shrines, ga­rish Altars, stately Processions, when they shall see a Pope adored of Emperours, Cardinals preferd to Kings, confessors made Saints, little children made Angels, in a word nothing not outwardly glo­rious: on the other side, a seruice without welt or guard, whose ma­iestie is all in the heart, none in the face, how easily may they incline to the conceit of that Parisian dame, who seeing the procession of S. Genoueifue goe by the streets, could say, (O que belle, &c.) How fine a religion is ours in compari­son of the Hugenots? Whereto must bee added, that (supposing they doe not carry with them, but rather goe to fetch the language of the place) some long time needs be spent, ere they can receiue any helpe to their deuotion; whiles in [Page 17] the meane season, their vnthriuing intermi [...]ion is assailed with a thou­sand suggestions: And who sees not that this lucrum cessans (as the Ciuil [...]ans terme it) offers an open aduantage to a bu [...]e aduersarie?

Sect. 6.

In a word, it hath beene the old praise of early rising, that it makes a man healthfull, holy, and rich; whereof the first respects the bo­dy, the second the soule, the third the estate: all fals out contrary in an early trauell. For health: The wise prouidence of God hath so contriued his earth, and vs, that he ha [...]h fitted our bodies to our clime, and the natiue sustenance of the place vnto our bodies. The apparant difference of diet (and of drinkes especially) falling into so tender age, must needs cause a iarre in the constitution; which cannot in all likelihood, but send forth distemper into the whole [Page 18] course of the ensuing life. The streame runnes like the fountaine, and speeds well, if at last, by many changes of soile it can leaue an ill qualitie behinde it: besides that the mis-gouernance of diet, whereto their libertie layes them open in the weaknesse of their pupillage, cannot but bee extremely preiudi­ciall. In this point let experience be consulted with; her vnpartiall sentence shall easily tell vs, how few young trauellers haue brought home, sound and strong, and (in a word) English bodies. As for ho­linesse, we lose our labour, if this discourse proue not that it hath none so great enemie as timely tra­uell; at once doe wee hazard to abandon God and our home: set an empty pitcher to the fire, it crackes presently, whereas the full will abide boiling. It was the youn­ger sonne in the Gospell, who [Page 19] therefore turnes vnthrift, because he got his portion too soone into his hands, and wandred into a farre countrey. The eye of the parent, and the ferule of the master, is all too little to bring our sonnes to good. Where then there is neither restraint of euill, nor helps to grace, how should their condition bee o­ther than hopelesse? The soile doth much in many plants: the Persian Hyos [...]yamus if it be transla­ted to Egypt, proues deadly; if to Ierusalem, safe and wholesome: neither is it otherwise with some dispositions, which may iustly curse the place, as accessory to their vndoing. Lastly, for riches, not of the purse, (which is not here thought of) but of the mind, what can bee expected from that age, which is not capable of obseruati­on, carele [...]e of reposition? where­of the one gets, the other keepes [Page 20] the treasure of our vnderstanding. What is this age fit to looke after but Butterflies, or birds nests, or perhaps the gay coat of a Courti­er? And if remarkable considera­tions be put into it by others, they are as some loose pearles, which for want of filing vpon a string, shake out of our pockets; so as all the wealth of a young Traueller is only in his tongue, wherein he ex­ceeds his mothers Parrat at home, both for that hee can speake more, and knowes that he speaketh.

Sect. 7.

And in truth, it is not onely in trauell, wherein wee may iustly complaine of the inconuenience of haste, but (that wee may looke [...] a little aside) in all the important businesses of our life; especially in marriages and professions; The ordinary haste in the one (before the face can descry the sex) fils the world full of beggerie and impotence; [Page 21] and no lesse haste in the o­ther, fils it as full of ignorance and imperfection. For on the one side, where the vigour of nature wants, what can be propagated but infir­mity, or how can hee skill to liue that wants experience? On the o­ther, what plenty of water can there be, where the leade of the ci­sterne is put all into the pipes? Where those that should be gathe­ring knowledge for themselues, spend it (like vnthrifty heires) vpon others, as fast as they get it. I am deceiued, if I haue not touched one of the maine grounds of that vni­uersall decay of Arts and Men, wherewith the world is commonly checked: They must bee mightier and wiser, that know to redresse it.

Sect. 8.

But let vs giue our Traueller (that which Parents seldome care to giue) maturity of age; let him be as ripe as time can make him; [Page 22] what is the best aduantage which his absence can promise vs: Let vs lay the benefits of Trauell in the one sca [...]e, the inconueniences on the other, whethersoeuer ouer­waighes, shall sway downe the beame of our iudgement. The pri­uate contentment of a mans owne heart in the view o [...] forraine things, is but a better name of an humo­rous curio [...]ity. If a man yeelde to runne after his appetite and his eye, he shall neuer know where to re [...]t, and after many idle excursions, [...]hal lie downe weary, but vnsa [...]is [...]ied. For, giue me a man that hath seene [...]udasses Lanterne at S. Dennises, the Ephe [...]ian [...]iana in the Louure, the great vessell at Heydelberg, the Am­phitheater at [...]ismes, the ruines and halfe-lettred monuments of the seuen hilles, and a thousand such rarities; what peace hath his heart aboue those, that sit at home, [Page 23] and contemne these toyes? And what if that mans fancie shall call him to the stables of the great Mo­gol, or to the solemnities of Mecha, or to the Librarie of the Moun­ [...]aine of the Moone, will hee be so farre the drudge or Lacquay of his owne imagination, as to vndertake [...]his pilgrimage? Or where will he stay at last, vpon his returne? If he haue smelt the ill-sented Cities of France, or haue seene faire Florence, rich Venice, proud Genua, Luca the industrious: if then his thoughts shall tempt him to see the rich gluttons house in Ierusalem, or in­uite him to Asmere, or Bengala, must he goe? And if hee can denie and chide his owne vnprofitable desires at the last, why began hee no sooner? That could not be for­borne too early, which at last we [...] repent to haue done: he therefore that trauels onely to please his fantasie, [Page 24] is like some woman with childe, that longs for that peece which she sees vpon anothers trencher, and swounds if she miss [...] it; or some squire of Dames, tha [...] doats vpon euery beautie, and is euery day loue-sicke anew: These humours are fitter for control­ment, than obseruation.

Sect. 9.

It is an higher facultie that Tra­uell professeth to aduance, the su­preme power of our vnderstan­ding, which if from hence it may be manifestly improued, he should not bee worthy to tread vpon the earth, that would not emulate Drake, and Candish, in compassing it: but (set aside the studie of Ci­uill Law, which indeed findes bet­t [...]r helpes abroad) all sciences (the word may seeme proud, but is true) may be both more fitly woo­ed, and more surely wonne within our foure seas: for what learning [Page 25] is that, which the Seas, or Alpes, or Pyrenees haue ingrossed from vs? what profession either liberall, or manuary, wherein the greatest masters haue not beene at least equalled by our hom [...]-bred Ilan­ders? what hath this, or the former age knowne more eminent for learning, then some of ours, whi [...]h haue neuer trod on any but th [...]ir owne earth? And (as good mar­ket-men by one handfull iudge of [...] all the whole sacke) why may we [...] not finde cause to thinke so of the rest, if they would not be wanting to themselues? I am sure the Vni uersities of our Iland know no matches in all the world; vnto whose per [...]e [...]tion (that as they ex­ceed others, so they may no lesse exceed themselues) nothing wan­teth, but seuere execution of the wise and carefull lawes of our An­cestors, and restraint o [...] that libertie, [Page 24] [...] [Page 25] [...] [Page 26] which is the common disease of the time. And why should not the childe thriue as well with the mothers milke, as with a strangers? Whether it be the enuie, or the pu­sillanimitie of vs English, wee are still ready to vnder-value our owne, and admire forrainers; whiles other nations haue applau­ded no professors more then those which they haue borrowed from vs; neither haue wee beene so vn­wise, as to lend forth our best: our neighbours (which should be our corriuals in this praise) shall be our Iudges, if those f [...]w of our writers, which could be drawne forth into the publike light, haue not set co­pies to the rest of the world, not without iust admiration. And how many starres haue wee of no lesse magnitude, that will not be seene? Blessed be God (who hath made this word as true, as it is great) no [Page 27] nation vnder heauen so aboun­deth with all varietie of learning, as this Iland. From the head of Gods anointed doth this sweet perfume distill to the vtmost skirts of this our region. Knowledge did neuer sit crowned in the throne of maiestie, and wanted either re­spect, or attendance. The double praise which was of old giuen to two great nations, That Italie could not be put down for armes, nor Greece for learning, is happily met in one Iland. Those therefore that crosse the seas to fill their braine, doe but trauell Northward for heat, and seeke that candle which they carry in their hand.

Sect. 10.

Yea so farre is our ordinary Trauell from perfecting the intel­lectiue powers of our Gentry, that it rather robs them of the very de­sire of perfection. For what dis­couragements shall they finde [Page 28] from the loue of studies, in those parts which are most sough [...] to for ciuilitie? Who k [...]ow [...] not that they are growne to that height of debauch [...]ment, as to hold learning a shame to Nobilitie; esteeming it as a fit gard for the l [...]ng robe only, too base for their Tiss [...]es? An opi­nion so sauouring of proud igno­rance, and ignorant looseness [...], tha [...] I cannot honour it with a confuta­tion. Who would thinke that the reasonable soule of men, not pro­fessedly barbarous, should bee ca­pable of such a monster? What is learning, but reason improued? And can reason so farre degene­rate, as to hate and contemne it selfe? Were these men made onely for a sword, or a dogge, or an horse? Onely for sport, or executi­on? I know not wherein Lewi [...] the eleuenth shewed himselfe vn­witty, but in the charge which hee [Page 29] gaue to his sonne, to learne no more Latine, but, Qui nescit dissi­mulare, nescit viuere: and would this alone teach him to rule well? Doth the Art of Arts (such is the gouernment of men) require no grounds but dissimulation, or ig­norance? Euen to the feeding of hogges, or sheepe, there is more and better skill necessary. How v [...]like is this to a successor of Charles the great, whose word it had wont to be, that he had rather abound in knowledge, then wealth? In the Court of our King Henry the eight, a certaine great Peere (of this diet) could say, it was enough for Noblemens sonnes to winde their horne, and carry their Hauke faire; that studie was for the children of a meaner ranke: To whom Pace iustly replied, that then Noblemen must bee content that their children many winde [Page 30] their hornes, and carry their Haukes, while meaner mens sons doe weild the affaires of State. Cer­tainly it is a blinde and lame go­uernment that lackes learning; whose subiects, what are they else, but as limmes of a body whose head wanteth senses, which must needs therefore faile of either mo­tion, or safetie? From hence it is, that so few of the forraine No­blesse are studious, in comparison of ours; (in which regard I am not ashamed to recant that which my vnexperience hath (out of heare­say) written in praise of the Frenc [...] education) and those few that haue stolne the turning ouer of bookes, hide their skill, left they should be made to blush at their vertue. What braue Trophees and rich monuments hath the pen of our gracious Soueraigne raised of him­selfe vnto all posterities? When [Page 31] ignorance and malice haue shot their bolt, the glory of his great wisdome, and knowledge, shall more fill the mouthes and affect the hearts of all succeeding ages, then of his greatnesse. Paul the fift, and his greatest Chaplaines, Bellarmine and Perron, haue felt the weight of his hand; whereas the great King that stiles himselfe Catholike, when he comes to passe his censorious edict vpon Cardi­nall Baronius (who in the eleuenth Tome of his Historie seemed too busie in fastening the title of the Edicto del [...]ey D [...]n Phelipped [...] Espana co [...]tra el Tr [...]ct ad [...] della Mon [...]r [...]ia d [...] S [...]cil [...]a e [...]xerid [...] por Cesar Baro­nio Cardenal, on el T [...]mo vndeci­m [...] de [...] Anna­les Eccl [...]si [...]stic [...]s. Kingdome of Sicilie vpon the Pope) professeth to ground his in­telligence of this wrong only vpon others eyes; as if a booke (though of a Cardinall) were too meane an obiect for the view of Maiesty: and as all subordinate greatnes flowes from the head, so doe commonly also the dispositions. Neither haue [Page 32] the Doctours of the Romish Church (vpon whom the implicit faith of the Laitie is suspended) found it any ill policie, to cherish this dislike of bookishnesse in the great; for, whiles the candle is out, it is safe for them to play their trickes in the darke: and if the As­syrians be once blinded, how easily may they bee led into the midst of any Samar [...]a? If the light of know­ledge might freely [...]hine to the world, Poperie would soone bee ashamed of it selfe, and vanish amongst the workes of darknesse. Now how well these examples, and this conuersation, shall whet the appetite vnto good studies, it cannot be hard to iudge.

Sect. 11.

But perhaps it is not the lear­ning of the schoole, but of the State, wherein our Traueller hopes for perfection: The site and forme of cities, the fashions of gouernment, [Page 33] the manners of people, the raising and rate of forraine reue­nues, the deportment of Courts, the menaging both of warre and peace, is that wherein his owne eye shall be his best intelligencer; The knowledge whereo [...] shall w [...]ll requite his labour, whether for dis­course or for vse. What if I say, that (saue the soothing vp of our fancy in all this) these lessons may bee as well taken out at home: I haue knowen some that haue tra­uelled no further then their owne closet, which could both teach and correct the greatest Traueller, after all his tedious and costly pererrati­ons, what doe wee but lose the be­nefit of so many iournals, maps, hystoricall descriptions, relations, if we cannot with these helps, tra­uell by our owne fire-side? Hee that trauels into forraine countries, talkes perhaps with a Peasant, or a [Page 34] Pilgrim, or a Citizen, or a Courtier; and must needs take such informa­tion as partiall rumour, or weake coniecture can giue him; but hee that trauels into learned and credi­ble Authors, talkes with them who haue spent themselues in bolting out the truth of all passages; and who hauing made their labours publike, would haue beene like to heare of it, if they had mis-repor­ted: The ordinary Traueller pro­pounds some prime Cities to him­selfe, and thither hee walkes right forward, if he meet with ought that is memorable in the way, hee takes it vp; but how many thousand matters of note fall beside him, on either hand; of the knowledge whereof he is not guilty; Whereas [...]ome graue and painefull Author hath collected into one view, what­soeuer his country affords worthy of marke; hauing measured many [Page 35] a fowle step for that, which we may see dry-shod; and worne out ma­ny yeeres in the search of that, which one houre shall make no lesse ours, then it was his owne. To which must be added, that our vnperfit acquaintance may not hope to finde so perfect informati­on on the sudden, as a naturall in­habitant may get, by the disquisiti­on of his whole life: Let an Italian or French passenger walk through this our Iland, what can his Table­bookes carry home, in comparison of the learned Britaine of our Cam­den, or the accurate Tables of Speed? Or if one of ours should (as too many doe) passe the Alpes, what pittances can his wilde iour­ney obserue, in comparison of the Itenerary of Fr. Schottus and Capug­nanus: Or he that would discourse of the Royalties of the French Lil­lies, how can hee bee so furnished [Page 36] by flying report, as by the elabo­rate gatherings of Cassaneus, or of Degrassalius; What should I bee infinite? This age is so full of light, that there is no one country of the habitable world, whose beames are not crossed and interchanged with other; Knowledge of all af­faires, is like musicke in the streets, whereof those may partake, which pay nothing; Wee doe not lie more open to one common snnne, then to the eyes and pens of our neighbours; Euen China itselfe, and Iaponia, and those other re­motest Isles, & continents (which haue taken the strictest order for closenesse) haue receiued such dis­coueries, as would rather satisfie a Reader, then prouoke him to a­mend them. A good booke is at once the best companion, and guide, and way, and end of our iourney; Necessity droue our forefathers [Page 37] out of doores, which else in those misty times had seene no light, we may with more ease, and no lesse profit sit still, and inherit, and enioy the labours of them, & our elder brethen, who haue pur­chased our knowledge with much hazard, time, toile, expence; and haue beene liberall of their bloud (some of them) to leaue vs rich.

Sect. 12.

As for that verball discourse, wherein I see some place the felici­ty of their trauell (thinking it the onely grace, to tell wonders to a ring of admiring ignorants) it is ea­sie to answer; that table-talk is the least care of a wise man; who like a deepe streame desires rather to runne silent; and as himselfe is sel­dome transported with wonder, so doth he not affect it in others; re­ducing all to vse, rather then ad­miration, and more desiring to be­nefit, then astonish the hearer; [Page 38] withall, that the same means which enable vs to know, d [...] at o [...]ce fur­nish vs with matter of dis [...]ourse, & for the forme of our expression, if it proceede not from that naturall dexterity which we carry with vs, in vaine shall wee hope to bring it home; the change of language is rather an hinderance to our former readinesse; and if some haue fetcht new noses, and lips, and eares from Italy (by the helpe of Tagliacotius, & his schollers) neuer any brought a new tongue from thence. [...]o conclude, if a man would giue him­selfe leaue to bee thus vaine and free, like a mill without a scluse, let him but trauell through the world of bookes, & he shall easily be able to out-talke that tongue, whose feet haue walkt the furthest; what [...]ath any eye seene, or imagination deuised, which the pen hath not dared to write? Out of our bookes [Page 39] can we tell the stories of the Mono­celli, who lying vpon their backes, shelter themselues from the sunne with the shadow of their one only foot. We can tell of those cheape­dieted men, that liue about the head of Ganges, without mea [...], without mouthes, feeding onely vpon aire at their nosthrils. Or of those headlesse Easterne people, that haue their eyes in their breasts (a mis-conceit arising from their fashion of attire, which I haue sometimes seene): Or of those Coromand [...]e, of whom Pliny speaks, that couer their whole body with their eares: Or of the persecutors of S. Thoma [...] of Canterbury, whose posteritie (if wee beleeue the con­ [...]ident writings of Degra [...]alius) are borne with long and hairie tailes, souping after them; which (I ima­gine) gaue occasion to that pro­uerbiall iest, wherewith our mirth [Page 40] vses to vpbraid the Kentish: Or of Am [...]zons, or Pygme [...]s, or Satyres, or the Samarcaudean Lambe, which growing out of the earth by the nauell, grazeth so [...]ar [...]e as that na­tural [...] [...]ther will reach: Or of the bird Ruc, or ten thousand such mi­racles, whether of nature, or euent [...] Little neede wee to stirre our feet to lea [...]e to tell either loud lies, or large [...]ruth [...]. Wee haue heard a bird in a cage [...]ing more change of [...]otes, then others haue done i [...] the wilde libertie of the wood [...] And as for the present occurren­ces of [...]he time, the world about vs is so full of Presses, that it may, and [...]s grow [...]e so good a fellow, that it will, impart what it knowes to all the neighbours: whose rela­tions, if sometimes o [...]ey swarue from truth, we may well consider, what varietie of report euery acci­dent will y [...]ld; and [...]hat therefore [Page 41] our eares abroad are no whit more credible, then our eyes at home. Yea rather, as Tully could say, that at Antium he could heare the newes of Rome, better then at Rome; so may wee oft-times bet­ter heare and see the newes of France, or Spaine, vpon our Ex­change, then in their Paris, or Ma­drill: Since (what libertie soeuer tongues may take to themselues) a discreet man will be ashamed to subscribe his name to that, where­of hee may bee afterwards con­uinced.

Sect. 13.

Since therefore Trauell cannot out-bid vs in these highest com­modities, which concerne the wealth of the minde; all the ad­uantage it can afford vs, must bee in those mixt abilities, wherein our bodies are the greatest partners, as dancing, [...]encing, musicke, vault­ing, horsemanship; the only professions [Page 42] of the mis-named Acade­mies of other nations. Who can denie that such like exercises are fit for young Gentlemen, not onely for their present recreation, but much more for the preparing of them to more serious action? Yet must these learne to know their places: what are they else but the varnish of that picture of Gentry, whose substance consists in the lines and colours of true vertue? but the lace or facing of a rich gar­ment? but the hang-byes of that royall court which the soule keeps in a generous heart? He that holds Gentilitie accomplished with these (though laudable) qualities, par­takes more of his horse, then his horse can possibly of him. This skill then is worthy of our pur­chase, yet may not bee bought too deare; and perhaps need not bee fetch't so farre. Neither my profession, [Page 43] nor my experience will al­low mee to [...] hold comparisons in this kinde; but I haue beene hear­tened by no meane masters of these Arts, to say that our Nation hath yeelded some in all these fa­culties, which need not stoope vn­to the proudest [...]orrainer: ours haue no fault but one, that they are our owne; and what h [...]h their Countrey offended, if their Art of­fend not? It is an humorous giddi­nesse to measure the goodn [...]e of any thing by the distance of miles, and where there is equalitie of worth, to neglect the neerest. I slander our Nation if it bee not sicke of this disease, in the course of all sciences. And if neerenesse and presence bee the cause of our dislike, why doe wee not hate our selues, which are euer in our owne bosomes? Why doe we not hate this fastidious curiositie, which is [Page 44] too close to vs? Perhaps perfecti­on in these qualities is thinner sowne amongst vs, then some other-where; so as our Iland for want of worke, and incourage­ment, affords not such multitude of masters: but how can wee com­plaine of rarenesse, since if our age yeeld vs but one excellent in each kinde, it is more then wee are wil­ling to vse? and if the fault were not in our selues, one candle may light a thousand. To instance in the best: The horse is a noble cr [...]a­ture, which as it is the str [...]ngth and pride of France, so wins the hearts and heeles of that Nation: The ge­neralitie of their skill is nothing to a stranger; each pri [...]ate mans cun­ning rests in himselfe; it is only the Teacher, whose abilitie may con­cerne vs. And whereas there is a double kinde of menage (as I haue heard) one for seruice, the other [Page 45] for pleasure; in the first our masters thinke they cannot yeeld vnto the best; in the latter, if they grant themselues exceeded, how many men haue taught their dogge the same trickes, with no lesse content­ment? In both, we haue the writ­ten directions of their greatest Ar­tists; who (for the perpetuitie of their owne honour) failed not to say their best. And if these dead masters suffice not, wee haue had, wee may haue the best of their li­uing: The conscience of a mans excellencie will abide no limits, but spurres him forth to winne ad­miration abroad; and if there­withall he can finde aduancement of profit, how willingly doth hee change his home? Wee haue had experience of this in higher profes­sions, much more in these vnder foot. One obscure towne of Hol­land in our memory, had by this [Page 46] meanes drawne together at once the greatest lights of EVROPE, and made it selfe then no lesse re­nowned for Professors, then it is now infamous for Schisme. Feare of enuy forbids me to name those amongst vs, which haue honoured this Iland in the choice of their a­bode. Where Art is encouraged, it will soone rise high, and go farre, and not suffer a channell of the sea to stay it from the presence of a more bountifull patronage.

Sect. 14.

But let vs grant these faculties so fixed vpon any nation, that all our water must necessarily bee fetcht at their Well; and adde vn­to these a few wa [...]te complements, and mimicall courtesies, which must needs bee put into the match of our ordinary trauell: and now let vs sit downe, and see what wee paid for this stocke, and count our winnings: What must our com [...]pleat [Page 47] Traueller stake downe for this goodly furniture o [...] his Gen­try? If not losse, danger; danger of the best part, if not all; a double danger; of corruption of religion, and deprauation of manners; both capitall: And can we thinke these endowments so precious, that they should bee worth fetching vpon such an hazard? Will any man (not desperate) runne into an infe­cted house, to rifle for a rich suit? Will any man put his finger into a fiery crucible, to pull out gold? It is wittily taken of Chrysostome, when our Sauiour said, Ne exeat is in eremum; that he sayes not, Goe forth into the desert and see, but beleeue not; but giues an absolute prohibition of going forth at al [...], that they might be out of the dan­ger of misbeleefe. Tush, idle and melancholicke feares, say some of our Gallants; wherefore serues [Page 48] discretion, but to seuer good from ill? How [...]asily may a wise man pull a rose, and not pricke his hand? How freely may he dip in this streame, and not be drowned? Little doe these peremptory re [...]ol­uers know, either the in [...]inuatiue power of euill, or the treachery of their owne heart in receiuing it, or the importunitie of deceiuers in obtruding it: They are the worse for their trauell, and perceiue it not. An egge couered with salt, as our Ph [...]losophers teach vs, hath the m [...]at of it consumed, whiles the shell is whole: many a one receiues poison, and knowes not when hee tooke it. No ma [...] proues extremely euill on the sudden. Through ma­ny insensible declinations doe wee [...]all from vertue; and at the first are so gently seazed by vice, that wee cannot beleeue our accusers. It is mischiefe enough, if they can bee [Page 49] drawne to a lesse dislike of ill; which now by long acquaintance is growne so [...]amiliar to their eyes, that they cannot thinke it so loath­some, as at the first view. The so­cietie of wilfull Idolaters will now downe with them, not without ease; and good meanings beginne to bee allowed for the clokes of grosse superstition. From thence they grow to a fauourable constru­ction of the mis-opinions of the aduerse part, and can complaine of the wrongfull aggrauations of some contentious spirits: and from thence (yet lower) to an indifferent conceit of some more politike po­sitions, and practises o [...] the Roma­nists. Neither is ther [...] their rest. Hereupon ensues an allowance of some of their do [...]trines, that are more plausible, and lesse impor­tant, and withall a censure of vs that are gone too farre from Rome. [Page 50] Now the mariage of Ecclesiasticall persons begins to mislike them: the daily and frequent consignati­on with the crosse is not to no pur­pose: The retired life of the religi­ous (abandoning the world for­sooth) sauours of much mortifica­tion; and confession giues no small ease and contentment to the soule. And now by degrees, Poperie be­ginnes to be no ill religion: If there cannot be a false fire of mis-deuo­tion kindled in them, it is enough, if they can be cooled in their loue of truth; which how commonly it fals out amongst vs, I had rather experience should speake, then my selfe. Some there are that by a spi­rituall Antiperistasis haue growne hotter in their zeale, by being en­compassed with the outward cold of irreligion, and errour, who as they owe not this grace to them­selues, so they are more for wonder [Page 51] then imitation. If Daniel found a guard in the Lions denne, shall another put himselfe thither for [...]helter? And if Peter walkt vpon the pauement of the water, did the rest of the Disciples step forth and follow him? That valiant champi­on of Christ (since wee are fallen vpon his name) who durst draw his sword vpon a whole troupe, af­ter all the protestations of his inse­parablenesse from his master, was yet infected with the aire of the High-Priests Hall: and whiles hee but warmed himselfe at that fire, cooled in his respect to his Saui­our. Although perhaps this con­tagion working (as it commonly doth) remissely, causeth not any sudden alteration in our Traueller, but (as wee say of Comets and Eclipses) hath his effect when the cause is forgotten. Neither is there any one more apparant ground of [Page 52] that luke-warme indifferencie, which is fallen vpon our times, then the ill vse of our wandrings: for our Trauellers being the mid­dle-ranke of men, and therefore ei­ther followers of the great, or commanders of the meaner sort, cannot want conuenience of dif­fusing this temper of ease, vnto both.

Sect. 15.

All this mischiefe is yet hid with a formall profession, so as euery eye cannot finde it: in others it dares boldly breake [...]orth to an open reuolt. How many in our memory, whiles with Dina [...] they haue gone fo [...]th to gaze, haue lo [...] their [...]pirituall chastitie, and there­with both the Church, and them­selues? How many (like vnto the brooke [...]dron) run from [...]ierus [...] ­lem through the vale of [...]hos [...]p [...]t, [...]bert P [...]int [...] in his pre [...]ace to the t [...]stimo­nies for the r [...] ­all presence. and end their course in the dead Sea? A popish writer of our Nation [Page 53] (as himselfe thought) not vn­learned, complaining of the obsti­nacie of vs heretickes, despaires of preuailing, because hee findes it to be long agoe fore-prophecied of vs in the booke of the Chronicles, At illi Protestantes audire noluerunt. 2 Chron. 24. It is well that Protestants were yet heard of in the old Testament, as well as I [...]suites; whose name, one of their owne by good hap hath [...] [...]n I [...]s [...]am, l. [...]. c. [...] q. 19. Gret [...]er. contra Le [...]eum, c. [...]. & 2. V r [...] ai [...] qui­da [...] [...] Iesu [...]ta [...] [...]n s [...]cris l [...]ris [...]p [...]riri. found, Numb [...] 26. 24. Like as Eras­mus found Friers in S. Pauls time, inter falsos Fratres. But it were bet­ter, if this mans word were as true, as it is idle. Some of ours haue heard to their cost, whose losse ioyned with the griefe of the Church, and dishonour of the Gospell, wee haue sufficiently la­mented. How many haue wee knowne strucken with these Asps, which haue died sle [...]ping? And in truth, whosoeuer shall consider [Page 54] this open freedome of the meanes of seducement, must needs won­der that wee haue lost no more; especially if he be acquainted with those two maine helpes of our ad­uersaries, importunitie and plausi­bilitie. Neuer any Pharisee was so eager to make a Proselyte, as our late factors of Rome: and if they bee so hot set vpon this ser­uice, as to compasse sea and land to winne one of vs, shall wee be so madde as to passe both their sea and land, to cast our selues into the mouth of danger? No man set­teth foot vpon their coast, which may not presently sing with the Psalmist, They come about mee like Bees. It fares with them as with those which are infected with the pestilence, who (they say) are car­ried with an itching desire of tain­ting others. When they haue all done, this they haue gained, that if [Page 55] Satan were not more busie and ve­hement then they, they could gaine nothing. But in the meane time there is nothing wherein I wi [...]h we would emulate them, but in this heat of diligence, and viol [...]nt ambition of winning. Pyr [...]us did not more en [...]ie the valour of those old Roman souldiers, which hee read in their wounds, and dead faces, then we doe the bus [...]e auda­citie of these new. The world could not stand before vs, if our Truth might bee but as hotly fol­lowed, as their falshood. Oh that our God, whose cause wee main­taine, would enkindle our hearts with the fire of holy zeale, but so much as Satan hath inflamed theirs with the fire of [...]urie and faction. Oh that hee would shake vs out of this dull [...]ase, and quicken our slacke spirits vnto his owne worke. Arise, O North, and come, O [Page 56] South, and blow vpon our garden, that the spices thereof may flow forth. These suters will take no deniall, but are ready (as the fashi­on was to doe with rich matches) to carry away mens soules whe­ther they will or no. Wee see the proofe of their importunitie at home: No bulwarkes of lawes, no barres of iustice (though made of three trees) can keepe our rebani­shed fugitiues from returning from intermedling. How haue their actions said in the hearing of the world, that since heauen will not heare them, they will tr [...]e what hell can doe? And if they dare bee so busie in our owne homes, where they would seeme somewhat aw­ed with the danger of iustice; what (thinke wee) will they not dare to doe in their owne territories, where they haue not free scope only, but assistance, but incouragement? [Page 57] Neuer generation was so forward as the Iesuiticall, for captation of willes amongst their owne, or of soules amongst strangers. What state is not haunted with these ill spirits? yea what house? yea what soule? Not a Princes Counsell­Table, not a Ladies chamber can be free from their shamelesse insi­nuations. It was not for nothing, that their great Patron Philip the second King of Spaine, called them Clerigos negotiadores; and that Mar­cus Antonius Columna Generall of the Nauie to Pius quintus, in the battell of Lepanto, and Viceroy of Sicilie, could say to Father Don Alonso, a famous [...]esuite, affecting to be of the counsell of his consci­ence, Voi altri padri di [...]h [...]su [...]auete la mente al cielo, le mani al mondo, l' anima al diauolo.

Sect. 16.

Yet were there the lesse perill of their vehemence, if it were onely [Page 58] rude and boisterous (as in some other sects) that so (as it is in Ca­non [...]shot) it might be more easily shun'd, then re [...]sted: but here, the skill of doing mis [...]hiefe contends with the power; their mis-zealous passions hide themselues in a plea­sing sweetnesse, and they are more beholden to policie, then strength. What Gentleman of any note can crosse our Seas, whose name is not landed in their bookes before hand, in preuention of his person, whom now arriued, if they finde vntractable through too much preiudice, they labour [...]irst to tem­per with the plausible con [...]rsation of some smooth Catholike of his owne nation: the name of his Country is warrant enough for his in [...]inuation. Not a word yet may be spoken of religion; as if that were no part of the errand. So haue wee seene an Ha [...]ke cast off at an [Page 59] Heron Shaw, to looke and flie a quite other way, and after many carelesse and ouerly fetches, to towre vp vnto the pr [...]y intended. There is nothing wherein this faire companion shall not apply him­selfe to his welcome Countriman. At last, when hee hath possest him­selfe of the heart of his new ac­quaintance, and got himselfe the reputation of a sweet ingenuitie, and delightfull sociablenesse; hee findes opportunities to bestow some wittie scoffes vpon those parts of our religion, which lie most open to aduantage. And now it is time to inuite him (after other rarities) to see the Monasterie of our English Benedictines, or (if else­where) those English Colledges, which the deuout beneficence of our well-meaning neighbours (with no other intention then some couetous farmers lay faltca [...]s [Page 60] in their doue-cotes) haue bountifully erected. There, it is a wonder if our Traueller meet not with some one, that shall claime kindred or Country of him in a more intire fashion. The societie welcomes him with more then or­dinary courtesie: neither can hee refuse (except hee will be vnciuill) to be their guest. He cannot mislike the loue of his Countrimen, hee cannot fault their carriage. And now that they haue mollified the stiffenesse of his preiudice, and with much tempering fitted him for their mold, he is a taske meet for one of their best workmen; who willingly vndertaking it, hath learned to handle him so sweetly, as if he would haue him thinke it a pleasure to bee seduced. Doe yee thinke this Doctor will begin first with the infallibilitie of their great Master, and perswade him that a [Page 61] Necromancer, an Hereticke, an Atheist, cannot erre in Peters Chaire? or tell him that hee may buy off his sinnes as familiarly as he may buy wares in the market? or teach him that a man may and must both make and eat his God to his breakfast? This hard meat is for stronger mawes. Hee knowes how first to begin with the spoone, and to offer nothing to a weake stomacke, but discourse of easie digestion: As first, that a Ca [...]ho­like so l [...]uing and dying (by our confession) may be saued: That there is but one Church, as but one Christ; and that out of this Arke, there is no way but drow­ning: That this one Church is more likely to bee found in all the world, then in a corner; in all ages, then in the last Century of yeeres; in vnitie, then in diuision. And now comes in the glorious bragge of [Page 62] the Roman Vniuersalitie, their in­violate Antiquitie, their recorded successions, their harmonious vni­tie, their confessed magnificence: That theirs is the mother Church, as to the rest of Christendome, so especially to the English: How well a Monarchie (the best forme of gouernment) beseemes the Church: How vnlikely it is that Christ would leaue his Spouse in the confusion of many heads, or of none. And now, what are wee but a ragge torne from their cote? and where was our religion before Luther lay with Bora? And what miserable subdiuisions are there in our Protestancie? and what a glea­ning are we to the haruest of Chri­stendome? w [...]th infinite suggesti­ons of this nature; able (as they are plausibly vrg [...]d) to shake an vngrounded iudgement: which i [...] they haue so farre preuailed, as that [Page 63] the hearer will abide himselfe hood-winkt with this vaile of the Church, how easily shall time lead him into those hatefuller absar­dities?

Sect. 17.

In all which proceedings, these impostors haue a double aduan­tage: First, that they deliuer the o­pinion of their Church with such mitigation and fauour, as those that care to please, not to enforme: forming the voyce of the Church to the liking of the hearer, not the iudg [...]ment of the hearer to the voyce of the Church: wherein it is not hard to obserue, that Pope­ry spoken and written are two things; In discourse, nothing is more ordinary then to disclaime some of their receiued positions, to blanch others. It is the malice of an aduersary that mis-reports them; they doe not hold that ima­ges should bee adored; that the [Page 64] wood of the crosse should be wor­shipped with the very same deuo­tion that is due to Christ himselfe; that the Church is the Iudge of Gods writings; that Panl the fift cannot erre; that a man may merit of his maker, much lesse superero­gate; that a mouse may runne away with that which either is, or was God Almighty; That it is lawfull to kill an hereticall King, and all o­ther those monsters of opinion, which their most classicke Authors haue both hatched and shamelesly thrust into the light of the world. They defie those ridiculous Le­gends which we father vpon their Church; and how much doe they scorne S. Francis his Bird, or his Wolfe, or his Wounds, or his A­postles of Assise. Pope Ioane was but a fancy: Neuer Pope was an hereticke. If now wee cry out of impudence, and call their allowed [Page 65] writers to witnesse. Lo, euen they also are forged by vs, & are taught to play booty on our side. Thus resolued to out-face all euidence, they make faire weather of their fowlest opinions, and inueigh a­gainst nothing so much as the spightfulnesse of our slanders. It is not possible that any wise stran­ger should be in loue with the face of their Church, if he might see her in her owne likenesse, and therfore they haue cunningly masked one part of it, and painted another, so as those features of hers which are vgly and offensiue, shall not ap­peare to any but her owne eyes. And because bookes are dange­rous blabs, and will be telling the generations to come, how strange­ly that face is altered with Age and Art, therefore their tongues are clipped also, and made to speake none but her owne words. Out of [Page 66] this licence, and hope to winne, they can fit their dishes to euery Exemplar. Epist. Scriptae ad D [...] ­minum Pauli­num quondam datarium sub Ciementis 8 [...] beat [...] m [...]mori [...] Ponti [...]cat [...]. palate, and are so sawcy, as to make the Church belye it selfe. Hence it was that a Spanish Father could teach, that it is not of the necessity of faith, to beleeue that the present Pope is the Vicar of Christ, and the Successor of Peter. That Hostius the [...]esuite could say, that the Pope abused his keyes, and the authori­ty Ibid. of the Church, in receiuing Henry the fourth. That another of his fel­lowes in a discourse with a French Bishop, could disparage the decisi­on of his Holines in comparison of a generall Counsel. That Men [...]s the reader of diuinity at Valledolid fol­lowing Ibid. Salas the Iesuite, could af­firme the lawfulnes of the mariage of religious persons vpon a doubt­ful reuelation. That more then one of that order, haue dared to broach confession by letters, against the [Page 67] of Clement Bull the 8. And if these men be no sparing of their contra­dictions to that Vice-god of theirs, whose vassals they are by peculiar profession, how much more boldly will they swim against the streame of any common opinion, that may concerne the body of that head?

Sect. 18.

Their second aduantage is, that they regard not with what vn­truths they make good th [...]ir owne assertions; It is all one with what morter or rubbish they build vp a side. From hence flow the confi­fident reports, both of their mira­cles to conuince vs, and their slan­ders to disgrace vs. Father Hayn­dius, a Iesuite of 33. yeeres stan­ding, amongst fifty two com­plaints, which (out of an honest re­morse) he put vp against his owne society, to their Generall Aquauiua, findes this not the least, that his fel­lowes s [...]amed not to seeke the honour [Page 68] of their order, by cogging of miracles. What packets flie about daily of their Indian wonders? E­uen Card. Bellarmine can abide to come in as an auoucher of these couzenages; who dares auerre that his fellow Xauier had not only healed the deafe, dumb and blinde, but raised the dead; Whiles his brother Acosta after many yeeres spent in those parts can pull him by the sleeue, and tell him in his eare, so lowd that all the world may heare him, Prodigia nulla pro­ducimus, Lib. 4. de salut. Ind. c. 12. &c. ne (que) verò est opus. Of the same stamp are the daily-renued miracles, reuelations, vi [...]ions, wherewith any mans eares must needes bee beaten amongst them: Africke was at the best but barren of nouelties, in comparison of Rome; and yet the world is incre­dulous, if it will not suffer it selfe gulled with these holy frauds. And [Page 69] no fewer are those lewd calumnia­tions (the stuffe of all their inue­ctiues) whereby they labour to make vs loathsome to the world: our persons, our doctrines are loa­ded with reproaches; neither mat­ters it how iust they are, but how spightfull; What other measure can be expected of vs, when their best friends haue thus (vpon some priuate dislikes) smarted from them. Their owne holy Fathers, Clement the eight, and Sixtus quin­tus, and with them (the honour of the Iesuiticall order) Cardinall Tollet, can all shew bloudy wales in their backes, from their lashes. Their late Patron of famous me­mory, whose heart they well-me­rited, and keep it (as their deere re­lique) enshrined in their La-Flesche, was after his death in their pulpits proclaimed Tyran and worse: no Examplar. [...]pi [...]t. supr. cit. maruell then if after the virulent [Page 70] declamations of our Gifford (their Gabriel) and the malicious sugge­stions of others of that viperous brood, we haue much adoe to per­swade our neighbors, that we haue any Churc [...]s, Baptisme, Liturgy, Religion. I appeale then to all eyes and eares, how easie it is for a man that will take leaue to him­selfe, of making what truth he lists, and defending them by what vu­truths he pleaseth, to lead a credu­lous hea [...]t whither he pleaseth.

Sect. 19.

But if the power of falsified rea­son preuaile not, these desperate factors of Rome (as I haue beene informed) haue learned out of their acquaintance in the Court of the Prince of darknesse, to imploy stronger aid. On some of their hands, I feare, Magicall delusions and deuillish incantations shall not want, rather then they will want a client. Neither can this feeme [Page 71] strange to any, that knowes how familiarly the Roman Church professes the solemne practise of coniuration; in such a fashion, as it doth more then trouble the best Casuists, to set downe a perfect difference betwixt their sacred Magicke, & the Diabolicall. From hence perhaps haue proceeded those miraculous apparitions (if at least they were any other but fancie, or fraud) wherewith some of our death-sicke Gentlemen a­mongst them, haue beene frighted into Catholikes. A famous Diuine of France, second to none for lear­ning, or fidelitie, told me this one [...] amongst other instances, of his owne experience, which hee yet liues to iustifie: A Gentleman of the religion, whose wife was po­pishly deuoted, lying vpon the bed of his sicknesse, in expectation of death, sends for this Diuine, his [Page 72] Pastor; the sicke mans wife sends for a Iesuite; both meet at the beds side; each perswades him to his owne part; both pleade for their religion at this barre, before these Iudges: after two houres dis­putation, not only the Gentleman was cheerefully confirmed in that iudgement which hee had embra­ced, but his wife also, out of the euidence of truth, began to incline to him, and it: The Iesuite depar­ted discontent; yet within some few houres after, returning (when the coast was clearer) intreats some priuate conference with the Gen­tlewoman; with whom walking in her garden, hee did vehemently expostulate, mixing therewithall his strongest perswa [...]ons; at last to shut vp his discourse, he impor­tun'd her with many obsecrations, that she would vou [...]hsafe to re­ceiue from his hands a little boxe [Page 73] which he there offred her, and for his sake weare it about her conti­nually: shee condescended. No sooner had shee taken it, then shee fell to so great a detestation of her husband, that shee could by no meanes bee drawne into his pre­sence, and within two dayes a [...]ter, in this estate shee died. An act more worthy the sword of iustice, then the penne of an aduersarie. These courses are as secret as wic­ked: not daring therefore per­emptorily to accuse, I had rather leaue these practises to further in­quirie. Sure I am that by their tongues Satan labours to inchant the world, and hath strongly de­luded too many soules. And are wee weary of ours, that wee dare tempt God, and offer our selues as challengers to this spirituall dan­ger? The Iesuites, amongst much change of houses, haue two famous [Page 74] for the accordance of their names; one called The Bow, at Nola; the other The Arrow, (La Flesche) in France: though this latter were more worthy of the name of a whole Quiuer, containing not few­er then eight hundred shafts of all sizes. Their Apostate Ferrier (if I shall not honour him too much) plaid vpon them in this distich:

This prouision is for the care of Christian Prouinces: but in the meane time, what madnesse is it in vs, not only to giue aime to these rouing flights, but to offer our selues to bee their standing Butt, [Page 75] that they may take their full aime and hit vs leuell at pleasure. Doe wee not heare some of their owne At etiam nu [...] non animaduer­timus quod La­ti [...] sermonis ob­ [...]n [...] impurissi­mè Gallici inuen­tutis mores inge­nuos foedant, bo­narum literarum praete [...]t [...]pessi­mas edocent ar­tes, dum ingenia excolunt, animas perdunt, &c. Oratio ad Curiam Parlamenti super Henrici magni parrici­dali n [...]ce. fellow-Catholikes in the midst of their awfullest Senate, the Parlia­ment of Paris, pleading vehement­ly against these factious spirits, and crying out passionately of that danger (which will follow vpon their admission) hoth of lewd manners, and false doctrine, and doe we in greater opposition feare neither? and especially from En­glish Iesuites? Some Countries yeeld more venomous vipers then others; ours the worst. I would it were not too easie to obserue, that as our English Papists are com­monly more Iesuitish, so our En­glish Iesuites are more furious, then their fellowes. Euen those of the hottest climates cannot match them in fiery dispositions. And doe we put our selues out of our [Page 76] comfortable sunne-shine, into the midst of the flame of these noted incendiaries? Doe wee take plea­sure to make th [...]m rich with the spoile of our soules, and because they will not come fast enough to fetch these boo [...]ies, doe we g [...]e to carry them vnto their pillage?

Sect. 20.

The danger is in the men more then in their cause; and if this great Curtizan of the world had not so cunning Pandars, I should wonder how shee should get any but foo­lish customers. Th [...] searcher of all hearts (before whose Tribunall I shal once come to giue an account of this Censure) knowes I speake it not maliciously; Him I call to wit­nesse that I could not find any true life of Religion amongst those that would bee Catholikes. I meddle not with the errours of Speculati­ons, or Schole-points; wherein their iudgement palpably offendeth, [Page 77] I speake of the liuely practise of Piety; What haue they amongst them but a very out-side of Chri­stianity, a meere formality of deuo­tion; Looke into their Churches; there their poore ignorant Laity hope to present their best seruices to God; and yet alas they say they know not what, they heare they know not what, they doe they they know not what; returning empty of all hearty edification, and onely full of confused intentions; and are taught to thinke this sacri­fice of fooles meritorious. Looke vpon their Chemarim the sacred a­ctors in this religious scene, what shall you see but idle apishnesse in their solemnest worke, and either mockery, or slubbering? Looke into their religious houses; what shall you see but a trade of careles and lazie holinesse; houres obser­ued [...], because they must, not because [Page 78] they would. What doe they but lull piety a sleepe with their heartlesse and sleepy Vespers? Look into the priuate closets of their de­uout Ignorants, what difference shall you see betwixt the Image and the Suppliant? If they can heare their beades knacke vpon each other, they are not bid to care for hearing their prayers reflect vpon heauen: Shortly in all that belongs to God, the worke done sufficeth, yea meriteth; and what neede the heart bee wrought vpon for a taske of the hand? Looke in­to the melancholike cels of some austere Recluses; there you may finde perhaps an hairecloth, or a a whip, or an heardle; but shew me true mortification, the power of spirituall renouation of the soule? How should that bee found there when as that sauing faith (which is the onely purger of the heart) is [Page 79] barred out as presumptuous: and no guest of that kinde allowed, but the same which is common to Di­uels. What Papist in all Chisten­dome hath euer beene heard to pray daily with his family; or to sing, but a Psalme at home? Looke into the vniuersall course of the Catholike life; there shall you find t [...]e Decalogue professedly broken, Besides the ordinary practise of I­dolatry; and frequence of oathes; Who euer saw Gods day duely kept in any city, village, houshold vnder the iurisdiction of Rom [...]? Euery obscure Holy-day takes the wall of it, and thrusts it into the channell. Who sees not obedience to authority so sleighted, that it stands onely to the mercy of hu­mane dispensation; and in the rest of Gods Lawes, who sees not how fowle sinnes passe for veniall? and how easily veniall sinnes passe their [Page 80] satisfaction: for which, a crosse, or a drop of holy-water is sufficient amends. Who sees not how no place can bee left for truth, where there is full roome giuen to equi­uocation. All this, though it bee harsh to the conscionable man, yet is no lesse pleasing to the car­nall. The way of outward fashion­ablenesse in religion, and inward libertie of heart cannot but seeme faire to nature; and especially when it hath so powerfull angaria­tion. It is a wonder if but one halfe of Christendome bee thus won to walke in it. Those which are either vngrounded in the principles of Religion, or the vnconscionable in the practise, are fit to trauell into the [...]e miserable errours, But though Israel play the harlot, yet let not Iu­dah sinne. Come yee not to Gilgal; neither goe yee vp to Bethauen.

Sect. 21.

From the danger of corruption [Page 81] iudgement. Let vs turne our eyes to the deprauation of manners; which not seldome goes before: Apples therefore fall from the tree because they are worme-eaten, they are not worme-eaten because they fall; and, as vsually followes, Satan like the rauen first seizes vp­on the eye of vnderstanding, and then preyes freely vpon the other carcase. Wee may be bad enough at home, certainly wee are the worse for our neighbours. Old Rome was not more iealous of the Grecian and African manners, then wee haue reason to be of the Roman. It were well if wee knew our owne fashions, better if wee could keepe them. What mischiefe haue wee amongst vs that we haue not borrowed? To begin [...] at our skinne; who knowes not whence wee had the varietie of our vaine disguises? As if wee had not wit [Page 82] enough to bee foolish, vnlesse wee were taught it. These dresses be­ing constant in their mutabilitie, shew vs our masters. What is it that wee haue not learned of our neighbours, saue only to be proud good cheape? Whom would it not vexe to see how that other sexe hath learned to make Antiks and monsters of themselues? Whence came their hips to the shoulders, and their breasts to the nauell; but the one from some ill-shap't Dames of France, the other from the worse minded Curtizans of Italie? Whence else learned they to daube these mudde-walles with Apothecaries morter; and those high washes, which are so cun­ningly lickt on, that the wet nap­kin of Phryne should be deceiued? Whence the frisled and poudred bushes of their borrowed excre­ments? as if they were ashamed of [Page 83] the head of Gods making, and proud of the Tire-womans? Where learned wee that deuillish Art and practise of duell, wherein men seeke honour in bloud, and are taught the ambition of being glorious butchers of men? Where had we that luxurious delicacie in our feasts, in which the nose is no lesse pleased, then the palate; and the eye no lesse then either? where­in the piles of dishes make barri­cades against the appetite, and with a pleasing encombrance trouble an hungry guest? Where those formes of ceremonious quaffing, in which men haue lear­ned to make Gods of others, and beasts of themselues; and lose their reason whiles they pretend to doe reason? Where the lawles­nesse (mis-called freedome) of a wilde tongue, that runs, with reynes in the necke, through the [Page 84] bed-chambers of Princes, their closets, their Counsell-Tables, and spares not the very cabinet of their breasts, much lesse can bee barr'd out of the most retired se­crecie of inferiour greatnesse? Where the change of noble atten­dance, and hospitalitie, into foure wheeles, and some few butterflies? Where the Art of dishonestie in practicall Machiauelisme, in false equiuocations? Where the slight account of that filthinesse, which is but condemned as veniall, and tolerated as not vnnecessary? Where the skill of ciuill and hono­rable hypocrisie, in those formall complements, which doe neither expect beleefe from others, nor carry any from our selues? Where that vnnaturall villanie, which though it were burnt with fire and brimstone from heauen, and the ashes of it drowned in the dead [Page 85] sea, yet hath made shift to reuine, and cals for new vengeance vpon the actors? Where that close Atheisme, which secretly laughes God in the face, and thinkes it weaknesse to beleeue, wisdome to professe any religion? Where the bloudy and tragicall science of King-killing; the new diuinitie of disobedience and rebellion; with too many other euils, wherewith forraine conuersation hath indan­gered the infection of our peace. Loe here, deare Countrimen, the fruit of your idle gaddings: Better perhaps might bee had; but hee was neuer acquainted at home, that knowes not our nature to bee like vnto fire, which if there bee any infection in the roome, drawes it straight to it selfe: Or like vnto [...]et, which omitting all precious obiects, gathers vp strawes and dust. Ilanders haue beene euer in [Page 86] an ill name. Wherefore? saue only for the confluence of forrainers, which neuer come without the fraight of their nationall wicked­nesse. The experience whereof, hath moued some witty nations, both ancient and present, to shut themselues vp within their owne bounds, and to barre the enter­course of strangers, as those that thought best to content them­selues with their owne faults. A corrupt disposition, out of a natu­rall fertilitie, can both beget and conceiue euill alone; but if it bee seconded by examples, by pre­cepts, by incouragements, the Ocean it selfe hath not so much spawne, as it: In all which regards, he hath escaped well, that returnes but what hee carried; but hee is worthy of memorie, that returnes either more good, or lesse euill. Some haue come home perhaps [Page 87] more sparing, others more suttle, others more outwardly courte­ous, others more capricious, some more tongue-free, few euer better. And if themselues bee not sensible of their alterations, yet their Coun­try and the Church of God feeles and rues them.

Sect. 22.

Let mee theref [...]re haue leaue to close this discourse with a double sute, one to our Gentry; the other to supream authority; both which shall come from the bottome of an heart vnfainedly sacrificed to the common good; neither speak I words, but my very soule vnto both. To the former my suit is, that they would bee happy at home: God hath giuen vs a world of our owne, wherein there is no­thing wanting to earthly content­ment. Whither goe yee then, worthy Country-men, or what feeke yee? Heere growes that [Page 88] wealth, which yee go but to spend abroad; Heere is that sweet peace which the rest of the world ad­mires and enuies: Heere is that gracious and well-tempered go­uernment, which no nation vnder heauen may dare once offer to pa­rallell: Here all liberall Arts raigne and triumph: And for pleasure, ei­ther our earth, or our sea yeelds vs all those dainties, which their na­tiue Regions enioy but single. Lastly, heere Heauen stands open, which to many other parts is bar­red on the out-side with ignorance or mis-beleefe. And shall our wan­tonnes contemn all this bounty of God, & carry vs to seek that, which we shall find no where but behind vs, but within vs? Shall the affecta­tion of some friuolous toyes draw vs away from the fruition of those solid comforts, which are offred vs within our owne doores? How [Page 89] many of ours, whom their iust of­fence hath cast out of the bosome of their country, compare their ex­ile with death, and can scarce abide to bid that breath welcome, which they are forced to draw in a for­raine aire; and though freedome of conscience entertaine them ne­uer so liberally abroad, yet resolue either to liue or die at home; and doe wee suffer our folly to banish vs from those contentments, which they are glad to redeeme with the hazard of their blood? Are we so little in our owne books that wee can bee content to pur­chase out-landish supers [...]uities with the mis-carriage of our soules, with the danger of mis-carriage, with the likely-hood of danger? Are we so foolish, that whiles we may sweetely enjoy the settled e­state of our Primogeniture, wee will needes bring vpon our selues [Page 90] the curse of Reuben, to run abroad like water; whose quality it is, not ea [...]ily to be kept within the proper bounds? yea the curse of Cain, to put our selues from the [...]ide of Eden into the Land of Nod, that is, of demigration? None of the least im­precations, which Dauid makes a­gainst Gods enemies, is, Make them vnto like a wheele, o Lord: Motion is euer accompanied with vnquiet­nesse; and both argues, and causes imperfection, whereas the happy estate of heauen is described by rest; whose glorious spheres in the meane time, doe so perpe [...]ually moue, that they are neuer remo­ued from their places. It is not the least part either of wisdome, or happinesse, to know when wee are well. Shall we [...] not be shamelesly vnthankfull, if we cannot sing the note of that great Chorister of God, My lot is fallen to mee in a good [Page 91] ground? Hath not the munificence of God made this Iland as it were an abridgement of his whole earth, in which he hath contriued (though in a lesser letter) all the maine and materiall commodities of the greater world, and doe wee make a prison where God meant a Paradise? Enioy therefore (happy Countrimen) enioy freely God and your selues; enrich your selues with your owne min [...]s, improue those blessed opportunities which God hath giuen you, to your mu­tuall aduantage; and care not to be like any but your selues.

Sect. 23.

And if at any time these vnwor­thy papers may fall betwixt the hands of my Soueraigne Master, or any of his graue and honorable ministers of State, let the meane­nesse of so weake and obscure soli­citors presume to commend this matter to their deepest consideration; [Page 92] [...] [Page 93] [...] [Page 92] and out of an honest zeale of the common safetie, sue to them for a more strict restraint of that dangerous libertie, whereof too many are bold to carue them­selues. Who can bee ignorant of those wise and wholesome lawes, which are enacted already to this purpose? or of those carefull and iust cautions, wherewith the licen­ces of Trauell are euer limited? But what are wee the better for Gods owne lawes, without execu­tion? Or what are limits vnto the lawlesse? Good lawes are the hedges of the Common-wealth: iust dispensations are as gates, or stiles in the hedge. If euery stragler may at pleasure cast open a gap in this fence of the State, what are we the better for this quickset, then if wee lay open to the common? Who sees not how familiarly our young Recusants, immediately [Page 93] vpon their disclosing, are sent ouer for their full hatching and ma­king? Italie, Spaine, Artois, and now of late France it selfe, prouides nests, and perches, and mewes for these birds, with the same confi­dence, wherewith wee breede our owne at home; which, when they are once well acquainted with the Roman lure, are sent backe againe, fit for the prey. And as for those of our owne feather: whereas the libertie of their Trauell is bounded chiefly with this double charge; one, that they haue no conuersa­tion or conference with Iesuites, or other dangerous persons; the other, that they passe not into the dominions of the Kings enemies; both these are so [...]ommonly neg­lected, as if they were intended only for a verball formalitie, yea as if the prohibition meant to teach men what they should doe. [Page 94] Euery of our nouices hath learned to make no difference of men; and dare breathe in the poisonous aire of Italie it selfe, and touch the very pommell of the chaire of pesti­lence. It is this licentious freedome (which wee mis-call open-hearted ingenuitie) that vndoes vs. Doe wee not see the wary closenesse of our Aduersaries, which will not so much as abide one of our books (a mute solicitor) to harbour in any of their coasts? How many of the Italian or Spanish Noblesse haue wee knowne allowed to ven­ture their education in our Courts or Vniuersities? Doe they lie thus at the locke, and doe wee open our breast, and display our armes, and bid an enemie strike vs where hee list? Since then wee haue no more wit, or care, then [...]o bee willingly guiltie of our owne shame, oh that the hands of supreme authoritie [Page 95] would be pleased to locke vs with­in our owne doores, and to keepe the keyes at their owne girdle. And (to speake truth) to what purpose are those strait and capitall inhibi­tions of the returne of our factious fugitiues into th [...]s Kingdome, if whiles the wicket is shut vpon them, that they should not come to vs, the posterne be open to vs, that we may goe to them? As all intercourse is perillous, so that is most, which is by our owne pro­uocation. Here yet they dare but lurke in secret, and take only some sudden snatches at a weake prey, like vnto euening-wolues, that ne­uer walke forth but vnder the cloake of the night; but in their owne territories, they can shew the sunne their spoiles, and thinke this act worthy of garlands and trophees. Here we haue mastiues to secure our flockes: there the [Page 96] prey goes stragling alone to the mouth of their dennes, without protection, without assistance, and offers to be deuoured. Ye whom the choice of God hath made the great Shepheards of his people, whose charge it is to feed them by gouernment, suffer not their sim­plicitie to betray their liues vnto the fangs of these cruell beasts; but chase them home rather, from the wilfull search of their owne perdi­tion, and shut them vp together in your strong and spacious folds, that they may be at once safe, and yee glorious.

Sect. 24.

Lastly, for those, whom ne­cessary occasions draw forth of their owne coasts (that wee may haue done with those, which like foolish Papists goe on pilgrimage to see another blocke better dres­sed then that at home) let mee say to them, as Simeon that propheticall [Page 97] Monke said to the pillers which hee whipped before the Earth-quake, Stand fast, for yee shall be shaken. And therefore, as the Crane, when shee is to flie against an high winde, doth ballace her selfe with stones in her bill, that shee may cut the aire with more steddinesse; so let them carefully fore-instruct, and poise themselues with the sound know­ledge of the principles of religion, that they may not bee carried about with euery winde of do­ctrine. Whereto if they adde but those lessons, which they are taught by the State, in their letters of passage, there may be hope, they shall bring backe the same soules they carried. It was at least an in­clination to a fall, that Eue tooke boldnesse to hold chat with the Serpent. And as subtill Lawyers desire no more aduantage in the [Page 98] quarrell, which they would picke at conueyances, then many words, so neither doe our Aduersaries. Whiles our eares are open, and our tongues free, they will hope well of our very denials. Errour is cra [...]tie, and out of the power of his Rhetoricall insinuations, oft­times carries away probabilitie from truth. I remember in that fa­mous Embassie of the three Philo­sophers, which Athens sent to Rome, Critolaus, Diogenes, and Car­neades, there falling out many oc­casions of discourse, wise Cato per­swaded the Senate to a speedie dis­mission of those (otherwise wel­come) guests; because (said hee) whiles Carneades disputes, scarce any man can di [...]cerne which is the truth. There is more danger of these spirituall Sophisters, by how much the businesse is more impor­tant, and their subtiltie greater. Let [Page 99] our passenger therefore (as that wise Grecian serued his fellowes) stop vp his eares with waxe against these Syrens. Our Sauiour would not giue Satan audience euen whiles hee spake true; because hee knew that truth was but to coun­tenance errour. There is euer true corne strowed vnder a pit-fall: those cares are full and weightie, which wee dresse with lime to de­ceiue the poore birds in a snow. No fisher lets downe an emptie hooke, but clothed with a proper and pleasing bait. These impostors haue no other errand, but deceit. If he loue himselfe, let him bee afraid of their fauours, and thinke their frownes safer then their smiles. And if at any time (as no flie is more importunate) they thrust themselues into his conuer­sation, let him (as those which must necessarily passe by a carrion [Page 100] in the way) hold his breath, and hasten to be out of their aire. And if they yet follow him in his flight, let him turne backe to them with the Angels farewell, Increpet te Dominus.