The History of the Worthies of England, Part 1 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Writers.
BEING to handle this Subject, let not the Reader expect that I will begin their Catalogue from Fabulous Antiquity, or rather fanciful Fabels. For if the first Century of J. Bale or J. Pits. their British Writers were Garbled, four parts of five would be found to be Trash, such as
1. Samothes Gigas
2. Magus Samotheus
3. Sarron Magius
4. Druys Sarronius
5. Bardus Druydius
6. Albion Mareoticus
7. Brytus Julius
8. Gerion Augur
9. Aquila Septonius
10. Perdix Praesagus
11. Cambra Formosa
12. Plenidius Sagax, &c.
Of these some never were men, others (if men) never were Writers, others (if Writers) never left Works continuing to our age, though some Manuscript-Mongers may make as if they had perused them. It is well they had so much modesty, as not to pretend inspection into the Book of life, seeing all other books have come under their Omnividencie.
We are content to begin our number, at Gildas (commonly surnamed) the wise, (flourishing about the year 580.) and are right gald to have so good a General, to lead our Army of Writers, taking it for a token of good success.
Now these Writers were either such who wrote before, or since the Reformation of Religion. The former again fall generally under a treble division, as either Historians, Philologists, or Divines, and we will insist a little on their several imployments.
Of Writers on Philology and Divinity.
Doctor Collens Kings Professor in Cambridge, and that Oracle of Eloquence once founded his Speech (made to entertain Strangers at the Commencement) on the words of *Rom. 16. 15.Saint Paul, Salute Philologus and Olympas. Under the former, he comprised all persons persent, eminent in Humane Learning, under the later, all skillful in Heavenly Divinity.
Indeed Philology properly is Terse and Polite Learning, melior literatura, (married long since by Martianus Capella to Mercury) being that Florid skill, containing onelyonly the Roses of learning, without the prickles thereof, in which narrow sense thorny Philosophy is discharged as no part of Philology. But we take it in the larger notion, as inclusive of all human liberal Studies, and preposed to Divinity, as the Porch to the Palace.
Having passed the Porch of Philology, we proceed to the Palace of Divinity. The Writers in this Faculty, we distinguish into two sorts. First, Positive Divines, such I mean, whose works are either Comments on, or else expositions of some portion of Sacred Writ. Secondly, School-men, who have made it their business to Weave find Threads of nicer Distinctions.
Writers on History.
This is either Ecclesiastical or Civil. Of both these, England presenteth many, but generally Moncks before the Reformation, who too much indulging to Holy Fraud, have farced their Books with many feigned miracles, to the prejudice of truth. However, herein foreign Historians have been as guitly as English-men of the same Age, witness the complaint of *In his book of the coming of Saint James the Apostle into Spain, ch. 1.Mariana the Jesuit, which one may justly wonder how it passed the Index Expurgatorius. Quis enim negare possit Fastos Ecclesiasticos, aliquando adulatione Temporum, aut potius incuria hominum, multis maculis contaminatos, libris aliis, quibus preces Ecclesiasticae ritusque sacrorum continentur, multas fuisse inspersas confusasque fabulas & commenta: Addam nonnunquam in Templis reliquias dabias, prophana Corpora pro sanctorum (qui cum Christo in coelo regnant) exuviis sacris fuisse proposita. Est enim miserum negare non posse, quid sit turpe confiteri; at nescio quo pacto fictis saepe fabulis, & prae posteris mendaciorum nugis, populus magis quam veritate ac synceritate capitur, ea est mentis nostrae inanitas, has sordes, ubi semel irrepserunt in Ecclesiam sacrorum ritus libros Ecclesiasticos, nobis fortassis dormientibus, attrectare nemo audet, mutive nemo, ne impietatis suspicionem commoreat, scilicet, & Religioni adversarius esse videatur.
Nor hath our Land been altogether barren of Historians since the Reformation, having yielded some of as tall parts, and large performances, as any Nation in Christendome.
Besides these, we have adventured to adde such as have been eminent in Poetry, which may not unfitly be termed the binding of Proselites good behaviour, tying it to the strict observation of time and measure.
Amongst these, some are additioned with the Title of Laureat, though I must consess, I could never find the root whence their Bays did grow in England, as to any solemn institution thereof in our Nation. Indeed, I read of Petrarch, (the pre-coetanean of our Chaucer) that he was crowned with a Laurel, in the *Vita Petrac.Capitol, by the Senate of Rome, Anno 1341. as also that Frederic the third Emperour of Germany, gave the Laurel to *Holdastus lib. tom. 3 p. 482.Conradus Celtes, and since the Count Palatines of the Empire claime the priviledge, solemnly to invest Poets with the Bays.
The branches hereof, in all ages have been accounted honourable, in so much that King James in some sort, wav'd his crown (in the two and twenty-shilling-pieces) to wear the Laurel in his new twenty-shilling-pieces. On the same token, that a wag passed this jeast thereon, That Poets being always poor, Bays were rather the embleme of wit then wealth, since King James no sooner began to wear them, but presently he fell two shillings in the pound in publique valuation.
As for our English Poets, some have assumed that style unto themselves, as John Kay in his Dedication of The Seige of Rhodes to King Edward the fourth, subscribing himself his humble Poet Laureat. Others have in complement given the title to such persons as were eminent in that Faculty, and nothing more usuall then to see their pictures before their Books, and Statues on their Tombs, ornamented accordingly. However, all this is done by civil courtesie, or common custome, no ceremonious creation in Court or University. I write not this, as if I grudged to Poets a whole grove of Laurel, much less a sprig to incircle their heads, but because I would not have any specious untruth imposed on the Readers belief.
Yet want there not those, who do confidently averr that there is always a Laureat Poet in England, and but one at a time, the Laurel importing Conquest and Sovereignty, and so by consequence soleness in that faculty; and that there hath been a constant succession of them at Court, who beside their salary from the King, were yearly to have a tun of win, as very essential to the heightning of fancy. This last I conceive founded, on what we find given to Geffery Chaucer,
Vigesimo secundo anno Richardi secundi concessum Galfrido Chaucer unum dolium vini per annum durante vitâ, in portu Civitatis London, per manus capitalis pincernae nostri.
But Chaucer, besides his poetical accomplishments, did the King service both in war and peace, as Souldier and Embassadour, in reward whereof, this and many other boons were bestow'd upon him.
Musicians.
Musick is nothing else, but wild sounds civilised into Time and Tune. Such the extensiveness thereof, that it stoopeth as low as bruit beasts, yet mounteth as high as Angels. For Horses will do more for a whistle then for a whip, and by hearing their bells gingel away their weariness.
The Angels in Heaven imploy themselves in Musick, and one ingeniously expresseth it to this effect*The Conceipt is Mr. Walle…s, whose book is nor by me at the present to transcribe the very words.
We know no more what they do do above,
Save only that they Sing, and that they Love.
And although we know not the Notes of their Musick, we know what their Ditty is, namely Hallalu-jah.
Such as cavil at Musick, because *Gen. 4. 21.Juball, a descendant from wicked Cain, was the first founder thereof, may as well be content to lye out of dores, and refuse all cover to shelter them, because Jaball, of the same extraction, being his own brother, first invented to dwell in Tents.
I confess there is a company of pretenders to Musick, who are commonly called Crowders, and that justly too, because they Crowd into the company of Gentlemen both unsent for, and unwelcome; but these are no more a disgrace to the true professors of that faculty, then Monkies are a disparagement to man-kind.
Now right antient is the use of Musick in England, especially if it be true what I read in a worthy Father, and I know not which more to admire, either that so memorable a passage should escape Master Camdens, or that it should fall under my observation. Clemens Alexand. Strom. lib. 6. pag. 632.
foreign *In … Insulâ. S… Syl. Burgius Latines it.foreign.
They say, even those which compose histories, that in the Island of Britanny, there is a certain Cave, lying under a Mountain, in the top thereof gaping. The wind therefore falling into the Cave, and dashing into the bosome of a hollow place, there is heard a tinckling of Cymbals, beating in Tune and Time.
Where this musical place should be in Britain, I could never find; yet have been informed, *By Master Stephens, a learned servant to the Bishop.that Doctor Miles Smith, Bishop of Hereford, found something tending that way (by the help of an active fancy) in Herefordshire. But waving this natural, the antiquity of artificial Musick in this Island, is proved by the practice of the Bards, thereby communicating Religion, Learning and Civility, to the Britans.
Right glad I am, that when Musick was lately shut out of our Churches, (on what default of hers I dare not to enquire) it hath since been harboured and welcomed in the Halls, Parlors and Chambers, of the primest persons of this Nation. Sure I am, it could not enter into my Head, to surm se that Musick would have been so much discouraged by such who turned our Kingdome into a Commonwealth, seeing they prided themselves in the armes thereof, an impaled Harp being Moity of the same. When it was Ask'd what made a good Musitian, one Answered a good voice, another that it was skill, but he said the truth, who said, it was incouragement. It was therefore my constant wish, that seeing most of our▪ Musicians were men of maturity, and arrived at their full age and skill, before these distracted times began, and seeing what the Historian wrote in another sence, is true here in our acception and application thereof, Res est unius seculi populus virorum; I say, I did constantly wish, that there might have been some semenary of youth set up, to be bred in the faculty of Musick, to supply succession, when this Set of Masters in that Science had served their generation.
Yet although I missed of what I did then desire, yet thanks be to God, I have lived to see Musick come into request, (since our Nation came into right Tune) and begin to flourish in our Churches and elsewhere, so that now no fear but we shall have a new generation skillful in that Science, to succeed such, whose age shall call upon them to pay their debt to nature.
If any who dislike Musick in Churches, object it useless (if not hurtful) in Divine Services, let them hear what both a learned and *Hookers Eccle. Pol. pag. 858. Sect. 38.able Divine alledgeth in defence thereof.
So that although we lay altogether aside the consideration of Ditty or Matter, the very Harmony of sounds being framed in due sort, and carried from the Ear to the spiritual faculties of the Soul, it is by a native puissance and efficacy greatly available to bring to a perfect temper, whatsoever is there troubled, apt as well to quicken the spirits, as to allay that which is too eager, soveraign against melancholy and dispair, forceable to draw forth Tears of Devotion, if the Mind be such as can yield them, able both to move and moderate all affections.
In recounting up of Musitians, I have only insisted on such who made it there profession, and either have written books of that faculty, and have attained to such an eminence therein, as is generally acknowledged. Otherwise the work would be endless to recount all up who took it as a quality of accomplishment, amongst whom King Henry the eighth must be accounted, who (as Erasmus testifies to his knowledge) did not onelyonly sing his part sure, but also compose services for his Chappel, of four, five, and six parts, though as good a Professor as he was, he was a great destroyer of Musick in this Land; surely, not intentionly, but accidentaly, when he suppressed so many Quires at the Desolution.
Romish Exile Writers.
After the Writers before the Reformation, succeed those Romish banished Writers since the same, all living since the reign of Q▪ Mary which might have been distanced from the former with a black line interposed, as beheld under a far different (yea worse) qualification. For the superstitions of the former were the more pardonable, as living in a dark age, which are less excusable in these since the light of the Gospel.
I confess the word Exile carries much of commiseration therein, and with chatably minded men bespeaks pitty to the persons, untill the cause of their banishment be well considered. For some in the first of Queen Elizabeth willfully left the Land, and so in effect banished themselves, others having their lives forfeited by the Laws, had their deaths mercifully commuted by ou… Magistrates into banishment.
Objection. These men might have been lost without loss, and been omitted in your book as no limbe, but a wen, yea an ulcer thereof.
Answer. Grant them never so bad, being digested into a Classis by themselves, their mixture cannot be infectious to others. Secondly, Abate their errours, and otherwise many of them were well meriting of the Commonwealth of learning. Lastly, The passages of their lives conduce very much to the clearing of Ecclesiastcal History.
In noting of their nativties, I have wholly observed the instructions of Pitse…s, where I knock off with his death, my light ending with his life in that subject, since which time I have neither list to enquire, nor conveniency to attain, of these Romish fugitives beyond the seas.
A just Complaint of the numerosity of needless Books.
Solomon was sensible of this vanity, even in his time, when pronouncing of Book there is no end. The Heathen Poet took notice thereof,
Scribimus indocti doctique Poemata passim.
Poems write a main we do,
Learned and unlearned too.
All this was before the invention of Printing, when books came but single into the publique, which since that Mistery is made common, come swimning into the world like shoals of Fishes, and one edition spawneth another. This made learned Erasmus for company sake to jeer himself, that he might the more freely jeer others, *In prefat, in tertiam seriem quarti Tomi Hierom. p. 408.Multi mei similes hoc morbo laborant, ut cum scribere nesciant, tamen a scribendo temporare non possunt. Many men like my self, are sick of this decease, that when they know not how to write, yet cannot forbear from writing.
A worthy English Barronet in his book (incomparable on that subject) hath clearly and truly stated this point.
Here I expect, that the judicious Reader will excuse me, if I take no notice of many Modern Phamphliteers, seeing unlearned Scriblers, are not ranked with learned Writers; yea, it was, though tartly, truly said, to the Author of such a book,
Dum scateant alii erratis, datur unica Libro
Menda tuo, tot…m est intiger error opus.
Whilst others flow with faults, but one is past
In all thy book, 'tis fault from first to last.
Indeed the Press, at first a Virgin, then a chast Wife, is since turned Common, as to prostitute her self to all Scurrilous Pamphlets. When the Author of an idle and impersect book, endeth with a caetera dessiderantur, one altered it non dessider antur, sed desunt. Indeed they were not (though wanting) wanted, the world having no need of them, many books being like King Joram, who lived not being desired, yea, the Press begineth to be an oppression of the Land, such the burden of needless books therein.
Some will say, the charge may most justly be brought against your self, who have loaded the Land with more books, then any of your Age. To this I confess my fault, and promise amendment, that God willing hereafter I will never Print book in the English tongue, but what shall tend directly to Divinity.