The Conclusion of the First Part

SInce the Discouerie of these Errors at Parnassus, which I quoted downe of purpose to remoue the stoniest rubbes, which might stand betwixt vs and Felicitie, the true scope and end of the Golden Fleece, I was informed, that some pettish Monitors doe vpbraid mee for writing of serious matters in an extraordinarie forme, disguized vnder the name of Apollo. To you that are Iudicious I neede not yeeld any satisfaction in this point. But lest Errour play vpon mee too violently, by mistaking my meaning, and the true sense of the morall, let the Ignorant know, that this worke alludes to a Poeti∣call rapture, wherein the names of Apollo, of Pal∣las, the Muses, the Graces, and of Parnassus are ta∣ken for Wisedome, and the Court of wisedome ey∣ther Diuine or Humane. If they regard the Cele∣stiall Globe, the precisest Criticks shall find the name of Apollo or Phoebus still in vse. The seuen dayes of Page  147 the weeke haue their denomination from the Pa∣gan Gods, among whom Apollo〈◊〉 re∣ceiues the appellation, as the Prince of 〈◊〉. That Diuine Poet Salust Lord of Bartas in 〈◊〉 parts of his Books vseth this name for the 〈◊〉 as he doth also Minerua and the Muses for Lear∣ning, Mars and Beliona for warre, Bacchus for wine, Ceres for Corne, V•lcan for fire, Venus for lust, Diana for chastitie, Neptune for the sea, •••∣olus for the windes, Styx and Ach•ron for hell. It is not the bare name but the inward sense, which a discreet Reader should pry into. Saint Paul ex∣pounded the Heathens vnknowne God at Athens according to his owne beliefe of the true God. Because those fond people at Ephesus, preferred the worship of Diana, Great is Diana of Ephesus, before Saint Pauls Doctrine, it were great folly in a Minister to refuse the Christning of a childe by that name, though neuer so Idolatrous in those times of darknesse. While men of vnder∣standing know the moralized sense, they will not mislike this course. They which haue read the workes of the Nominalists and the Realists, can distinguish betwixt substance and shadowes. They will respect matter more then forme, and the Spirit of Euidence and power more then the enticing words of mens wisedome. By either of which kinds, who so hath the happinesse to edi∣fie the Church of Christ, to reforme Errors, or to restore decaied Trading to his languishing Coun Page  148 trey, hee ought not to bee accused, whether hee 〈◊〉 the part of tickling Horace, or of carping I••••all, of an Oratour, or of a Poet; whether 〈◊〉 puts on the large Surplice of a reuerend •inister, or the curtalld gowne of a crabbed Stoick. For it is not the Outside, but the preci∣ous Inside, which the Eye of wisedome lookes in∣to. And I haue seene more pride vnder a course cloth garment, then vnder a silken Robe.

To satisfie further their Obiections, I haue couched the subiect of my Discourse vnder the Titles of Apollo, Walter de Mapes, Sir Geffrey Chaucer, Berengarius, Wicliffe, and other famous persons, which flourished many yeares before Luther was borne, euen by the selfe same Autho∣ritie, as Vigilantius the Martyr confuted the He∣reticks of his time. In his fift booke against Eu∣tyches, this antient Writer testifieth, that he pub∣lished workes in Athanasius his name against Sabellius, Photinus, and Arrius, to the end that they being present, he might seeme to treat with the present, vt cum praesentibus videretur agere.

If these reasons cannot preuaile, but that still they will mutter, and seeke a hole where none is, I must referre them to the reading of Sir Thomas Moores Eutopia, and to Plat•s imaginarie Com∣mon-wealth, on which as •hymerizing notions or Ayrie Castles let their Phantasies pore, while I runne ouer those reall and actuall vices, which lately haue gotten the vpper hand ouer their Page  149 mindes, and bodies to the scandall of their Chri∣stian Profession, and the decay of their worldly fortunes.

And if for all that my curious Masters will not desist, but menace mee with more violent animad∣uersions, euen to fire and fagot, or rather to a milder punishment of Banishment, I shall much more con∣tentedly embrace this last with Boetius, then to con∣tinue in their Neighbourhood, like a lazie Drone, and to consume the fruits of the Earth, which the industrious Bees haue laboured for, thereby to ve∣rifie that saying of the Poet: fruges consumerenatus; And so at last to hazard the late Grace, which I re∣ceiued in the Court of Wisedome: where at my ma∣triculation I vowed to disclose all such enormities which might preiudice the mysterie of the Golden Fleece, and to liue vpon mine owne without extor∣ting from others.

To conclude, if notwithstanding all my allega∣tions, these B•sie-bodies will play the clamorous Stentors, and refuse to allow, either the forme, mat∣ter, or Decrees set out in this Treatise, let them lay them by, as vnripe fruit, or Orders fitter for me to diuulge in the Newfoundland, and there to see them executed among my owne Tenants.