The arraignment of slander periury blasphemy, and other malicious sinnes shewing sundry examples of Gods iudgements against the ofenders. As well by the testimony of the Scriptures, and of the fathers of the primatiue church as likewise out of the reportes of Sir Edward Dier, Sir Edward Cooke, and other famous lawiers of this kingdome. Published by Sir William Vaughan knight.

LINEAMENT IX.

1 The reasons why men speake ill of learned bookes.

2 That superstitious persons cannot rightly connict the Spirit of detra∣ction.

3 That the true conuiction of the Spirit of Detraction consists in the mysteries of Gods word.

TO draw now at last, to the last Scene of * 1.1 this Comick-tragedie, I will conuert my speach towards the Detractours of lear∣ned Bookes, which worthy Wits by the Holy Spirits motion do daily transcribe, as monuments of Gods glory, to all po∣sterities. It is fatall vnto good men that their literate workes be vilified in their liues time, chiefely among their owne acquaintance; for a Prophet was neuer as yet esteemed in his owne Countrey Seeing that Christ him∣selfe came among his owne nation, and was both despised and derided, what maruell is it then, that wise men are dis∣praised of the present age? that the Spirit of Detraction pursues them vntill their dying day? that hee defiles their workes with his stale and stinking vrine? What meruell is it, that

Laudamus veteres, & nostros carpimus annos,

We praise the old, and hate the present time?

What maruell, what noueltie is it nowadayes, that wicked men carpe at their wits whose Disciples or Ap∣prentises they are not worthy to be, much lesse to vsurpe the place of Aristarches or Censorian Catoes, ouer such industrious wights?

Yee celestiall Spirits, which expose abroad your sa∣cred talents for your Maisters profit, loath to lurke in the Laechaeen caue of obliuion, feare not this manifolded Monster. Though he assailes your younglings, the fruits of your sanctified soules, with the wilde Boares tuskes,

with the Beares clawes, with the Serpents sting; his beastly force can neuer enter through your enchan∣ted armour. His enuie will be abated through your modestie; his hatred, through your kindnesse; his Detractions, through your perfections; his scornes, through your vertuous influence Some kinde of Al••∣mists their ignorance inciteth to despise the workes of the Learned, as confirmes that old Rule: Scientia non habet inimicum praeter ignorantem: Learning hath no greater enemie then the ignorant. Some detract from other mens Bookes, disgorging their gall vpon the absent Authours, for no other reason, then because they would seeme wiser to the standers by, then they are in∣deed. Some spit out infectious spite and rage against them of very ranke and meere maleuolence, for that it frets them to the heart, that their coequals in the goods of Fortune, should become their betters through the goods of Vertue; that the radiant rayes of their Corriuals name and fame eternized to the highest orbe by a bookish monument or Colossos, should eclipse their temporall transparence, and quite confound the me∣moriall of their former factions. Some for argument or cauillation sake seeke a hole where no hole is, re∣prehending those mysteries, which they cannot ap∣prehend nor comprehend.

The greatest part do ieere at their neighbours bookes, because they preferre worldly profit before their soules, not able to spare one houre in the day for holy exer∣cise; though they can spare whole moneths for gaine, ieasts, pleasures, fooleries, or in debasing of noble spirits. Others discommend mens writings, because they can∣not disproue them, and yet neuerthelesse, by reason that Ipse dixit, the Pythagorean, or rather Pythonicall I doll of their consciences hath prohibited them by an expresse Canon, not to beleeue the positions of Protestants, though they issue out of Truths owne mouth, therefore

because Hee which cannot erre nor lye, no more then Socrates, if wee may credit Plato for the one, and An∣tichristians for the other; because his seeming Holinesse by vertue of his Eagles feathered force indictes me for an horned beast, and my bookes for Heresies, I must not trauerse the indictment, nor appeale to Caesar, nor to the generall Councell, but I must rest contented with my doome, that the spirit of Detraction stands as yet stout, vnconiured and vnconuicted.

Ascend then yee spirits of euer-darkning night, ad∣uance your selues on high, yee spightfull spirits of Con∣tradiction, * 1.2 extend your stings, intend your Circles, and conuict your fellow spirits, if yee can. But why doe I imagine reail Castles in the skies? why reuerberate I the fleeting Aire? The Ae••••iopian can as soone change his blacke skinne, as yee driue out the spirit of Detraction. Thou hast loued liars, O vsurping Eagle, and thy blasphe∣mie is come vp vnto the highest. Therefore appeare no more * 1.3 thou Eagle with thy horrible wings, with thy wicked feathers, thy vngratious heads, thy sinfull clawes, and all thy vaine bo∣die. At the least, presume not to take in hand this im∣portant taske, to confound this powerfull Pantagruell, the limme of that mighty Leu••athan, least your winged members (as Sathans subiects) doe contrarie one ano∣ther, and so diuided through ciuill discord they occasion the finall subuersion of your vvhole dominion. One graine of Faith preuailes more then a masse of Masses, then millions of Ceremonies, of mens Inuentions, for the conuicting of Spirituall Monsters.

Goe thy way then O detracting spirit, notwithstand∣ing all these stings, tuskes, clawes, contradictions, car∣pings, * 1.4 calumnations, and cauillations of sauage people, of Aristarches, of Catoes, of Momistes, of Monsters, and Vsurpers; goe thy way, (I say) conuicted, I adiure and coniure thee in the name of the Father, of the Sonne, and of the Holy Ghost, the ternall and Eternall Vnitie, (vvho

for the mysterie of mans saluation is really distinguished in appellation, operation, and personall function, but in∣distinct in Essence, Omnipotence, and Eternitie;) and venture not hereafter to possesse the sanctified soules of our new-borne Brittaines, nor attempt to tempt the Authour of this aduenturous Arke, fraught by him but with simple Circles in steed of Noahs necessarie im∣plements: vvhose spirituall faculties I finally pray our Heauenly Lord, the Lord of Hierarchies, to fence and fortifie with the shining shield of his sunnie spirit, not onely against thy spirituall spite, O blast of Bla∣sphemie, but also against all other aspiring spirits whatsoeuer, whether they dwell in the flesh, or out of the flesh.

Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

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• * 1.2

  2
• * 1.3

  2 Esdras. 11
• * 1.4

  3