CERTAINE VERSES WRITTEN VPON CORYATS CRVDITIES, WHICH SHOVLD Haue beene Printed with the other Panegyricke lines, but then were vpon some occasions omitted, and now communicated to the WORLD.
Incipit Ben. Ionson.
To the London Reader, on the
Odcombian writer, Polytopian
Thomas the Traueller.
WHO euer he be, would write a Story at
The height, let him learne of Mr.
Tom Coryate;
VVho, because his matter in all should be meete,
To his strēgth, hath measur'd it out with his feet.
And that, say Philosophers, is the best modell.
Yet who could haue hit on't but the wise noddell
Of our
Odcombian, that literate Elfe?
To line out no stride, but pas'd by himselfe?
And allow you for each particular mile,
By the
[...]cale of his booke, a yard of his stile?
VVhich, vnto all Ages, for his will be knowne,
Since he treads in no other Mans steps but his owne,
And that you may see he most luckily ment
To write it with the selfe same spirit he went,
[Page]He sayes to the world, let any man mend it,
In fiue monthes he went it, in fiue monthes he pend it.
But who will beleeue this, that chanceth to looke
The Mappe of his iourney, and sees in his booke,
France, Sauoy, Italy, and Heluetia,
The Low-countries, Germany, and Rhetia
There nam'd to be trauell'd? For this our
Tom saith:
Pies on't, you haue his historicall faith.
Each leafe of his iournall, and line doth vnlocke,
The truth of his heart there, and tell's what a clocke
He went out at each place, and at what he came in,
How long he did stay, at what signe he did
[...]nne.
Besides he tried Ship, Cart, Waggon, and Chayre
Horse,
[...]oote, and all but flying in the ayre:
And therefore how euer the trauelling nation,
Or builders of Story haue oft imputation
Of lying, he feares so much the reproofe
Of his foote, or his penne, his braine or his hoofe,
That he dares to informe you, but somewhat meticulous
How scabbed, how ragged, and how pediculous
He was in his trauaile, how like to be beaten,
For grapes he had gather'd, before they were eaten.
How faine for his venery he was to crie
(Tergum ò)
And lay in straw with the horses at Bergamo,
How well, and how often his shoes too were mended,
That sacred to
Odcombe are now there suspended,
I meane that one paire, where with he so hobled
From Venice to Flushing, were not they well cobled?
Yes. And thanks God in his Pistle or his Booke
How many learned men he haue drawne with his booke
Of Latine and Greeke, to his friendship. And seuen
He there doth protest he saw of the eleuen.
Nay more in his wardrobe, if you will laugh at a
Iest, he saies,
Item one sute of blacke taffata
Except a dublet, and bought of the Iewes:
So that not them, his scabbes, lice, or the stewes,
[Page]Or any thing else that another should hide,
Doth he once dissemble, but tels he did ride
In a Cart twixt Montrell and Abbeuile.
And being at Flushing enforced to feele
Some want, they say in a sort he did craue:
I writ he onely his taile there did waue;
VVhich he not denies. Now being so free,
Poore
Tom haue we cause to suspect iust thee?
No: as I first said, who would write a story at
The height, let him learne of Mr.
Tom Coryate.
Explicit Ben. Ionson.
Incipit Iohannes à Grandi-Bosco.
THE Orbs
Almutez of this age haue bene
(Beam'd with the gracefull light of heauens Queene)
Ascending
Stilbon in his doubled house,
Sweete
Aphrodite, and he that slew the
Nempe Apollo Smintheus.
Mouse.Yee Germane wits,
Hence, Smith, and
Noortwicks Lord,
Lipsy, and
Hortisbon, you can affoord
(Of
Rome and
Athens you two paragers)
Mee testimony, and the
Scaligers.
VVith, what all you through negligence omitted:
This English
Ilerma hath vs now befitted;
VVho
[...]
Vnto whose praise no Muse that euer said no!
No more shall mine. A happy
Alluding to that of
Pindar. Olymp.
[...] neuer fitting so literally as the authers shoe (perserued like
Epins
[...]nideum. Corium,) fits it.
foote had hee
In shoe, that
Lunata planta in
Martial, and that of
Iuuenal Sat.7.
Appositam more lunans subtexit alut
[...]e: Witnesse that the Romane nobility, and of the best sort had their
Crescents on their shoes expressing a
C. the single for our Authors name.
Lunatique most sure had bee
In Antique
Rome, when iudgement both and guerdon
Concurr'd: his like, fore
Ioue, was neuer heard on.
[Page]And
Somerset, hereafter
Odcombe steeple
Shall be
Tom's Pyram: nay all
Odcombe people
No more in him that from the
[...]Baron of
Odcombe,
[...].
Heath was nam'd,
But him, that all his country-men hath sham'd
In's worth and wit, shall now for euer vaunt them:
Eternally thy
Manes too shall haunt them,
Till with lustration they haue explane,
The non-supply of thy wants
Coryate.
Compar'd by many th'are to
Odysscus,
Were not comparisons too odious:
I could compare
Th
[...]ssalian Apulee,
Thou
[...] Anacreon.
Ros
[...] loode deseru'st as well as hee.
I could compare? alas I find no such
In him, in the
Ithaqu
[...], Cesar, nor so much
Of others praise as thou hast tane; both Muse
Do sing thy name, and merry
Cornamuse.
That smothred name these Calends new broke out,
With trumpet summons vs from all about,
As 'twere to do
[...] were
[...] Mart. wherein such as had bene faulty in
Fornacalia, did their deuoires (as the multitude of braue spirits do now at this feast, to preuent weake stomacks from reiection of Crudities
[...]
[...]eslus.
Quirinus sacrifice,
Too long omitted; now thy Frontispice
Pictures that feast; the Muses it deferr'd
For thy desert. Well ere thou be enterr'd,
The Beames in Court reflecting from thy plaine
(There as a mirrour shalt thou be
[...]bsern'd)
Shall make
Castilio's trauelling abstaine,
Hopelesse to haue the palme thou hast deseru'd,
Or hopelesse haue it. Thy example
Tom,
VVill cause our
sharpest
[...]
Han desperate of equalling him.
heads to stay at home.
Explicit Ioannes à Grandi-Bosco.
Incipit N. T.
Certaine Anacreonticke verses praeambulatory to the most ambulatorie Odcombian Traueller.
COryate, Coryate,
Though it was my hard fate,
Not to know thy decre pate,
Before it was too late
To sing thy praises:
Yet now I'le call a Muse,
(Which of them thou shalt chuse)
To sing thee and thy shoes,
VVhich Fame vp-raises.
No Muse of the Horse hoof'd-spring,
Because thou had'st no such thing
As a Horse, but on foot did'st bring
Thy selfe and thy wit too.
Whēce thou sawest not
The statue of
Iupiter being found in Rome was set vp for the image of
S. Peter, the keyes beeing put into his hand in steede of the thunder-bolt: as it is there now to be seene.
Ioue like a Pope,
Nor
Dian's vaile made a Cope,
Nor to
Loretto crope.
Nor the goddesse
Cotytto
(Yet madest gobled Crudities,
Or cobled rudities:
O how well brued it is
For the trauelling members!
VVith wise Obseruations
Of seuerall nations,
And rare indagations
Rak'd out of th'embers.
But thou wilt see e're long
[Page]Whether Romes walles be strong,
Or may be sack'd by a throng
Of warlike Brittons.
Yet sure thou need'st not goe
To coasts or countries moe,
New fashions for to know,
Vnfit or fit ones.
For thy Businesse-face who lookes o're,
VVill say, thou now trauel'st more
VVith thy wit then thy feete before,
Floreat, Floreat.
In nobile mobile Par Calceorum Th. Coryati
T'Is you alone O cobled shoes,
That caused haue these much a-does.
You haue bin sung by many a Poet,
And your good Master would haue moe yet.
T'is not his sayling to strange lands,
From Douer cliffes to Cahee sands,
That makes his iourney so admired:
By you alone all braines are fired.
A Most trauellers those countries see,
And haddocks feede as well as hee.
B Many thousands ride in wagons,
VVhose foremen make them goe like dragons.
E Most of your trauelling members know
VVhat doth belong to a Gondalo.
G And some I thinke all ages knew,
That scaped fairly from the Iew.
H And some for stealing grapes of yore
Haue bene like threatned by a Bore.
I To Beggars t'is no new deuice
To hang vp ragges from whence drop lice.
M And many ostlers doe (I tro
N)
With horses lie at Bergamo.
If this be so, what's then the newes?
Onely the story of his shoes.
O shoes, no shoes, but monstrous leather,
Inchanted aganst winde and weather!
Not made of any common hide,
But of one necromantifide
Of some Oxe-hide in Styx long drenched,
Or that had some
A warlike engine otherwise called a Mortar, vsually quenched with wet Hides.
Granada quenched.
At least (of lice he was so full)
Of some rebellious Irish Bull.
Or if that their Antiquitie
Require a further pedegree;
Perchance (they were so louing fellowes)
That they were made of
Vulcan's bellowes.
Or of that leather bag I find in
Homer, Vlysses kept the wind in.
Sure I am they were so patch'd
With
Theseus ship they may be match'd,
Of whch a doubt at length did grow
Whether it were the same or no.
Had they endured more thinke you,
Had they bin worne by a Perdu?
Or if they heretofore had bin
Made for some wandring Capuchin?
So might they haue prou'd sandale shoone,
And lasted more by many a Moone.
Yet was it well I needs must say,
They lasted fiue moneths on the way.
Though they can now no more be mended,
Yet may their praise; else God defend it.
Great pitie 'twas they brake in sunder
Before they had made a nine monthes wonder.
Quòd se necauit
Seneca si nomen tulit:
Coryate tutè nomen à coriotenes.
De futuris eiusdem T. C. Peregrinationibus infinitis.
NOui qui peregrè totum propè circuit orbem,
Stultifer âque domum naue reucctus erat.
Non
Thomas sic noster: is omne quod hactenùs egit,
Nimirùm pedibus penè peregit iter.
At nunc longinquas solers scrutabitur oras,
Et quae diuer so, littora, sole calent.
Romanam nihil est vrbem, Papam
(que) videre,
Anglos saepè videt Roma, videre cupit.
Pendens arte tuum viset
(Mahomete) sepulchrum,
Vel Monacho instructus fraude dolo
(que) magis.
Incensus Zelo Solymas rimabitur ipsas,
Ex tot reliquijs si quid adbûc veliqui est.
Et Christum quoniam agnoscit Prestera Iohannem
Inuiset
Thomas, & (si opus) erudict.
Lunae cultores, Persas, & Solis adibit,
Et
Sophi ipsorum, sed magìs ipse
Sophos.
Laetemur tantis eius conatibus omnes,
Ille typis rediens omnia, nempe, dabit.
Mactc esto
Coryate: peregrinantior (opto)
Sit fortunatus Spiritus iste tibi.
Non solùm Antipodes: ipsas, audentior, vmbras
Si potes infernas vise: reuise tuos.
Si chartis demùm mandes quid agatur in Orco,
Tu peregrinator solus in orbe clues.
Explicit N. T.
Incipit Laurentius Whitaker.
(The ensuing verses of these three Authors were made since my booke of Crudities came forth.)
Course Musicke plaid vpon the Odcombian Hoboy, to attend the second course of Coryats Coleworts, and dittied to the most melodious Comicall ayre, borne and brought vp in the Septentrionall suburbs, which the vulgar call, The Punks delight.
[...] VAile bonnet ijgging Festiuals, of Brittish land
[...] and others, you proudest Tuscan Carniuals, and yee
[...] French Bals their brother: Dutch
A most ingenious sport vsed in the low Countries by Citizēs, where in they vse shooting with Crosbowes at a thing made like a Geay.
Pappigcay, and
A kind of drunkē Dutch
[...]aire held on Sundaies and holidaies in afternoones in Sommer time, both note
[...] vnhappily omitted in the Authors text, which is their proper place.
Carmas gay,
[...] in season after Easter, with Frow and Punke,
[...] All reeling drunke, both Boore and Burgomaster.
YEe Churchales, and ye Morresses,
VVith Hobby-horse aduancing,
Ye Round-games with fine
Sim and
Sis,
About the Maypole dancing;
That with red points,
And ribands tricke the Bridall,
Looke vp your pumpes,
And rest your stumpes,
For you are now downe cri'd all.
Your Coryphee, great
Coryate,
The
The Corybants were certaine mad Priests, and had their names of
[...] of going vpon their heads (which sometimes they vsed: a terme not vnproper to our Author, because he in going vpon his feete, went truly vpon his head also, for he went vpon that which contained his wit, and conueyed to him the matter of his obseruations.
Corybant of
Odcombe,Now crested hath his witty pate
With no mad but a sad combe
Of Doctorship,
Viz at the Vniuersitie of Royston, wher he proceeded a Caelarean Doctor.
And will not trippe
To Market Crosse, or Alehouse,
But hath bene made
More sage and stayd,
By th'Oracles of a
Our Author being a Graecian, would needs vary from the Troians, therefore whereas they in their trauails receiued an Oracle from the knawing of Mice (as the knowing Author well knowes the story,
[...] he would needs haue an Oracle also but from the biting of smaller.
louse:
A learned louse at Heidelberg
That bad him fall to writing,
Which came to him from
Viz. in an old paire of shockings which a Prussian of Koningsberg gaue him, wherein inhabited some or aculous v
[...]rmine.
Koningsberg,To warne him of the biting.
Of his vile crew.
Which to eschew,
And put him into clothes,
He must to Court,
Write and make sport,
So now he hath done both these.
Then waile not
Odcombe for thy losse,
Though
Coryate be remoued,
[Page]His triumphs acted on thy Crosse,
Are in Pauls-yard approued.
Nay all pastimes
Nam'd in my rimes,
Shall stoope to
Odcombes standish,
Which makes more glee
Then any three
Of English or outlandish.
An Encomiasticke scrap or fragment throwen by a charitable hand into this new Bing or Almesbasket made by the Author to receiue the Relicks of the Crudities; which fragment is quicke, for though it creepes not, yet it thus speakes to the Author.
AS at graue Senate-feasts begun with beefe & mustard,
Ended with Pippin-pies, with Florentine and Custard,
The courser off all is i'th' hole of the Almes basket
By officers laid close, till suters come and aske it;
So in thy Pilgrime feast of lushious Crudities
Dishes of biting beasts, and shirtlesse Nudities,
Some Panegyricke scraps of Court and countrey speeches,
(Which whilom thou wert wont to shew out of thy breches
And with tough Crudities could hardly be digested)
Be in th' Almes-basket now of new Calues-skin inuested:
Which dry meat none cācal; for ther's one scrap a moist one
The shel fill'd with May dew, thou didst present at Royston.
Yet not thy feasts nor scraps are made much to be tasted,
Nor shall their Title leaues on doores or posts be pasted,
But as brown pasts hard bak't fil roome, & few do tast them,
So hauing ta'ne thy books, & in some odroome plac't thē,
Let gentle gallants work their wils: ne're aske thou whether
They haue ta'ne paines to reade or tast of both or either.
Explicit Laurentius Whitakerus.
Incipit Richer for bookes.
Obserue Reader that the worthy Gentleman which is the Author of these verses, and who graced me with singular lines vpon my Crudities, euen as good as any vpon my booke, doth for certaine considerations conceale his name and his time, and in steede thereof expresseth onely an Anagramme of it, euen that before named.
To the most notable Tom Coryate, the very Primrose of the Authors of this present yeare 1611. (the sawcy Almanacke-maker onely excepted.)
IF, who flie praise, praise onely follow those,
How got you so much
Tom? that write in prose,
To be set out in verse, and made so deere
As Cookes with dainty sawce make homely cheere?
But well, since your great worke set forth of late,
Hath made you famous vnto euery state:
Of these small gleanings let no more be said,
But if the like of them were neuer made,
Nor neuer shall by any mortall braine,
That is not weight with yours iust to a graine.
Againe to the most royall Phoenix Doctor, and fluent Orator. M.T.C.
YOu haue Harangued in English,
Tom, so fully,
That men doe parallele you now with
Tully.
And
M.T.C. which his name signifie,
As aptly to your name they now apply.
[Page]See see, in placing letters you do sweat,
And letters doe conspire to make you great.
As silliest Troian fighting with
Achilles,
To your braue answer, so your foe-mans bill is;
For there was neuer found in paper scrolles,
Nor yet in close or patent Parchment Rolles
Any like yours, it may be a precedent
To all your Clarkes of Christendome and Kent.
O happiest child of Winchester aliue,
Thence leapt out Doctor by Prerogatiue.
Explicit in Anagram Richer for Bookes.
Incipit Antonius Washborne.
SInce Doctor
Coryates Crudities came forth
Parboyled in his Oratory broth,
Since these Orations in
Tom Odcombes braine pan
Decocted were, what lyricke tongue refraine can
To taste his pickeld wit, and pandred art,
Seene and allow'd in Citie, Court, and
I meane in the country.
Cart?
Till now no Orator arose like Best
That ere declaimde at Coach-booh, boate, or feast,
Till now no traueller allowd to lie and cogge
Did euer write a booke worth casting at a dogge.
Explicit Antonius Washborne.
Incipit William Rich.
William Rich of the middle Temple, in the commendation of (his learned country-man) Mr. Thomas Coryate of Odcombe, both Traueller
[...] and Orator.
WOnderfull
Coryate, that bring'st two impressions
Sooner to vs, then Time two quarter-Sessions,
That writ'st as thou hast trauell'd, with such speed
As hackney horses, hounds, or hunters feed:
That writ'st and trauell'st, as there were a strife
Betweene thy hands and feete for death or life.
VVell did high
Odcombe boast her pride of thee
VVhen thou to
Euill went'st in iollity,
And led'st an army forth with bowes and gunnes
To swill their VVhitson-Ale, and cracke their Bunnes,
VVhere thou, on Crosse aduanc'd, didst spend more wit,
Then man would thinke thou couldst recouer yet.
But thou hast more, though much of the same mint
Men here may reade, and wonder at, in print.
VVhat will they say, when with thy
Crudities
Thy twise boild Colewort here shall simpathize,
And the great vnbegotten (God knowes what)
VVhich thou wilt bring vs next, that, yet, is at
The farre
Ierusalem, all in one volume?
They cannot chuse but then erect a columne,
[...] trauels Trophaees shall be hung
[...] thy workes in Ballades sung.
Explicit Guiliclmus Rich.
CERTAINE ORATIONS PRONOVNCED BY THE AVTHOR OF THE CRVDITIES, TO THE KING QVEENE, PRINCE, LADY ELIZABETH, AND THE DVKE OF Yorke, at the deliuerie of his Booke to each of them.
This Oration following was pronounced to the Prince in the Priuie Chamber at S.
Iames vpon Easter Munday last, betweene sixe and seuen of the Clocke in the afternoone.
MOst scintillant
Phosphorus of our Brittish
This was the ancient name of
Sicily, so called,
Quasi
[...] that is, hauing three promontories, namely
Pelorus, Pachynus, and
Lilybaeum. As for our Brittish Iland, I therefore call it Tri
[...]cria, because it hath three Promontories also
[...]s
[...] had, viz. That of
[...] in
[...]
[...]ll. Kant
[...]um in the East, euen in that part which we commonly call Kent, and
[...] or
O
[...]ss in the
[...] part of
S
[...]alland. Con
[...]en in
[...].
Trinacria, Euen as the Christalline deaw, that is exhaled vp into the ayre out of the cauernes & spungie pores of the succulent Earth, doeth by his
[Page] distillation descend, and disperse it selfe againe vpon the spacious superficies of his mother
Earth, and so consequently fecundate the same with his bountifull irrigation: So I a poore vapour composed of drops, partly naturall, partly literall, partly experimentall, hauing had my generation within the liquid Wals of this farre-decantated Iland, being drawen vp by the strength of my hungrie and high reaching desire of Trauell, and as it were craned vp with the whirling wheele of my longing appetite to suruey exoticke Regions, haue beene hoysed to the altitude of the remote climats of France, Sauoy, Italy, Rhetia, Heluetia, Alemannie, and the Netherlands; and being there in a maner inuolued for a time in the sweatie and humid clouds of industrie capitall, digitall, and pedestriall, did distend the bottle of my braine with the most delectable liquor of Obseruation, which I now vent and showre downe vpon the yong and tender Plants sprouting out of the same earth from the which like a poore Mushrome,
[Page] I first ascended. With this May dew of my
Crude collections (May I may well call it, because in May I first vndertooke my Iourney) I haue now filled this new-laide Egge-shell, not doubting of the like effect in your Highnesse the radiant Sunne of our English Hemispheare, that the great Phaebean. Lampe hath ouer a naturall Egge-shel produced by a checkling Henne, and filled with the Pearly iuyce of the watry cloudes, which is to eleuate it to a farre more eminent height then its owne desert can mount it vnto, and so by your Gracious irradiation to make it conspicuous and illustrious. Yes, (which is more) I wish that by the auspicious obumbration of your Princely wings, this sencelesse
Shell may prooue a liuely Birde, whose bill with length & strength may reach and peake the very Mountaines of Arabia, and there nestle, increase and ingender, and so breede more Birds of the same feather that may in future time bee presented as nouelties vnto your heroycall protection. In
[Page] the meane time receiue into your indulgent hand (I most humbly beseech your Highnesse) this tender feathered
Because the Booke was bound in Crimson Veluet.
Red-breast. Let his Cage be your Highnesse studie, his pearch your Princely hand, by the support whereof, hee may learne to chirp and sing so lowde, that the sweetnesse of his notes may yeeld a delectable resonancie
Vltra Garamantas & Indos.
TO THE KING IN THE CHAMBER OF PRESENCE AT ROYSTON THE SECOND Day of Aprill being Tuesday, about eleuen of the Clocke in the Morning.
IT were no maruaile if the like should happen vnto me (most inuincible Monarch of this thrise renowned
Not
Quasi
[...] but
Quasi Al be one in regard of the happie Vnion of
England & Scotland
Albion, and the refulgent Carbuncle of Christendome) speaking vnto your most Excellent Maiestie that did once to
Demosthenes that thunder-bolt of Athens, when he spake to
Philip King of Macedone, euen to bee as mute as a Seriphian Frogge, or an Acanthian Grashopper; since the very Characters
[Page] imprinted in the forehead of a King are able to appall the most confident Orator that euer spake, much more my selfe the meanest Orator in your Maiesties Kingdome, whom if I should compare to a Frogge as hauing crawlen many leagues by water, or to a Grashopper as hauing hopped many miles by land, why should I wonder if by the gracious aspect of your resplendent Excellencie, words, speeches, and Orations should be drawen from me, since by the very inarticulate sound of
Amphions Harpe, stockes and stones, mountaines and valleyes were said to daunce Lauoltoes and Roundelayes? But what talke I of ayrie speeches? Why doe I mention expatiating Orations? The Persians (as the auncient Historians doe make vs beleeue) were wont to present their Kings with reall gifts and anniuersarie oblations. I being no Persian borne, but intending er long by the propicious indulgence of the celestiall powers to bee borne vpon Persian ground, do offer vnto your Maiestie a farregrowne
[Page] bnt a home spunne present, made indeede of course Wooll, but plucked from the backes of the glorious Palaces, the lostie cloud-threatning towers and decrepit mountaines of
France, Sauoy, Italy, Rhetia, Heluetia, Alemannie, and the
Netherlands; spunne into a threed by the wheele of my braine, the spindle of my Penne, and the Oyle of my industrie in my natiue Cell of Odcombe in the County of Somerset, and now wouen into a piece of
Rawe cloth in the Printers Presse of the most famigerated Citie of London. The lists of this Cloth are the Verses at both the ends of my Booke. In the beginning whereof some of the most singular and selected wits of your Maiesties triangular Monarchie doe combate in the listes of
Helicon and
Parnassus; and in the end my Fathers Ghost alone doeth diuerberate the enthusiasticke ayre of Pierian poesie. But I glory not so much in imitating the Persian vassals, as in following the trace of our English Marchants, who returning from forraine
[Page] and remote Nauigations, doe bring home in their Vessels many vncouth and transmarine commodities; but herein I differ from them. For they bring home their rarities in their Ships. But I haue brought home my Ship and her farre-fetched lading in My-selfe. My Ship (My dread Soueraigne) is my Booke, which I brought home swimming in the liquid Ocean of my braine. Shee is now rigged, and trimmed, and ready to hoyse Sayle; your Maiesties fauour will be vnto it both like a pleasant gale of wind in the Poupe to make it beare Sayle, and like a wel-fenced docke and secure hauen of tranquillitie, where shee may ride at Anchour in a Halcedonian calme, and shoote off her Ordinance against the Criticall Pirates and malignant Zoiles that scowre the surging Seas of this vaste Vniuerse.
AN OTHER ORATION MADE TO THE SAME THE TWENTIETH OF MAY LAST Past at Saint Iames, concerning the Election and Installment of him into the thriseNoble and illustrious order of the Knights of the Garter.
AS those representatiue beastes of Woode and Stone carued by the curious hand of
Daedaloꝰ statuaries, and layd vnder the magnificent concamerations of Churches and Palaces, doe seeme grieuously pressed and crushed vnder that massie fabricke which is imposed vpon them; or as that laborious
[Page] Porter, whose brawnie shoulders like a hard paued Cawsie giue gentle passage to all ponderous Trunkes and Cloke-bagges, doeth groane vnder the presse of his cumbersome carriage, and is forced to send foorth in sweat the liquid superfluities of his porous carkasse. So the poore carkasse of my crased braine hauing lately disburdened it selfe of the plumbeous weight of my elaborate
Crudities, doth now as it were groane vnder this heauie and close-bound loade laide vpon it by your Grace; bound not with Cordes or Ropes, but with a
Garter, that
Royall Garter which so decently and gracefully enuironeth the
Left Legge of your
Right Gracious Person. This
Garter hauing held the sinewes of my braines fast tyed, your Graces commaund hath beene the launcing instrument to make the bloud thereof, which is my inuention, to spirt and spinne out in these muddie streames; and this preponderating burden hath squeezed out of mee poore
Coryate, as out of the Porters
Corium,
[Page] these sweatie distillations of my fatigated braines; which distillations I haue measured out into three Bottles or Gallipots, and for orders sake (because I am to speake of an Order) haue thus ranked and collocated. In the first shall bee put the Etymologie of the most famigerated and farre decantated word of
Garter; In the second, the memorable foundation of this magnificent Order; In the third, the resplendent dignitie of the illustrious Knights and companions of it. For the Etymologie, I may fetch it out of the French or out of the Greeke. In the French (as those that are intelligent in the language haue informed me) it may seeme to bee fetched from the word
Garroter, which is, to fetter or manacle, emblematically implying that it fettereth, chaineth, and linketh together all the associates of it in loue amongst themselues, and in loyaltie to their Prince. In my second Etymologie borrowed from the Greeke idiome, I may call it
Garter, quasi Carter, of
[...] signifying the head, and
[...]
[Page] to preserue; because that as an ordinarie garter bound about the head of any plebeian when he would giue his members repose, mitigateth the ach of the head, and maketh him sleepe in case and quiet; So this Regall
Garter making as it were a circle in the persons of the circumstant noble Subiects that be of this sublimious societie, doth euen inring, colligate, and bind close the head of his most Excellent Maiestie, and the temples of his head, which are the Splendidious Prince his Highnesse and your Gracious selfe, to giue you all
‘—Tranquillam & placidam per membra quietem.’ And thus haue I euacuated the first Bottle of my distillation. In my second infusion I promised the first institution and primarie foundation of this nobilitated Societie, and that was at the famous Citie of Burdeaux in France by that most renowned King
EDVVARD the third, who hauing first trampled vpon the French
Floure de Luces with the English Lyons, hath made euer since
[Page] the one to rampe and stampe, the other to bee nourished and flourished in the same field or Co
[...]te of Armes. The yeere was 1348. So that it may for venerable antiquitie hold his ranke aboue all the Orders of Christendome, aboue that of the Annunciada of Sauoy, of the Golden Fleece of Burgundie, of the Alcantares or Calatrauaes of Spaine, or of that of Saint Michael, or of the Holy Ghost in France: And for that of Saint Michael the reason is most euident and eminent, because French Saint Michael doeth but on foote like a Pedant trample vpon his Dragon. But English Saint George doeth on Horse-backe like a Caualier pessundate a Dragon no lesse direfull then the other. And this is the liquor of my second Bottle. For my last infusion, it shall not neede any curious sublimation or extraction, to make the persume odoriferous. The whole Europaean Territorie is abundantly possessed with the renowne and
Splendor of this Princely Order. What Prince is so illustrious, what
[Page] Potentate so potent, what Monarch so highcrested, that doeth not esteeme his Celsitude conspicuously signified, his Maiestie Royally dignified, and his Sublimitie gloriously magnified by being condignely qualified with the resplendent honour of the English
Garter? To be silent of the rest of the Heroical Nobilitie of this our Iland that either haue bene aunciently possessed, or bee now recently inuested into it (betwixt whose persons and their Order there is a reciprocall contribution of honour and dignitie, they nobilitating their Order, and their Order them) if nothing else were added to make it transcendently Noble, it had enough of this that your Graces Princely Legge is inringed in the
Garter, your Honoured shoulders inuironed with the Collar, and your Noble breast condecorated with the rich Image of worthy Saint
George on Horsebacke. Vnto which most magnificent societie though my poore selfe can not giue a nights lodging to a thought so ambitious as to aspire to; my trauelling
[Page] Legges being kept to their vocation with Garters of an other kind, and my bitten and beaten shoulders being destinated to Collars of a different matter; yet haue I this day shewed my dewe affection to doe seruice to that Noble societie, and principally to your thrise-noble Grace, as a beggarly Alchymist, a fragrant Apothecarie, or an honest Yeoman of the Bottles; all which Bottles hauing now emptied, I will here stoppe both them and mine owne speech, and conclude with that Loyall, ancient, elegant, and to this purpose pertinent apprecation, Saint George for England, Saint Denis for France, Sing
Hony soit qui mal y pense.
AN INTRODVCTION TO THE ORATIONS ENSVING, VVHEREIN IS DECLAred the occasion of the first making of the said Orations.
IT hapned in the yeare 1606. that the Church stocke of my natalitiall Parish of
Odcombe being exhausted & spent sauing sixteene shillings, some of my friends of the Parish, amongst the rest the Church wardens sollicited me to set abroach my wits, and inuent some conceited and plausible matter, to the end to draw some great company of good fellowes together for the benefit of our Church of
Odcombe, seeing they knew that I was well acquainted in the countrye. Hereupon I resolued to muster vp out of the Parish one hundred choise and ablemen, as were fit to beare armes in the field, and by a time limited, euen the VVhitsonday following about sixe of the clocke in the morning appointed them to meete me at
Odcombe Crosse. VVhich
[Page] they did according to my appointment, being furnished with conuenient munition for a kinde of warfare. For some of them had muskets, others Caliuers, some Partizans, some Halberts, with diuersity of other weapons. Likewise we had good Martiall Musicke and military officers. I my selfe being their Captaine, was mounted vpon a goodly milk-white steed, vnto whom that verse of
Virgil which he made vpon Queene
Didoes horse, might be well applied.
‘Stat Sonipes, ac frae na ferox Spumantia mandit.’ And hauing put my whole centurie into a conuenient order, marched forward with them towards the towne of Euill three miles distant from
Odcombe, being met by the way by the Oppidanes of
Euill, that consisted of two cohorts, one Masculine & another Faeminine, which incountred vs like a company of Amazones, & aftert here had bene some two or three volleyes of shot discharged on both sides with a prettie kinde of velitation or light skirmish, we descended a hill called Henford, and entred the towne. In the market place whereof nere to the Crosse, wee had one skirmish more, but vmbraticall and imaginarie. Then I ascended an eminent and conspicious place about the Crosse, where was erected a kind of Canopy, vnder the which I aduanded my selfe alone, and after the warlike Musicke was ended, hauing two or three times brandished my nakedsword, I spake this Oration following to the
Euillians,
[Page] and at the least two thousand people more, that then flocked together to the towne of
Euill from many parishes of the countrie round about.
FRiends and Confoederates, if ye maruaile for what cause we
Odcombians onely of all your other neighbours whatsoeuer ye haue bordering about your towne, doe no lesse valiantly then volunta
[...]ly present our selues in this military manner, according to the forme of martiall discipline before the face of your whole towne, and your fraternities: I will alledge two causes why ye ought to pardon our boldnesse in this behalfe. First, because I that am chosen to be their Generall Captaine, haue euer from mine infancy borne that loue to your towne, that I thought good at this present to make an apparant demonstration thereof by some extraordinary action; being also the principall animator of my whole band of soldiers to ioyne their hands, their hearts and their purses with me for the accomplishment of this my resolued proiect. Secondly, because although we are come vnto you with martiall
[Page] instruments, yet not with a martiall resolution to inuade the precincts of your incorporation by force of armes, to brandish our glittering and refulgent swords after a terrible and warlike sort against you, to bereaue you of your ancient priuiledges and immunities, to ransacke your houses and your goods, to subuert your whole estates, to lade our selues with the rich spoyles of conquered enemies, to put some as obstinate and stiffe-necked rebels to the furious and irrelenting di
[...]t of our swords, to embrace others with the ar...es of mercy that shall humbly submit themselues into our hands, and after to carry them away into most lamentable captiuity. These matters (deare Consederates) we neuer as much as harboured in our thoughts; much lesse intended to put any such hostility in execution. But verily we are come vnto you for a contrary purpose, namely, to offer our selues euen of our owne accords vnto you in a league of friendship, yea such a league, the like whereof made betwixt vs
Odcombians and you
Euillians, neither antiquity hath recorded, nor the time wherein wee liue hath seene, nor succeeding ages could haue hoped for, had not we
Odcombians at this present out of the sincere affection we beare you, sued vnto you for this confederacy. Moreouer we are come vnto you for another cause, which is very honest and
[Page] religious: for we determine to spend our money with you for the benefit of your Church, hoping yea most earnestly crauing to receiue the like curtesie againe at your hands for our Church of
Odcombe. But before I vse any further speeches vnto you concerning the confirming of this foresaid league of friendship, I resolue, by way of preuention, or preoccupation, to communicate my slender opinion into you concerning the lawfull vse of that, for the which we are now assembled, I meane Church ales; least any captious and carping wits should deem that we haue intruded our selues into your liberties, as a very disorderly and confused crew, rather to giue some cause of offence, then to benefit your Church. Therefore to the end I may illustrate this present matter by relating examples of solemnities vsed in ancient ages, vnto some whereof our Church-ales may (in my opinion) be very fitly compared, I will exemplyfie some few. The ancients celebrated solemne meetings at certaine times of the yeare for their pastimes and recreations, as the Romanes had their seueral
These feasts are treated of at large by su
[...] drie ancient Romane writers as
Liuie, Varro, Macrebius, Gellius, &c. feasts, whereof some were called
Bacchanalia or
Dionysia, some
Saturnalia, some
Agonalia, some
Lupercalia, & some others
Amberualia, with innumerable more that were ordained for sūdrie purposes. Likewise the Atheniās had their
[...]ocrales thereof wrote an Oration.
Panathenea, & their
Thesmophoria. The Thebans
[Page] their
Xenop.histo.Graca.i.b.5.
Aphrodisia, and their
Trietericall Orgia celebrated euery third yeare vpon
Cithaeron a mountaine of Boeotia. The Corinthians their
Xmop.in orat.de A
[...]esilao.
Hyacinthia. The Lacedemonians their
Xenop histo G
[...] act. lib.5.Plut.in Lyeur.
Phiditia, inuented by their famous lawgiuer
Lycurgus, and so called from the Greeke word
[...] which signifieth
parsimonie, because those feastes exhibited a very true spectacle of sobriety, and frugality. Finally the ancient Christians which liued about the beginning of the Primitiue Church had their feasts of charity, which they called in Greek
Epist.tude. Apustult.Tertull.in Apolog
[...]tico.
[...] because they were the verie meanes to confirme mutuall amitie, and Christian charity betwixt friends and friends. I humbly craue pardon for mine errour (if at the least l erre) in saying that these Church ales which we vse now in England are very like to those
[...] of the ancient Christians, if they are rightly and religiously vsed, as they ought to be without any outragious enoimities. Truly I thinke they are: my reason is, because these are feasts of charity, as those were, and they were instituted by our anciēt progenitors for many hundred years ago for these two causes of especially First for the breeding of loue betwixt neighbors, & secondly for the raising of a stocke for the supporting and maintenance of our Church, & the Church affairs: so that I do most confidently beleeue that the good & religious vse of Churchales
[Page] may be well retained, if the abuses thereof be vtterly banished, and exterminated out of a Christian Commonwealth, as drunkennesse, gluttonie, swearing, lasciuiousnesse, with many more, which indeed I must needs confesse seeme to be the inseparable accidents, and indiuiduall adiuncts of Church-ales. But ought the vse of Church-ales, which were first destinated for a religious intent, to be absolutely exti
[...]pated, because now and then some few abuses creepe into ciuill and sober societies, by the meanes of some dissolute, rusticall, and ill-nurtured pessants? Surely no. Neither ought they which doe so greatly dislike the lawfull vse of Church-ales soberly managed for the benefit of a stocke-spent Church, incurre lesse reprehension, then that furious king of Thrace
Hom.Ilia.6.
Lycurgus, who because many of his subiects were often times drunke with the wine that came from plentifull vineyards of his kingdome, in his angrie passion, caused all the vines of Thrace to be rooted vp
[...] an action verily most indiscreet and inconsiderate. For it behooued him rather to haue rooted away the abuse, I meane the drunkennesse of his subiects, then to abolish both the vse and the abuse cleane together. Therfore let vs, at this our present meeting, (fellow souldiers) imitate the feasts of those ancient and religious Christians, not those of the prophane
[Page] and irreligious Gentiles, wherein were exhibited many lasciuious spectacles, that as certain angling hookes yeelded alluring baites to draw the spectators to diuers vanities, and most inciuill outrage: but we Christians ought at our solemnities to expresse a very patterne of modesty, and temperance, yet so intermingled and seasoned
Atticis leporibus, that is, with the sauory salt of pleasant conceits, well beseeming both the time, the place, and the persons, that they may neither sauour of a rude scurrility on the one side, nor of a too Cynicall austeritie on the other side, but keepe the golden meane, which vertue betwixt both extremes we call in Greeke
[...] in Latine
vrbanitas, and in our mother English tongue, ciuility. Now for as much as this sociable & neighborly meeting, which doth tend to the aduancement of our Churches wealth, cannot be performed without some expences of mony, giue me leaue I pray you to make some short digression from my maine matter, to the end to animate you to spend your money for so laudable a purpose. Be not I beseech you slaues to your money, which is but a base excrement digged out of the very bowels of the earth. Worship not so dumbe an image, as a litle peece of stamped gold, or siluer. For truly I may very fitly terme those euen worshippers of their money, out of whose purses a man shall
[Page] with greater difficulty draw a litle peece of coine, althogh it be for the benefit of their country, the credi
[...] of themselues, the good of their soules, and the wealth of their Church, then
Hercules club out of his hands. Therefore set a broach your pelse at so opportune a time as this is; howbeit I exhort you not to prodigality, which is an extreme vice, but to frugall and moderate expences for the aduantage of your Church. Remember that golden sentence of the sweetest Philosopher that euer drew vitall breath,
[...]the place of a Captaine: to that I deriue the word Ducall not from Dux, which signifieth a Duke, that is, a supreme or soueraigne Lord of a Signiorie or free State, as the Duke of Florence, the Duke of Saxony &c.f For the name of Duke I did not challenge it my selfe, in my souiall merriments, although a worshipfull friend of mine graced me with the religious title of the great Duke of Charity
[...] but more properly frō
Dux which signifieth a Captaine in warre which word. commeth from
Duke, that signifieth to lead an armie or a band of soulcicis.
Plato, that
We are not borne for our selues onely, but that our countrie doth challenge one part of our birth, our parents another, and our friends the third.
Taxe mee not, Confederates, of arrogancy, though I doe according as the nature of my place and office doth require. For euen as it behoueth euery prouident and prudent Captaine to direct & instruct his souldiers in those things that are to be done, and to forbid them those things that are not to be done: so I by vertue of my * Ducal authority, which is a dignitie that I haue receiued at this time, not by way of vsurpation, but by imposition, (for by the generall consent and suffrages of you all it was imposed vpon me) by vertuel say of my Ducall authority I command you some things, and prohibit you some other things. The things that I command you are these. First a
[Page] mutuall obliuion of all iniuries whatsoeuer, euen from the beginning of the world till this present day, (if at the least any haue bene offered betwixt vs
Odcombians and you
Euillians) according to the imitation of that memorable
Valer. Max.li. 4. verum memorabilium Tul. in I. Philippica. Xenop. histor. Graca. 3. lib.7. lust.lib.5. Diodorus Siculus lib.14. historica Bibliotheca.
[...] of the Athenians, that is, an obliuion of wrongs, which was established by their valiant Captaine
Thrasibulus, after the bloodie gouernment of the thirtie tyrants (who had most grieuously dilaniated the whole State with very horrible massacres) was abrogated and defaced out of the Commonwealth of Athens. Secondly, friendly, louing, and harmelesse societie, ioyned with ciuill and discreet merriments fit for this flourishing time of the yeare. Thirdly, a cheerfull spending of your mony without any base whinching or murmuring, for the emolument of your Church. The things that I prohibite you are these. Drunkennesse, swearing, brawling, picking of quarrels, lasciuious & obscoene communicatiō. For (according to
Menanders speech)
[...] , that is, euill words corrupt manners. Finally, I forbid you to commit any enormous outrage, whereby we should scandalize our credit, and make our selues infamous in our country. For these foresaid matters beseeme rather the wanton feasts of the goddesse
Aug.de Ciuit.Dei.
Flora, or god
Bacchus the patron of drunkards, which were celebrated amongst
[Page] the barbarous Paynims, then the sober solemnities of godly and religious Christians.
But whereas at the beginning of my Oration I called you Confederates, (which word signifyeth those that are vnited and combined together in a league of friendship) not because ye are so already, but for that I hope yee will be so: I hold it expedient to vnfolde vnto you the ceremonies which were heretofore obserued in ancient
[...] at the making of leagues, and to declare the custome which I would haue you now vse touching this present league betweene vs. It was the custome of the ancient Romanes (as
Deca
[...]
Liuie their most peerelesse and incomparable Historiographer doth' record) that a certaine Herauld of armes should at the Kings commandement take an hearbe in his hand, and strike an Hog with a flint stone, pronouncing these words.
Sic â loue feriatur is, qui sanctum hoc fregerit foedus, vt ego hunc porcum ferio: that is,
I pray that lupiter
may so strike him that shall violate this holy league, as I now strike this present Hogge. But
Polybius the Arcadian historian affirmeth in his third booke of Histories, where he treateth of a league that was concluded betwixt the Romans and the Carthaginians, that there was another rite. For he saith thus. As soone as the conditions of the league were agreed on betwixt the parties, a certaine herauld of arms
[Page] took a stone in his hand, and vttered these words: If I make this league without any guile or deceit, I pray the goddes to giue mee most happie successe in my affaires. But if I doe, or as much as thinke otherwise then according to the couenants of the league, I wish that all the rest being saued, I onely may perish, euen as this stone shall by and by fall out of my handes: and there withall hee presently flung away the stone. As for the
Polydorios Virgilius lib.3. ca.15.de rerum inuentoribus. Arabians, whensoeuer they contracted confederacy with any forraine nation, one standing in the middest betwixt both the Ambassadors, strooke with a certaine sharpe stone the palmes of the handes of them that were to make the league, euen about their greater fingers, & incontinently taking a peece of flocks out of the garments of both the Ambassadors, annoynted seuen stones that were put in the middest of them, with the bloud that issued out of their hands; and all the while they were occupied about this ceremonie, they inuocated
Dionysius and
Vrania. This being done, hee that was the mediator of making the league betwixt the friends, ingaged his credit, as suertie for the stranger: which league they also thought good to obserue that contracted friendship and familiaritie together. These and such like sundrie formes of making leagues there were heretofore amongest
[Page] the ancient Pagans, according to their seueral and distinct nations. But we setting aside these superstitious rites, as being for many ages past growen stale and out of date, will vnite our selues in the league of loue, especially for this time, onely by the ioyning of our bands together, a token very sufficient to ratifie an euerlasting and inuiolable vnion betwixt vs.
Erosmu in Adagio Ch
[...]ad. I. Let vs not imitate the
Foedifrage (that is the league-breaking)
Carthaginians, who for their most execrable infidelity haue bene branded by many classicall historiographers with the infamous marke of eternall dishonour, and infamie; Insomuch that
Punica fides, that is, the faith of the Carthaginians, is prouerbially vsed for all imaginable treachery, and disloyalty. But rather le
[...] vs in our thoughts, in our words, and in our deeds, firmly and sincerely establish this present league not onely we that are here present during our liues, but also posterity for many succeeding genera
[...] ions after vs, to whom let vs now cōlecrate the memory hereof. But what mean I to expatiate so far beyond the bounds of the time I limited myself? wel then I wil recall my selfe, and now at length draw togither the sailes of this my rude & inelegant Oration. For I perceiue that I do euen cloy your eares with such an heap of cōfused words. Wherfore sūmarily to shut vp al in a word, I most heartily desire you all to take in good part
[Page] this my naked and slender Oration, considering that I am no professed Orator, nor an affected Rhetorician, to whom it belonges to paint out his speeches with filed phrases, curious circumquaques, and rhetoricall insinuations; but I am rather a man of armes, and a souldier. Therefore ye ought to expect the lesse at my hands. Neuerthelesse if in this my speech I haue deliuered any documents that are worthy the obseruation, put them I pray you in execution with all alacritie.
THIS ORATION FOLlowing I pronounced at Odcombe to the Euillians when they came home to vs.
DEere Associates, we entertaine you with a whole volley of most heartie thankes, partly for the bountifull and magnificent entertainment yee lately affoorded vs at your towne, and partly for that yee haue satisfied our expectation by reuifiting vs according to your faithfull promise, for the reliefe of our Church. Truly we ingenuously confesse that yee
Euillians haue iustly merited our euerlasting loue, in that ye being oppidanes (that is, townesmen)
At the pronouncing of this word, a volley of shot was discharged by twenty Mus
[...] eters. borne, brought vp, and dwelling in a rich, populous, and fertile towne, dotated with ancient charters and priuiledges, yea liuing in so fat a
[Page] soyle, that it doth euen flow with milke and honey, doe vouchsafe vs your poore confederates the
Odcombians of this fauour, as to visite vs with such a troope of the most selected persons of your towne; vs I say the
Odcombians, being a rurall and mountanous people, dwelling vpon a billy and sterill countrie, and wanting many comfortable helpes of life, which both Nature and Art haue most abundantly powred out vpon you. Neuerthelesse because it shall not be thought that I de
[...] rog
[...]te too much from our selues by attributing so much vnto you, pardon me I pray you though I speake somewhat in commēdations of this little parish
Odcombe being my natiue soyle, the smoake whereof (according as another Au bor saith of a mans natiue countrey) is more deere vnto me, then the fire of a forraine place: and the rather I am induced to digresse somchin; into the praise hereof, because yee shall haue the lesse occasion to repent for the league yee haue contracted with vs, as being no perfidious and disloyall slaues, but such as will, while our breath doth last, shew our selues most faithfull and sincere friends to those whom wee haue once entertained in our friendship.
Lucian in his Treatise intituled
Encomi
[...] patriae, whose words are these
[...] that is, that smoake of a mans owne countrie it brightet then the fire of an other country. Therefore to deriue my beginning euen from that which is the necessariest thing that man hath in this life, without the which it is impossible for him to breath as much as
[Page] one minute of an hower, I meane the ayre, nature the best perfectresse of things hath priuiledged this rien soyle of
Odcombe with so great a prerogatiue of a most wholsome and pleasant ayre, that in that part of happinesse we hold our selues nothing inferior to any towne or parish whatsoeuer in the whole Shirewe dwel in, nay we attribute so much to the excellēt subtiltie of our piercing
Odcombian ayre, as the Poet
In Epistola ad Mec
[...]
Horace did to the aire of Baiae a famous maritime town of Campaniain in Italy, whereof he saith thus,
‘Nullus in orbe locus Baiis praelucet amoenis.’ That is, no place whatsoeuer within the whole circumference of the earth doth surpasse pleasant Baiae for the incomparable temperature of the ayre. Neither doe we
Odcombians sticke to affirme that our ayre is as sweete as that of the royall Citie Madril in Spayne, Brixinia in the Earldome of Tyrol, Serauallum in Italy, Ormus in Persia, Alexandria in Egypt, and finally Croton in Magna Grecia: all which Cities are most highly extolled both by the ancient and moderne Geographers for the passing amoenitie of their ayre. The second thing which doth euen nobilitate our little parish (being also such a speciall accident for the sustentation of mans life, that it is impossible for man, especially in this part of Europe, to liue well without it) is our wooll,
[Page] which is so famous for the singular finenesse thereof, that wedare boldly auouch, that no place whatsoeuer in England yeeldeth better sauing onely
Cambden in Herefordthite Lemster in Hereford-shire. Neither surely is this a thing of the least importāce to ennoble our Parish. For euen as
Stephanus de vrbibus. Pompo. Mela.lib.
[...]. Strabo vulgo Melazo.
Miletus which was in times past the verie Queene of the Cities of Ionia in Greece, and the mother of almost
[...]ou
[...]escore Colonies, grew no lesse famous for the singularity of her wooll, which was distracted into diuers regions & quarters of the world, then for her pleasant situation, and the statelinesse of her sumptuous buildings:
So Odcombe (not that I make any iust comparison betwixt the glorious citie of
Miletus and our little parish, being but as it were an handfull in respect thereof) ought to be much the better regarded, by reason of so worthy an helpe that it ministreth to couer mans nakednesse. The third is the conspicuous eminencie of our Church, being erected vpon so loftie a place, that it ouerprieth and ouertoppeth the whole countrie round about it; euen as that notable AEgyptian watch tower called
Plinius lib.2.cap.85.
Pharos neere to Alexandria, which was built by
Ptolomaeus Philadelphus vpon so eminent an hill, that it ouerlooked the whole circum
[...]acent countrey. And truly this our Church deserueth commendation in consideration both of the nobility of
[Page] the founder, being one
Moritonius an Earle of Normandie, that came into this land (as I haue heard) with
William the Conqueror; and also of the antiquitie. For it is at the least fiue hundred yeares agoe since the first foundation thereof was laid. The fourth is the varietie of our sweet and wholsome springs, distributed by the prouident artifice of nature into sundrie conuenient places of our parish, as well for the delight as the vtility of our inhabitants, and endued with that orient and Cristalline cleerenesse, together with the singular effects most inseparably therunto adioyned, that we may presume to compare them with whatsoeuer fountains are reputed the excellentest in our whole countrey. The fift and last is that which shall (I hope) encourage you to perseuere most constantly in your league, namely, our vnity & perfect loue amongst our selues; for we all from the verie highest to the lowest are most firmly knit togither in an indissoluble knot of friendship. It fareth not with vs as it dothoftentimes with citizens and townsmen. For they are eftsoones so inraged and inflamed with the burning 7 eale of ambition, that they foster many turbulent factions, and oppose themselues in such virulent and hostile manner against each other, that now and then there fall out most grieuous broyles and mutinies betwixt them, whereby
[Page] the strength of their societies is the sooner weakened and dissolued: but wee
Odcombians conioyne our selues together in one, euen as the members in mans bodie without any emulation, or repining at each others prosperous estate, and dispose our affections as a well-tuned harmonie, that they neuer suffer any iatring discord. So that by this sympathie of our neighbourly loue wee waxe the stronger, and become euen inexpugnable to our enemies, if at the least wee haue any. Heerein wee follow the wise counsaile of that sage Scythian
Plutar
[...]bus:
Scylurus, who being on his death bed called to him all his sonnes, which were in number fourescore, to all whom seuerally one after another bee deliuered a sheafe of arrowes bound vp together, commaunding them to breake those arrowes as they were so bound; they tried, but were not able to doe it. Whereupon hee tooke the sheafe againe into his owne handes, and hauing loosed the bond, hee easily brake all those shaftes being sundred one from another, which hee could not doe, when they were bound together. By which token hee intimated to them that they should bee strong and inuincible, as long as they perseuered in the bond of vnitie, but should quickly come to vtter ruine and destruction, if by their priuate
[Page] dissentions they were diuided asunder. Therefore, louing Confederates, imitate vs
Odcombians in this our vnitie, so that not onely yee your selues may cherish and embrace mutuall loue amongest your selues, but also that yee and wee ioyntly together may expresse such sinceritie of friendshippe, by reason of this late league confirmed betwixt vs, that wee may bee as it were one fraternitie, one neighbourhoode.
Now if any shall reprehend mee of partialitie, for attributing so much to my natiue countrey, which seemeth indeede in outward shewe but a verie obscure and ignoble place: I heartily craue pardon for my presumption in this behalfe, being by so much the more pardonable, by how much the lesse I did euer illustrate my countrey with any condigne prayses heretofore in all my life till this present time. Desiring my countrey-men also the
Odcombians to take this my present speech as a sufficient satisfaction and recompence in liew of my long silence of
Odcombe, for whose good and saferie, I hope I shall bee as readie to expose my bodie to any perils, (if opportunitie shall so require) yea, (which is more) to powre out my deerest vitall bloud, as euer was noble
[...]u
[...]lirus lib.2.sectio.5.
Codrus for his Countrey of Athens,
[Page]
Liuius Deca.
Marcus Curtius for Rome, or the famous Ladie
Androclea for
Thebes..
Pausanias lib. 9. Boeticorum.
As concerning the entertainment which ye expect at our hands, pardon vs we pray you, though we requite you not with a correspondent proportion both in manner and matter like vnto yours. For we want those meanes to expresse our bountie towards you, as yee oppidanes are plentifully furnished with all. But this wee will assure you, that the defect of your entertainment shall bee most abundantly supplied with the integrity of our heartie loue and affection. Truly wee haue neither Bulles, nor Beares, nor Apes that are wont sometimes to be beaten vpon skittish iades, nor any such things to shew you, for the sight wherof together with the most peeuish pastimes that they yeeld to their spectators, many men are oftē times drawen to vndertake long and chargeable iournies: but in steed thereof we shew you our men, that like valiant Martialists present them; selues vnto you with their warlike munition, some with partizans, some with those remorselesse and mercilesse instruments which were for almost seuen score yeares agoe inuented by a certaine
Polydor. Virgil.&c. Germane as a pernicious bane of many millions of worthy men, I meane Muskets and Caliuers; and some other with swords, with all which weapons we
Odcombians can (if neede requireth)
[Page] maintaine right, and repulse wrong: but these instruments which were made for the effusion of bloud, we like peaceable men lay aside at the entertaining of you, and with our Laurell branches in our hands, which are the true ensignes of peace, most effectionately ambrace you as our deere friends.
But seeing I perceiue that the time doth impose silence vpon me, I will breake off further circumstances, which doe breed a tedious wearisomenesse to the eares of the hearers: and finally conclude my speech with this request, namely to intreate you all, and that most instantly, that yee would as louingly accept of this rurall entertainment, which our parish shal now yeeld you, as of luxurious and Epicurious delicacy, which Cities and townes doe oftentimes affoord their guestes; seeing kinde entertainment ought not so much to be measured by the curiositie of delicious cates, as by the vnfained welcome and entire beneuolence of the inuiting friends.
FINIS.
AT the conclusion and vpshot of this Booke, let mee a little aduertise thee (gentle Reader) of a Booke lately Printed in huggermugger, intituled
The Odcombian banquet. And I am the rather induced to make mention of it, because it doth not a litle concerne my credit to cleere my selfe of two very scandalous imputation laide vpon me by that virulent and rancorous pessant, some base lurking pedanticall tenebricous
Lucifuga that set forth the booke. Wherof the first is the Motto in the first leafe of the booke.
A sinus portans mysteria. The other in the end of the booke, euen in his
Nouerint vniuersi, viz. That one that intended to epitomize it, affirmed hee could not
[Page] melt out of the whole lumpe of my Volume so much matter worthy the reading as would fil foure pages. For the first I will tell thee the originall wherehence it sprang. It hapned that after I had presented my Booke at Royston to the King, and returned backe to London for Bookes to present to Noblemen of the Court, I did determine for conceite sake, and to minister occasion of merriment to the King, to get me an Asse to carie my Bookes, with this Latine inscription in faire Capitall Romane Letters vpon that which should haue contained them,
Asinus portans mysteria; being indeede taken out of Alciats Emblemes, and spoken of an Asse that caried the Image of the goddesse
Isis. But heere the diuulger of the foresaid
Odcombian Banquet most sinisterly and malignantly applied it (as all the Readers doe interprete it) to my selfe, and thereby very peruersly wrested it from that allusion which I intended. As for the second imputation contained in his
Nouerint vniuersi, it farre exceeded
[Page] the first in spite full bitternesse. For whereas he writeth that hee could not melt out of the whole lumpe of my Booke so much matter worthy the reading as would fill foure pages, I will boldly affirme for the better iustification of my Obseruations, and by way of opposition against the malicious censure of that hypercriticall Momus, that of the sixe hundred fiftie and foure pages (for indeede so many are in the booke) he shall find at the least fiue hundred worthy the reading, especially in my descriptions of these Cities, Paris, Lyons, Milan, Padua, Venice, Verona, Brixia, Bergomo, Zurich, both the `Badens, Basil, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Spira, Wormes, Mentz, Franckeford, Colen, &c. This also I will further say for the confirmation of the sufficiencie of my historicall notes, (seeing they are so seuerely chastised by the censorious rod of this maleuolent traducer, that biteth my worke with his Theonine teeth) and yet without any vaine glorious ostentation: that let him or any other whatsoeuer in
[Page] our whole Kingdome of Great Brittaine, shew both larger Annotations for quantitie, and better for qualitie
(absic dicto inuidia) gathered in fiue moneths Trauels by any English man since the incarnation of Christ, I will be rather contented to consecrate all the Bookes that remaine now in my hands either to god
Vulcan or goddesse
Thetis, then to present one more to any Gentleman that fauours wit and learning. Therefore let this
Coryatomastix Zoilus barke at mee as long as he list, swell with enuie as bigge as the AEsopical Toade, and shoote all his darts of malignitie against me; I oppose this double thield stronger then the seuen fold Target of Aiax in Ouid, for my securitie and defence against him, first that it hath pleased the best of the Kingdome euen from the Kings owne person with all those sacred members of the Royall family, and many Noble personages of the best note of our land, as well as the Lords of the Priuie Counsell, as other generous spirits of great eminencie, not onely to
[Page] affoord gracious entertainment to my booke, but also with their courteous approbation and candid censure to thinke well of my labours. Secondly, that my vnparalled friend, that voluble linguist & sound Scholler M.
Laurence Whitaker, who (I thinke) doth as farre excell in learning my antagonist the Author of the
Nouerinti vniuersi, as a rose doth a nettle in sweetnesse, or a Pearle a Pebble-stone in price, hath vouchsafed to confirme the authoritie of my booke (hauing yeelded me that fauourable and patient attention to heare me reade ouer the whole before it came to the Presse) with his no lesse learning then elegant Elogie that preceedeth my owne Obseruations. But to conclude this matter of my malicious enemie, against the violent stroake of whose base wrongs my innocencie and integritie will like a brasen wal defend me, I wish the same of them that an ancient Poet did of the bitter Poet Archi lochus;
Vtque repertori nocuit pugnacis Iambi,
Sic sit in exitium lingua proterua tuum.
FINIS.