The Levites Scourge, Section 1 – Section 2
SECTION I. The Character of Britanicus.
DIego writeth,Diego Tornis edit. Venet. 1604. Barcaeus, vester Diabolo venit obviam petiit que ut cathedram ejus occuparet, quia erit dignior. Psal. 1. That Barcaeus meeting with the Devill sitting at his ease upon a Chaire, bid him rise up and give place to his better. The tale, Britanicus, is morallized in thee, thou mayst very well chalenge the precedencie of Satan, and thrust him out of his Chaire, The seat of the scornfull, wherein thou hast sate for these many moneths, and out-railest all the Shimie's, and Rabsekehs, and out-Lyest all the Simmeasses and Pseudolusses that ever sate in that Chaire. And although Tacitus whispers me in the eare, Maledicta, si irascaris, agnita videntur; spreta exolescunt: Contumelious speeches if they put thee into a chafe, seeme to argue guilt. Yet because a wiser then he adviseth, in some case, to answer a foole according to his folli…, lest he be wise in his owne conceit:Prov. 26.5. And because it is rather an argument of stupiditie then innocencie, to be altogether unsensible when our integritie, or the reputation of our friend is touched, though it be but with the scratch of a goose quill▪ I though fit, potius vexatum & castiga…um quam despectum dimitt…re Vatinium, rather to dismisse Vatinius well cudgelled then slighted, I meane that scorne of all the learned, and hate of all good men, Britanicus, or rather Brutanicus ▪ not from Brutus but Brutum. For he is no better then one of Cerberus whelpes, at which Hercules would not vouchsafe to give a Kick in his returne from Hell: yet because since he hath lickt cleane the Expraetors trencher,Alderm. P. he never leaveth barking at all who adore not the cap of maintenance, nor canonize the synagogue of orbicular independents; I was desired to strike him baculo pastorali, and teach him from henceforth, sua potius lambere ulcera, quam aliorum famam arrodere, rather to use his tongue in licking his owne sores, then his teeth in biting them, upon whom heretofore he basely fawned. The best is, he to whose appologie I have consecrated my Pen, is foreign, out of the danger of this haile shot, above these nebulas nebulonum, his reputation is safe both from the tongue of detraction and teeth of envie, being treasured up in the hearts of all that sincerely love the truth. Anthonie proscribed Cicero, Vell. Paters▪ l. 2.for the space onelyonly that the Triumvirate in Rome lasted, but Cicero proscribed Anthonie to all ages. The more Camomile is trod upon, the sweeter smell it gives, and the black aspersions of malice serve but as a dark foyle to set off the lustre of eminent vertue. For thee, Britanicus, seeing thou knowest not thy selfe, I will send thee to S. Ierome for thy Character, under the name of the Else Helvidius, Loquacitatem facundiam existimat, & maledicere omnibus bonae conscientiae signum arbitratur: he accounts rayling to be Rhetorick, and deemes it to be an argument of a good Conscience, to speake evill of all men.
SECT. II. The censure of all the Diurnals and Scouts.
WHat Lactantius threatned the ravening Wolves, will sooner or later befall the mad Dogs also;Divin Instit. l. ult. Veniet lispis rapacibus dies suus, not onelyonly those ravening Wolves that have worried, not so much the flock of Christ, as the pastors themselves, devouring them with their wives and children, and all their substance; but also those snarling Curs and mad Dogs, that have fastened their venomous teeth upon the true Servants of God, shall have their day. Among whom, take heed lest thou be found, who hast two knowne properties of a Cur, to bark at the cleare light, and to file in the best and cleanest swept roome.Scalig. contra Lyid. In locis nitidissimis olidum ponit. Thou art not content to traduce and vilifie the Reverend and Learned Clergie, and spot and staine the prime Nobilitie and Gentrie of the Kingdome, but like the Serpent Ptyas, thou spittest venome at Majestie it selfe; and therefore mayest expect for thy deserts, without any ambition, the highest preferment of *The one was hanged on a Gallowes fifty cubits high, the other in a Cage on the highest Tower in Munster▪ Civicus, Scoticus, C…elicus.Haman or Cnipperdoling. It is reported of a late Lidger Embassadour at Venice, that he wrote with the poynt of a Diamond in Glasse this definition of an Embassadour, An Embassadour is an honourable Spye, sent by the State to lye for the good of the Common-wealth. I hold this definition of an Embassadour in generall to have too much in it mordacis veritatis, of tart truth: but he should doe thee, and thy three Brethren in iniquitie, (all of the Bastard brood of Maia) right, who should define you base Spyes, hired to invent and vent Lyes through the whole Kingdome, for the good of the Cause. For what is your weekly imployment but to smother the cleare truth of all proceedings at Court, and set a varnish upon all the Machiavillian cheats, unchristian practices, and horrible out-rages committed by the Plunderers and their complices in the Citie? Howbeit, because Urbanus hath taken thee to taske for thy scandalum magnatum, of which thou art like one day to heare without an eare: I shall discipline thee at this present onelyonly for opening thy foule mouth upon a late Member of the Assembly, whose hands thou knowest are so tyed, that he cannot wipe away the froth of thy impute discourse, which thus driveleth from thee.