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 XI.

1 What kind of persons the spirit of Detraction doth soonest possesse: with a description of the common people.

2 That wise men and of resolution must not feare the Detractions of the common people.

3 That it is necessary for Enuy to be the companion of vertue, and for the spirit of Detraction to follow Magistrates, as the shadow the body for the corroborating of their vertues.

THe spirit of Detraction very seldome ap∣proacheth * 1.1 nigh to learned men, I meane, to them whose liues differ not from the rules of learning. For hardly will they be infected with erroneous vices, whom lear∣ning * 1.2 hath purged. Commonly he watcheth about the ig∣norant and common sort of people, to inueigle their vn∣derstanding, to so we vanity and malice in their hearts, that afterwards they may continually varie, and as rotten vapors disperse them for nouelties into the open eares of their neighbors. These be they, whose first salutation in al meetings, is to aske, What newes? These be they, which liue by newes as the Salamander by the fire. These iolly fellowes, as if our gouernement in Great Britaine were a confused Anarchy, or a petulant Democracie do descant and deliberate on wise mens deedes; yea, and now and then on their liues. Whatsoeuer a wise man doth consi∣derately or moderately, they argue it a kinde of slothfull cowardise. What is circumspectly forewarned, that they hold to be curiosity, but what soeuer is rash, hasty, and precipi∣tate, * 1.3 that is thought by them to be couragiously determined. These monstrous Hydraes of many heads, Belluae multo∣rum capitum, do ground their opinions vpon sandy foun∣dations: they are stout when dangers are a farre off, and very irresolute when they are imminent and at hand. Vn∣happy is he, which reposeth any confidence in their asser∣tions. Admit a man is by them iustly extolled, what thing

more augmenteth it to the conscience of a wise man, that measureth not his good by common rumours and re∣ports, but by the infallible truth of the conscience? He that is praised vnworthily, ought to bee ashamed of his * 1.4 praise.

On the contrary, suppose that the vndiscreet multitude rageth against thee with booke, bell, and candle for thy * 1.5 vigilance, seruice, and paines taken in the behalfe of the Weale publique, what harme I pray thee, may redound thereof? Let the security of thy conscience mitigate thy griefe. If thou were badde and like vnto thy Detractors, thy company would be much more pretious vnto them. Euery like loues his like: as a certaine Athenian answe∣swered one that asked him, why hee subscribed to the banishing of Aristides the iust? for none other reason (quoth he) then because he is iust. But thou that carest more for the precepts of the Lord then for the prescripti∣ons of man, esteeme none otherwise of the spirit of De∣traction, then of an idle braine, or a talkatiue tongue. Tol∣lat sua munera cerdo, let the popular sort keepe their ap∣plauses and corruptions with themselues. While thou walkest vprightly in the sight of God, it is not their con∣fused Detractions which can impaire thy credite. Iustice shines on thy side with vndefiled honours: she will pa∣tronize thy fame, and shelter thy good name vnder her vertuous wings. But for all this, thou murmurest, that the spirit of Detraction, prouoke; many priuy aduersaries a∣gainst thine innocence, whose chiefe study is to register thy daily speeches in folio with a mishapen tayle, and to calender thy proceedings, as if they were solemne actes and monuments, with an intent sometime or otherto rippe vp a whole volume or legend of transgressions a∣gainst thee before the Higher powers. O simple animal, O liuer-hearted man. An Heathenish Embasladour could answere great Alexander, that his Countrey-men fea∣red no earthly thing at all but onely one, namely, lest the

skie would fall. And yet thou a Christian, which know∣est the vncertainty of this world, fearest (like a crauen) e∣uery craking companion. Whereas contrariwise thou oughtest to fore-arme thy spirit with an vndaunted reso∣lution, after the example of an elderly Iudge in this our Common-wealth, who being admonished by his friends not to goe abroad so carelessely without company for feare of many enemies, whom he had stirred vp through his seuerity, thus constantly answered: Alas, what can they doe, vnlesse they will shorten some few dayes of my life, whereof I expect daily to be ridde by the hands of God? Let them ban, let them curse, let them yell, let them fume; for mine owne part, were the case mine, I would retort and returne backe vpon them none other counter-note, none other reuenge, then mine humble prayers to God for their amendement.

An honest man ought to reioyce that enuy awaites * 1.6 vpon him, that the spirit of Detraction attends vpon him: for how shall it be knowne that hee is honest if hee be without temptation? Iobs patience had not beone so il∣lustrious, if Sathan had not repined at his godly liuing. Susannaes chastity had not shined so conspicuous, if the two Elders had not vrged her to villany. Neyther had the power of the great Iehouah extended with such Ma∣iesticall terrour among his creatures, if he had not left some to be hardned and ledde astray. The light is most apparant in the darkest Chaos. Euen so doth the Pro∣testants faith appeare most bright in respect of blinde Papists. A faire womans beauty shewes neuer more gallant, then when she stands among deformed Dowdes, nor can a generous spirit be discerned more cleerely then in temptations. In temptation, in aduersity, a wise man shall quickly see of what mettall or stuffe the tempted is composed. Surely it is requisite for the strengthning of our faith, and for the glory of God, that the Elect (like gold that is seuen times purified in the fire) be purged

from the froathy dregges of flesh and bloud, eyther by sensible stings in their owne persons, or else by exempla∣ry animadue••sions of other mens errours. Euen as that woman, whom her husband apprehends in adulterie stands in greatest awe and subiection, and commonly from that time forwards esteemes her husbands com∣mandement most pretious, as it were the legall rule of her life; so the sinfull soule that acknowledgeth her owne guiltinesse, stands in greatest feare of Gods iudge∣ments, and euer after her conuersion watcheth, as it were with Linceus eyes, lest Sathans messengers, namely, the spirit of Detraction, the spirit of mallice, or such like fiends doe finde a hole in her coate, or a breach in her fort. St. Paul writes, that he had beene exalted aboue mea∣sure with the abundance of reuelations, if the messenger of Sathan had not buffeted him, and giuen him a pricke in the flesh, which I take to be aduersity or persecution. And so likewise should we waxe too proud with prosperity, if we neuer tasted of the cup of aduersity. This moued the Samian Tyrant, to cast into the Sea an inestimable Iewel, because he might seeme to change his rich fortunes. Which superstitious custome the Venetians tooke vp, their Duke throwing into the Sea a golde ring: though now-a-dayes they alledge that ceremony onely at their Dukes installing, to be a foolish marriage betwixt their state and the Sea. Without doubt it is expedient that the spirit of Detraction attend on Magistrates as their sha∣dow, lest their pompuous authority puffe vp their minds aloft to the highest altitude of the Zodiacke, or lest, as the Lyricke vaunteth:

Sublimi feriant fidera vertice, With lofty heads they strike the starry skie;

and so with ambitious Phaeton they forget God and themselues. These things considered, Magistrates must looke somewhat neerer vnto their wayes, if not for the loue of vertue, yet formidine poenae, for feare of punish∣ment,

for feare of Detraction. Neuerthelesse, I exhort wise men to make more account of them that be detra∣cted and enuied, and to countenance them in their au∣thorities against such furious tempests; for they know that neyther themselues, not yet their Prince are exempt from Sathans srownes and stings; and also they know that the multitude (who, as Lipsius interpretes, is verè vul∣gus faex & limus) haue euer opposed themselues to the true passage of vertue. Which caused a great Lord of France thus to comfort Monsieur du Chesne, that com∣plained vnto him, how he was Detracted and enuied by some in his countrey: You complaine (quoth this Noble∣man) of a matter, whereof you haue cause rather to tri∣umph, and to erect vnto your selfe a Trophee: for in that you are enuied, it is a very certaine token and argument, that there is some vertuous thing in you, which deserues to be praised: Vous vous plaignez d'vne chose, dont vous * 1.7 deuriez faire trophee: car estant en••ié, c'••est vn signe & argument trescertain, qu' il••y à quelque chose en vous de veriueux, qui merite d'estre loüe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1
• * 1.2

  Cassiodor. lib. 8. Epist. 18.
• * 1.3

  Thucid. lib. 3. Histor.
• * 1.4

  Boetius lib. 3. de consol. Philosoph. pros. 6.
• * 1.5

  2
• * 1.6

  3
• * 1.7

  La Portract de la Sante. Sect. 1. cap. 1.